Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Is D3 bad for leos?
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Leopard Geckos
Sahara (Normal)
Ghost (Blizzard)
"The Baby" (year old Albino)

Bearded Dragons
Junior(hopefully male/unsexed)

If too much is consume, yes, it's bad for them. I use the regular calcium supplement without the vitamin D3 and use the multivitamin once a week, and it works. If you like, you can use the calcium supplement with D3 like once a week, but they don't really need it; they can get it from the multivitamin.

I've seen this subject come up in here a bit and never paid enough attention apparently . I'm aware the D3 is bad for them but could someone tell me why? My Leo and AFT get rep-cal multivitimins and calcium W/D3 dusted crickets every day. Always have, and I've not noticed any ill effects.

Quig
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Don't interupt me when I'm talkin' to myself

Another form of vitamin D3 is rat poison, which is just an overdose of vitamin D3 for the rat.

Then how much does it take to overdose a rat? I do understand that vitamin overdoses can be fatal, but I'm starting to think there's a bit of an overreaction to the danger of D3. Just my thoughts.

Quig
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Don't interupt me when I'm talkin' to myself

Could be but overreactions shouldn't b taken lightly. It obviously has happened to several people and that is why it is always a concern. I would personally stop dusting everyday, they are only to be dusted once a week. They should have PURE calcuim dishes in the tanks at all times though, with NO D3. Pretty much like an alchol overdose. If you have to much it can be toxic to you.

Alright, thanks everyone. I only asked because recently I ran out of my Leo dust, and had been using calcium w/ D3 since I had some for my Beardie sstill.

But payday is around the corner, and so I'll just pick up some more Leo dust.
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Leopard Geckos
Sahara (Normal)
Ghost (Blizzard)
"The Baby" (year old Albino)

Bearded Dragons
Junior(hopefully male/unsexed)

Bad comparison it would take a lot of alcohol to overdose me. Was just hopin' someone who may have experienced this might shed some facts on the subject is all. I'll stand down

Quig
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Don't interupt me when I'm talkin' to myself

Vitamin D3 is a fat soluble vitamin. Fat soluble vitamins are not easily excreted in urine like water soluble compounds. Because of this vitamin D3 can build up to toxic levels in leos.

However, vitamin D3 is an essential vitamin in the creation and up keep of bones, as well as immune system function. Without D3 animals can develop metabolic bone disease, even with high blood calcium levels.

Diurnal animals, such as basking lizards and crickets, can synthesize their own vitamin D3. Nocturnal lizards need to obtain their vitamin D3 through their diet, ie. crickets. But here's something to think about....Do the crickets that we use to feed our leos ever get enough sun exposure to produce adequate levels of vitamin D3?

Everyone is quick to say that calcium with vitamin D3 is bad for leos, but never seem to have any real data to back it up. Also vitamin D3 toxicity is very rare in leopard geckos. It's never been as big a problem as MBD, Cryptosporidium, or even coccidia.

I personally switch back and forth between calcium with and without vitamin D3. Leos need D3, and I am not convinced that captive raised prey have the levels needed. I also know that they don't really need a lot, so switching back and forth, or even mixing the two reduces the overall intake.

Some will want to argue with that, but none ever seem to have a solid argument. Most just try to quote what some hack website says, but none ever seem to think critically about it.

Thanks for this.

Quig
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Don't interupt me when I'm talkin' to myself