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I have a new baby gator that arrived Friday and has eaten a couple of pinkies for me. I was wondering if I need to use a supplement if I feed maily whole rodents? If so I am planning on using Repcal Calcium with D3. Is this ok? I do have UVA and UVB light so do I need D3 in the supplement? How many times a week should I use the supplement? How do I give it with a pinkie? Can I mix it with water and inject it in the pinkie? I think if I rub it on then it will be washed off before he swallows it. I really need advice on this. I want to provide the best care I can for my gator. Thanks alot.

This is a link to the product I was planning on using.

http://www.zoomed.com/db/products/EntryDetail.php?SearchID=4&DatabaseID=2&EntryID=2

I am no expert by any means but I believe whole prey carrys enough calcium. And if you think about it in the wild they wouldnt get and supplement dashed on their prey before they eat them. Now if you were feeding it just insects I'd say a supplement would be needed, however, whole mice contain all the calcium they need.

That's what I was thinking but i've heard like 3 different things. Thanks for the input.

This is true, but in the wild, they wouldn't be fed pinkies and sitting under light bulbs, either.

Pinkies do not have complete bone structure which is why they are lower in calcium. Plus, insects have a lower calcium to phosphorous ratio, which is why we supplement. There is no bulb to compare with natural sunlight. We need to give all of our captive animals the best care we can to ensure proper health.

Remember, VARIETY is the key to proper crocodilian diet. I wouldn't advise simply going with a strict rodent diet. Pinkies do not carry enough calcium to properly support the growth and development of a young crocodilian. So, therefore, yes...vitamin supplement. The Repcal Calcium w/ Vitamin D3 is the perfect supplement and the best on the market. I used to use different supplements but actually found a major difference in the behavior and alertness in my animals by using Repcal's products (Multivitamin as well as the Calcium).

I typically recommend supplementing every other feeding, but this is going to depend upon your diet plan that you develop. The best course of action to get together a diet plan and then determine the supplementation...not the other way around. If you dampen the pinkie first, you can usually get the powder to stick well. Just let it dry a tad bit before handing it to him. Also, place the prey item on an out of water surface (the animal well get it) and it should receive it's supplementation just fine.

Chris

>>I have a new baby gator that arrived Friday and has eaten a couple of pinkies for me. I was wondering if I need to use a supplement if I feed maily whole rodents? If so I am planning on using Repcal Calcium with D3. Is this ok? I do have UVA and UVB light so do I need D3 in the supplement? How many times a week should I use the supplement? How do I give it with a pinkie? Can I mix it with water and inject it in the pinkie? I think if I rub it on then it will be washed off before he swallows it. I really need advice on this. I want to provide the best care I can for my gator. Thanks alot.
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My Website
www.herpfanatic.com

I do plan on mixing with the Repcal multivitamin. My question is, say I feed the gator more than one food item at a time, should I put the supplement on all the items or just one. I am feeding every 2 days right now so should I still supplement every other feeding? Do I use the multivitamin as often as the calcium or one more than the other? Have you ever fed shrimp to gators are there any dangers? Thanks alot for the help.

"My question is, say I feed the gator more than one food item at a time, should I put the supplement on all the items or just one."

Really, it depends. What is the other food item? Are they both the same thing? What is the other food items value in calcium?

"I am feeding every 2 days right now so should I still supplement every other feeding?"

There's nothing wrong with supplementing every other feeding. Just make sure that you are keeping in mind the food items current nutritional value without the supplementation so you know whether you should supplement or not. If it is a whole prey item (minus pinkies of course), then supplementation is not necessary. Only supplement if you are feeding chunk meats, etc without bone. Whole prey should be fine.

"Do I use the multivitamin as often as the calcium or one more than the other?"

I recommend using them both simultaneously. Although, in reality...Calcium is your most important supplement. The multivitamin isn't necessarily an imperative item to provide as long as you are feeding a good variety to the animal. If you are sticking with Chicken breast and beef chunks as it's primary diet...then yes, use both often. Otherwise, Calcium is the most important component.

"Have you ever fed shrimp to gators are there any dangers?"

From what I read, shrimp carries thiaminase in pretty decent amounts. I would avoid it. Whenever in doubt...don't do it.

With that being said, I would have to second Bert's (Kachunga) post. Mazuri diet is simply the best way to go if you want to alleviate the hassles of determining a good diet plan for your animal. It's simple, reasonably priced, and complete nutrition. Almost sounds too good to be true...but it is . It's only downfall is the mess that the animal leaves behind from crushed pellets and defecation. Be prepared for more frequent water changes!

Chris
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My Website
www.herpfanatic.com

I would really consider Mazuri's diet for small crocodilians. Its no muss, little fuss. It's a little messy, but since I switched to it from a chicken/beef diet I have noticed my juvie alligators have put on some real size.
I feed it to my albino alligator. I have that much confidence in it.
Nothing wrong with going with a powder vitamin supp, but IMO a little sun and Mazuri is all you need