Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Has anyone used NatuRose for their collareds to enhance their color? I recently started keeping dart frogs and this was recommended to me for them...
I have a beautiful baby boy collared and was wondering if this would enhance his already amazing color?

Thanks guys,
Kayte

This is extracted from algae and the active ingredient is primarily Carotenoids which plants and algae use for Photosynthesis. Repashy Superfoods which does Reptile diets makes a similar product and Lllreptile sells it on their website. However I'm not sure how much effect this will have on a collared lizard since their diet is pretty much carnivorous they only probably get a little of this in their diet from prey. Many people claim they see better coloration in their reptiles from MVB bulbs which tend to more closely mimic direct sunlight.

I used some pure Astaxanthin for quite a while on some of my collareds and did not see anything noteworthy. I know in birds and fish, companies often boast that carotenoid containing foods will boost the colorations. My opinion is this does not carry over into reptiles. At least I did not see it.

I used pure Astaxanthin mixed with the food (shaken with crickets) and also used it to supplement the crickets diet. The crickets were gutloaded with big red bellies.

the variety I was using was being produced by a yeast. The asta was actually contained within the yeast cells.

Honestly I would not waste any money on supplementing the foods for colorenhancement. Natural lighting and good health, and the lizards gentics will make all the difference in the world.

John

The Repashy forums which have a lot of Gecko keepers since Allen Repashy is a well known breeder developed his Gecko diet with this in it. The Gecko keepers on there swear it brightens them up however, the Gecko is more omnivorous than a collared and as the gecko keepers admit removing it from the diet means they lose any benefit in color enhancement.

Collareds are some of the most colorful lizards on the planet just the way they come. I agree with John: health and good husbandry bring out their colors best.

Thanks guys! I'll keep the astaxanthin for the frogs My babies are beautiful just the way they are!