Post by Little Wise Owl on Jan 12, 2011 20:01:37 GMT -5
I've asked this question on two separate reptile forums and a science forum with no real answer so WHY NOT TRY HERE. It is related to nutrition and this forum is all about proper nutrition!
This is about lizards and calcium supplements. Argentine Tegus specifically. Though it doesn't REALLY matter, I believe it could apply for all lizards (and even other animals in general).
Here is the post:
What's the difference between human grade Calcium Carbonate such as:
Ingredients:
Calcium (from Calcium Carbonate)
Serving Size: 1 Level Teaspoon (3.0 g)
Servings Per Container: 113
Amount Per Serving: 1.2 g (1,200 mg)
% Daily Value: 120%
AND
the recommended:
Could I not buy the larger, cheaper human grade calcium carbonate? What are the differences? Is there a reason why the human grade stuff couldn't be used for a tegu? We use calcium carbonate in some homemade cat/dog food recipes... I'd assume the organic human stuff is lead free... I use NOW's Taurine powder for the ferrets every now and again...
let me know what you think.
I'm hopping forums looking for answers.
And just so people understand:
An Argentine tegu is a very large omnivorous scavenger. It consumes just about anything it encounters and can successfully swallow. From rotting fruits to various vegetation to carcasses, small animals, insects, invertebrates, bee hives, chickens (from raided chicken coops), etc... It's a beast. BUT A GREAT PET for the right person, haha.
Their diet is very varied in captivity and I'd be feeding mine a diet similiar to a ferrets but leveled out with lots of veggies, fruits and leafy greens. Though many tegu owners claim OMG SALMONELLA FROM EGGS AND CHICKEN AND BIOTIN DEFICIENCIES AND YOUR TEGU MIGHT CHOKE ON A BONE... which has me thinking PUH-LEASE, These lizards eat EVERYTHING and ANYTHING... Seeing as they're SCAVENGING predators, I'm sure their stomachs have adapted to a wide range of foods (as they should know).
ANYWAY, I digress, haha.
This is about lizards and calcium supplements. Argentine Tegus specifically. Though it doesn't REALLY matter, I believe it could apply for all lizards (and even other animals in general).
Here is the post:
What's the difference between human grade Calcium Carbonate such as:
Description: The powdered form is 100% pure, and free of fillers and preservatives, much lower in cost, easy to digest and can be taken in desired potencies. Powdered vitamins and minerals are truly the best way to take supplements.
-Supports Bone Health
-100% Pure Powder
-High Percentage of Calcium
-Vegetarian Product
-Supports Bone Health
-100% Pure Powder
-High Percentage of Calcium
-Vegetarian Product
Ingredients:
Calcium (from Calcium Carbonate)
Serving Size: 1 Level Teaspoon (3.0 g)
Servings Per Container: 113
Amount Per Serving: 1.2 g (1,200 mg)
% Daily Value: 120%
AND
the recommended:
Description: Repti Calcium is an ultra fine Precipitated Calcium Carbonate Supplement. It is a phosphorus-free calcium supplement for reptiles and amphibians. It has a unique shape/high surface area per gram resulting in increased calcium bioavailability
[additional information found]
"We use only precipitated calcium carbonate which is white in color and is essentially lead free. Pure calcium carbonate is white, not gray. The calcium carbonate particles in Repti Calcium have a unique shape, and an extremely high surface area per gram, resulting in increased calcium bioavailability."
[additional information found]
"We use only precipitated calcium carbonate which is white in color and is essentially lead free. Pure calcium carbonate is white, not gray. The calcium carbonate particles in Repti Calcium have a unique shape, and an extremely high surface area per gram, resulting in increased calcium bioavailability."
Could I not buy the larger, cheaper human grade calcium carbonate? What are the differences? Is there a reason why the human grade stuff couldn't be used for a tegu? We use calcium carbonate in some homemade cat/dog food recipes... I'd assume the organic human stuff is lead free... I use NOW's Taurine powder for the ferrets every now and again...
let me know what you think.
I'm hopping forums looking for answers.
And just so people understand:
An Argentine tegu is a very large omnivorous scavenger. It consumes just about anything it encounters and can successfully swallow. From rotting fruits to various vegetation to carcasses, small animals, insects, invertebrates, bee hives, chickens (from raided chicken coops), etc... It's a beast. BUT A GREAT PET for the right person, haha.
Their diet is very varied in captivity and I'd be feeding mine a diet similiar to a ferrets but leveled out with lots of veggies, fruits and leafy greens. Though many tegu owners claim OMG SALMONELLA FROM EGGS AND CHICKEN AND BIOTIN DEFICIENCIES AND YOUR TEGU MIGHT CHOKE ON A BONE... which has me thinking PUH-LEASE, These lizards eat EVERYTHING and ANYTHING... Seeing as they're SCAVENGING predators, I'm sure their stomachs have adapted to a wide range of foods (as they should know).
ANYWAY, I digress, haha.