can calcium+D3 supplementation replace the UVB lighting

[hong]

recently i just have a thought of using a calcium+D3 supplementation to replace the effects of UVB light for lizard.does anybody have the same thought?will it work?just need some opinions.if it doesnt work why they produce these kind of products?

 

[Srt14292]

What type of lizard are you on about, some have to have basking temps which immitate the sun so attract their supplimentation from the light, as they do naturally, so it wouldn't iradicate the need for the bulbs.

 

[acpart]

In their book "Day Geckos in Captivity", Gregg and Leann Christenson write in depth about maintaining day geckos without UVB in order be able to provide lighting that brings out their color. I have been doing this successfully with my 2 day geckos for 4-5 years. I haven't tried this with my bearded dragon who is so much bigger and I don't know how it would work for other lizards.

Aliza

 

[hong]

for aliza.so u r already raise ur day gecko without any special lighting and just provide dietary vitamin d3.im going to get a diurnal lizard called green crested lizard.do u think i will be success?

 

[Srt14292]

If you mean a crested gecko, rhacodactylus ciliatus, then they do not need any uvb light anyay.

 

[hong]

If you mean a crested gecko, rhacodactylus ciliatus, then they do not need any uvb light anyay.

i mean a green crested lizard.its a small diurnal lizard that native to southeast asia.

 

[Srt14292]

You could give it a try for an experiment, Write up a paper for it on your findings if they prove something conclusive i suppose, but if you start to see colours are not good enough, un expected problems etc, get a uv light. Buy one just in case anyway even if your not going to use it straight away. Plus it helps with their day/night cycle.

 

[hong]

You could give it a try for an experiment, Write up a paper for it on your findings if they prove something conclusive i suppose, but if you start to see colours are not good enough, un expected problems etc, get a uv light. Buy one just in case anyway even if your not going to use it straight away. Plus it helps with their day/night cycle.

you r right,i should make a shot.

 

[slayer]

Yes. With adequate d3 and calcium in thier diet AND exposure to REAL basking temps (not b.s. basking temps), many sun worshiping reptiles metabolize calcium just fine The UV light companies dont want you to know that fact cause it would put them out of business.

 

[Ga_herps]

I have had success with my chams over the years too, just by providing my animals uvb during the spring, summer, and fall months at 1 hour incriments 3 or more times a week. During times of the year that this cannot be achieved they only get Cal. + D3. I do not know if this helps or not but even if you give your lizard 20 or so minutes twice or three times a week this will be just fine in replacement of uvb lighting. I know people would probably disagree with me on this but I have yet to lose a cham to any metabolic or any other problems. As slayer said optimal basking temps are the key to proper absorption.

 

[acpart]

I would guess that a small lizard, if provided with adequate lighting and a hot enough basking spot, and if live food is dusted with something that includes D3 (and calcium w/ D3 is added to its fruit if it's fruit eating) would probably do OK. Personally I'd hesitate to try it with a lizard as large as my beardie.

ALiza

 

[slayer]

I would guess that a small lizard, if provided with adequate lighting and a hot enough basking spot, and if live food is dusted with something that includes D3 (and calcium w/ D3 is added to its fruit if it's fruit eating) would probably do OK. Personally I'd hesitate to try it with a lizard as large as my beardie.

ALiza

......................Up your beardies basking temp to 145F or so and you will have no problems using on dietary D3. Keep it with that barely warm 105F-110F basking spot your using and you will have problems with out the UV bulbs.


This sun worshiping basking lizard has been raised with out UVB from day one and fed a mostly insect diet with no health problems even though he has grown 500% in around a year.

8/02/08

9/8/09

 

[hong]

Yesterday i just have a thought.I thought that a snake would propably get sufficient D3 from single rodent last for one week(snake usually eat once a week)without any problem.Compare to a savannah monitor which consumed at least 3-4 rodent for each week,then presumably it can get at least 3-4 times D3 than a snake.If a snake can last for one week without any meal means ady additional D3.A savannah monitor would probably dont need any addition UVB light.Then i think with properly supplementation a lizard or any reptile would probably no longer need any UVB light correct or not?For example a chinese water dragon can obtain the D3 from small rodents,frogs and even fish.In additional,a monitor lizard can get 3-4 times D3 than a snake does without any problem of overdose on dietary D3 which mean that the claims of overdose intake of dietary D3 on lizard might be a problem is just a pure speculation?Nevertheless these are only my personal opinions.If Anyone have any different ideas,just feel free to make a post

 

[acpart]

Many snakes do bask in the sunlight which would provide even more D3. Most reptiles are not getting D3 only from their diet. Since I don't know how much D3 an individual species requires, it's hard to say how much to give it.

Aliza

 

[hong]

Many snakes do bask in the sunlight which would provide even more D3. Most reptiles are not getting D3 only from their diet. Since I don't know how much D3 an individual species requires, it's hard to say how much to give it.

Aliza

Im not talking about the wild specimens,i talking about the captive-bred specimens.How many snake keeper do you think will provide UVB light for their snake?The answer is pretty obvious.