Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Reptivite or Herptivite? Which is better for tortoises?

Whenever I felt the need to provide vitamins to any of my herps I use Centrum for them.
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Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

I have used Herptivite with good success ever since it has been available as I stated in another post a week or so ago. In any event, I would definitely recommend using a vitamin preparation formulated for the needs of reptiles (and amphibians) over one formulated for the needs of humans such as Centrum as mentioned above. I take Centrum myself, but its formula is not as good for my tortoises as it is for me!

What, exactly, is a 'good formula' for reptiles? To take it one step further what is a 'good formula' for people?

Have you ever seen how these companies come up with their formula?

I remember way back when the first packaged reptile vitamin. It was called Reptimin. I asked how the formula was derived. As it turns out there is a basic ratio of vitamins for vertebrates. Then the person putting the formula 'tweeks' the ratio to what they think it should be.

While Centrum might not have been formulated for reptiles and it might not be quite right, it's served me and my herps well for over 25 years.

This marketing ploy of a vitamin being formulated specificly for herps is just that, a marketing ploy. That Centrum costs me about $10 a pound as opposed to that same price for a fraction of the amount of Herp vitamins and the Centrum is probably more complete.
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Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

I too agree with Ed that Centrum is a lot more complete. I used to use it, but have now switched to Herptivite (To me, the formula in Reptivite is garbage). Herptivite is not as good as Centrum in my opinion, but I just got SOOO sick of crushing those pills. When it comes time to crush those pills, I always can't find my mortar, so I end up folding the pills in A4 paper and banging it with a hammer on the floor (Im sure it annoys the people living downstairs... GOOD! ) More often than not, regardless of how many layers of paper I use, I bang too hard and the paper breaks and out comes a cloud of vitamin rich smoke. If I don't bang hard enough, there are always little bigger pieces from the coating that clog up my saltshaker and I end up shaking like crazy and I lose my temper and bang things. So I said Ok whatever and I switched to Herptivite, afterall, its a REPTILE vitamin... LOL!

This is what I call a reasonable reason for not using Centrum.
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Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

But it is complete from "A to Zink". Don't you guys watch any TV.

ROLFMAO!!!

i'm a herptitive and rep-cal user myself ('cause it's what the breeders used that my tort came from)... but i've never heard of using centrum!

so do you give your older torts centrum silver?