- Messages
- 378
If you have UVB lighting then use calcium without D3. If you don't have UVB lighting then use the calcium with D3.
However, the amount of D3 added to the calcium supplement is such a small amount that I would add additional powdered D3. This needs to be done cautiously as D3 can accumulate in the body and the body has no way to regulate it without UV light.
In other words, your tegu could overdose on D3 if it's provided in the diet but not if it's produced in the skin from exposure to UVB light. That is why providing UVB lighting is a safer route than providing D3 in the diet.
Here's an example of how little D3 is added to calcium with D3 supplement. In the case of Zoo Med Reptical with D3, there is only 23 IU of D3 per 1 gram of calcium carbonate powder. One gram of calcium carbonate powder is way, way more than you would ever use and 23 IU is a tiny amount. To make my calcium/D3 supplement that I use on some of my animals that don't have UVB, I add enough D3 so there is around 450 IU per gram of supplement. That has worked well for the last few years and I have not noticed any problems. Again, this approach would only be used with animals that have no UVB lighting.
However, the amount of D3 added to the calcium supplement is such a small amount that I would add additional powdered D3. This needs to be done cautiously as D3 can accumulate in the body and the body has no way to regulate it without UV light.
In other words, your tegu could overdose on D3 if it's provided in the diet but not if it's produced in the skin from exposure to UVB light. That is why providing UVB lighting is a safer route than providing D3 in the diet.
Here's an example of how little D3 is added to calcium with D3 supplement. In the case of Zoo Med Reptical with D3, there is only 23 IU of D3 per 1 gram of calcium carbonate powder. One gram of calcium carbonate powder is way, way more than you would ever use and 23 IU is a tiny amount. To make my calcium/D3 supplement that I use on some of my animals that don't have UVB, I add enough D3 so there is around 450 IU per gram of supplement. That has worked well for the last few years and I have not noticed any problems. Again, this approach would only be used with animals that have no UVB lighting.
Last edited:
