Vionate?

[ssscales]

What is this for and is it any different to the Herptivite and other supplements out there?

 

[Franks_Geckos]

Vionate is a vitamin supplement (can be used for almost all animals)For Leos, it is primarily used in food dishes as a sort of mealworm/superworm gutload that helps increase the nutritional value of a mealworm or superworm for the Leopard Geckos. Unlike other vitamin powders, the mealworms will actually consume the vionate. This eliminates dusting that would be done on other types of insect feeders that would normally be done with the other types of powders. It does not replace the need for calcium in a calcium dish however. Many people have used Vionate in their mealworm dishes for many years with great success. It is typically ordered from a Veterinarian supply company online.

 

[ssscales]

Thanks, does this mean the Vionate can even be mixed in with the mealworm substrate/food as part of the gutload? How does it compare to Herptivite or other vitamins other than eliminating the need for dusting?

 

[godzillizard]

In my opinion, it doesn't compare well to herptivite. Vionate is made for pets(puppies/dogs, kittens/cats, rabbits, hampsters/gerbils/mice, mink & chinchilla, fox, monkeys, & small/medium/large/very large birds), it also contains chemical preservatives, and uses corn meal as the first ingredient. Herptivite is formulated for reptiles & amphibians specifically. I think people use vionate because it's cheap, and when you have hundreds or thousands of geckos, it's just not cost effective to use the expensive (even though far superior-IMO) stuff.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

In my opinion, it doesn't compare well to herptivite.

I tend to agree. Vionate is a cornmeal based supplement, and does not stick well to feeders. Also, cornmeal is not a natural food for geckos. Vionate is an EXCELLENT product, and I use it in my feeder gutload and bedding, as well as in my mealworm bowls for the bugs to eat along with calcium and vitamins for the geckos to lick.

 

[ssscales]

I tend to agree. Vionate is a cornmeal based supplement, and does not stick well to feeders. Also, cornmeal is not a natural food for geckos. Vionate is an EXCELLENT product, and I use it in my feeder gutload and bedding, as well as in my mealworm bowls for the bugs to eat along with calcium and vitamins for the geckos to lick.

Thanks Marcia, I'll stick with the Rep-Cal and Herptivite and may consider adding a little Vionate as an ingredient for our mealworm substrate/gutload. But, if the mealworms eat the Vionate, aren't the Leos eating the mealworms and also taking in some of the Vionate/cornmeal?

 

[Gecko Ranch]

Press the "easy button" - Calcium Plus sticks to the feeders well and is an all in one supplement. No mixing! Going over a year now with excellent results in my large, diverse collection of gex. I dump the "extra" in with the feeders and it is readily consumed.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

if the mealworms eat the Vionate, aren't the Leos eating the mealworms and also taking in some of the Vionate/cornmeal?

Yes, and it will simply provide more nutrition for the geckos... it won't hurt them at all!

 

[ssscales]

Yes, and it will simply provide more nutrition for the geckos... it won't hurt them at all!

Thanks...:main_thumbsup:

Where is the best place to find Vionate? I've searched at *****, ******** and Pet Supermaket with no luck! I assume it will have to be an online source?

 

[Jeremy Letkey]

I get my vionate from http://www.progeckos.com/

 

[hondawingsfly]

i got mine here http://www.jefferspet.com/ssc/product.asp?CID=0&pf_id=95

 

[ssscales]

i got mine here http://www.jefferspet.com/ssc/product.asp?CID=0&pf_id=95

Thanks, that's where I ordered from last night.
I got two bottles, 2lbs each for $36.00 shipped.

 

[Franks_Geckos]

I get it a little cheaper than that. I buy it through KV Vet Supply online and get 2LB jars for 12.95 Shipped. The only problem is that if you order less than $50 worth of goods, you get whacked with a 5 dollar surcharge.

 

[Ultrakd]

I use it for my hatchlings, should I still provide my babies with a dish of calcium?

 

[ssscales]

I get it a little cheaper than that. I buy it through KV Vet Supply online and get 2LB jars for 12.95 Shipped. The only problem is that if you order less than $50 worth of goods, you get whacked with a 5 dollar surcharge.

Thanks, I saw it on there while shopping around last night, but they are out of stock on the 2lbs. They have 10lbs for $47.00, which thinking about it now I should've just bought that one and have gotten an extra 6lbs for $10! Then again, I'm not sure if this has an expiration date on it or what type of shelf life it has. I'll try these 2lbs which I assume will last me for 6-12MO with only 8 Leos...:main_laugh:

 

[Franks_Geckos]

I use it for my hatchlings, should I still provide my babies with a dish of calcium?

As I stated in my first post, YES! Calcium dishes should always be provided for Leos.

 

[Franks_Geckos]

Thanks, I saw it on there while shopping around last night, but they are out of stock on the 2lbs. They have 10lbs for $47.00, which thinking about it now I should've just bought that one and have gotten an extra 6lbs for $10! Then again, I'm not sure if this has an expiration date on it or what type of shelf life it has. I'll try these 2lbs which I assume will last me for 6-12MO with only 8 Leos...:main_laugh:

I must've bought the last 2LB jar late last week....lol. Anyway, the larger the quantity, the better the savings. Also, the shelf life on Vionate is over 2 years (probably 3) judging by the expiration date on the jars I have. 2LBs lasts me close to 6 months (I think) and I have between 50 and 100 geckos in-house at any given time, so, it does go a long way.

 

[malt_geckos]

Don't you all mean corn startch based? Corn meal what corn bread is made of.... I've never seen Vionate but corn startch would make more sense than corn meal...

edit: Guess it is corn meal...???? lol. Quite odd...

 

[colleen]

Interesting and helpful post! I have always wondered what the difference was, as I have heard people talk about Vionate but I never knew how it differed from Herptivite and other suppliments.

 

[LadyGecko]

Don't you all mean corn starch based? Corn meal what corn bread is made of.... I've never seen Vionate but corn starch would make more sense than corn meal...

edit: Guess it is corn meal...???? lol. Quite odd...

Actually the first ingredient listed is degermed corn meal
I have been using it for years mixed in with my gut load for all of my insects