To be able to hold bearded dragons wholesome, a correct calcium to phosphorus ratio is essential, and typically typically missed by even essentially the most loving of beardie house owners!
Bearded dragons usually obtain a lot of the phosphorus they want via their weight loss program, however not sufficient calcium, which requires you to mud their meals a number of occasions per week to make sure correct dietary wants are met.
However the query arises, how a lot calcium do bearded dragons want?
How a lot calcium a bearded dragon wants, largely is dependent upon the age of the dragon. Infants, as an example, will profit from having their meals dusted with calcium powder about 4-5 occasions per week, whereas adults ought to have their meals dusted round 3 occasions per week or primarily each different day.
Now, Whether or not You Want Calcium With or With out Vitamin D3 Finally Depends upon Your UVB lighting scenario
As a result of UVB lighting permits for the synthesis of Vitamin D3, the vitamin needed for correct calcium absorption, the kind of UVB gentle you utilize will in the end have an effect on whether or not it’s essential to embrace D3 in your dragon’s weight loss program or not.
In case you are utilizing a MVB, AKA a mercury vapor bulb, use calcium powder WITHOUT D3.
In case you are utilizing common UVB lighting (like a fluorescent gentle), go for calcium energy WITH D3.
Moreover, you can purchase calcium powder that’s labeled as having cholecalciferol in it.
Cholecalciferol is a really clear, secure type of calcium and is in actual fact, the identical kind of calcium produced by the pores and skin.
The Significance of Multi-Nutritional vitamins
Additionally, it needs to be famous that apart from calcium, bearded dragons of all ages ought to actually be given a good multi vitamin a number of occasions to at least one time per week, relying on their age.
You’ll wish to try to keep away from nutritional vitamins with vitamin A in them as bearded dragons have a excessive toxicity to this vitamin and may die from an excessive amount of. As an alternative, attempt to go for nutritional vitamins that comprise beta-carotene.
Beta-carotene is a superb choice as a result of it converts solely what the physique wants into Vitamin A, whereas the remaining is handed with out challenge.
Rep-Cal Analysis Labs provide a few of the reptile trade’s BEST calcium powders (each with and with out D3), in addition to nutritional vitamins.
I extremely advocate buying from them as their merchandise are extraordinarily properly researched.
Try the hyperlinks beneath for my private favourite calcium powders and multi nutritional vitamins!
Rep-Cal Herptivite Multivitamin with Beta-Carotene
Rep-Cal Phosphorous-Free Calcium WITH D3
Rep-Cal Phosphorous-Free Calcium WITHOUT D3
For optimum outcomes, give your bearded dragon their multivitamin on days they don’t obtain their calcium.
If you happen to’re on the lookout for a dependable bearded dragon meals and provides on-line retailer, we advocate Chewy! It’s the most trusted and handy on-line vacation spot for reptile pet house owners. Click on right here to save lots of 30% in your first order. I’ll obtain a small fee if you are going to buy after clicking. This does NOT change what you pay or what I like to recommend. It does assist fund the analysis we put into the positioning, and I’m grateful for any assist!
How A lot Calcium Does My Child Bearded Dragon Want?
As a result of they’re actively rising, child bearded dragons ought to have their meals dusted with calcium about 4-5 occasions per week, and not more than 1 time per day.
Moreover, you’re going to wish to provide your child with a multi vitamin (as mentioned above) about 2-3 occasions per week, blended with their calcium powder and by no means greater than 1 time per day.
How A lot Calcium Does My Grownup Bearded Dragon Want?
As adults, bearded dragons don’t want calcium fairly as typically, on condition that they’re now not rising.
Nevertheless, you need to nonetheless mud your dragon’s meals round 3 occasions per week with calcium powder.
In the case of their multi vitamin, combine it in with their calcium only one time per week to make sure optimum well being.
What Occurs if My Bearded Dragon Will get Too A lot Calcium? – “calcium for bearded dragons”
Though a calcium deficiency is far more widespread than an extra of calcium, some well being points can nonetheless come up.
When an excessive amount of D3 is absorbed, and excessive ranges of calcium exist within the weight loss program, bearded dragons can expertise Hypercalcemia.
Hypercalcemia happens when there’s an excessive amount of calcium within the blood and may result in dragons turning into sickly, and in some circumstances, even dying.
So, how does this occur precisely?
Though uncommon, Bearded dragons who’re uncovered to too excessive a stage of UVB, can in flip take up an excessive amount of D3.
On high of this, when they’re given an excessive amount of calcium powder, their muscle tissue can then expertise calcification and primarily weaken.
If their weight loss program and stage of UVB publicity will not be adjusted shortly, severe problems can ensue.
In Conclusion
So keep in mind, whereas your dragon does want calcium powder added to their weight loss program, the precise kind (D3 Vs. Non D3) and dosage will rely on a few elements.
Additionally, one mustn’t ignore the significance multi vitamin can play within the position of holding their dragon each glad and wholesome.
Those that discover the stability between calcium powder and a multi vitamin, will considerably improve their odds of caring for a cheerful and wholesome dragon into outdated age.
Learn These Articles But?
How you can Inform If Your Bearded Dragon is Sick
How you can Get a Bearded Dragon to Eat
How Usually to Feed a Bearded Dragon at ANY Age
Widespread Species