Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am the new proud owner of a rosy boa. I have one question. Should I dust my pinkies or not? Any feedback is appreciated. Thank you.

With calcium? Or with vitamins plus calcium? I would not do vitamins at every feeding. Calcium is OK at every feeding.

I used to dust with all snakes species years ago, then I quit. Then I started again. IMO it seems to make a difference in vigor when the diet is thawed mice vs fresh mice.

I do vitamins about once every 3 feedings, and I do a light dust of calcium each feeding. Most probably falls off, but some gets in.

Calcium-supplemented female rosies always produced well for me back in the day. I don't think it is the only difference, but it is part of the overall equation.

Too many vitamins all the time is not good. Better to go sparingly on vits. With sinaloan milks, vits produced nice color. Probably beta-carotene. Just a little goes far.

Ok. Thank you. Is vitamin d3 calcium necessary? I have an indoor snake.

No, not necessary. I do not think it hurts at all. I used it (with D3) with no issues on rosies. Snakes like rosies are fossorial most of the time, or else usually move at night. I doubt they get much direct sunlight. No, I don't doubt, I know they don't. So sunlight is not used for D3, kind of like our hair does not generate D3 (scales are alot like fingernails or hair) which means D3 is likely not needed in a supplement. Does it hurt to have it? I don't think so. Light dusting won't hurt anything.

I think mine does not have phosphorous. I can't remember that argument, which is better for what. Time for me to google that.

Ok. Thank you.

I have been breeding rosies very successfully for 25 years, and I have never dusted food items with supplements. I have always believed for nocturnal reptiles it is critical to feed rodents that have been given a high quality diet, such as Teklad lab pellets. That being said, I don't think dusting would hurt in very small quantities.