Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hmmmm??

What do they eat? If they are given a diet of mainly calcium enriched foods (more calcium than phosphorus), then I would only supplement the adults with calcium once or twice a week and the juveniles more often. The natural sunlight converts the calcium to vitamin D3. But calcium is still needed in order for this to occur. No calcium = no D3. What I've heard of people doing for beardies that get a lot of natural sunlight is to give the calcium supplements without D3. Sometimes this is referred to as the "outdoor" formula. Hope this helps.

Veronica
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Beautiful Dragons

"What do they eat? If they are given a diet of mainly calcium enriched foods (more calcium than phosphorus), then I would only supplement the adults with calcium once or twice a week and the juveniles more often. The natural sunlight converts the calcium to vitamin D3. But calcium is still needed in order for this to occur. No calcium = no D3. What I've heard of people doing for beardies that get a lot of natural sunlight is to give the calcium supplements without D3. Sometimes this is referred to as the "outdoor" formula. Hope this helps. "

Just a quick correction 'bout metabolism and nutrients. Vit D3 is made from a sterol ring (similar to cholesterol). It is convereted from the original sterol to the active Vit D3 in several steps and in several places from . One of the steps takes place in the skin and is catalized by UV light. Vit D3 is used to absorb calcium from the intestines. So while No calcium = no D3 is inaccurate, the reverse equation is acurate: no D3 = no calcium .

As for not supplementing, I have never read that the dietary need for calcium changes dependant on the amount of sunlight. Your beardie will still need the same amount of calicium getting into his body in winter or summer. What may change is the amount of D3 supplementation needed - veronica is accurate in saying that they probably won't need extra Vit D3, they will be able to make it the old fashioned way.

On a side note, and to bring some balance into the equation, oversupplementation of Vit D3 (Like what happens when D3 is added when it is not needed) causes too much calcium to be absorbed and can resulting in hypercalcemia and the problems associated with that condition.

Personally, I use a calcium only suplement, follow the directions on the package to give the amount of calcium. For UV I have a light in fluffy's environment. That way if she is in her home during the day she's getting UV, if she is outside w/ me she is getting UV; I try to create a similar envorinment to natural and let the lizard regulate themsleves.
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Russ