Successfully Preventing Calcium Deficiency in Reptiles

Minerals

Important for Reptiles

For Bones and Eggshells

Calcium plays a crucial role in reptiles, particularly in bone metabolism and eggshell formation. It also acts as an important neurotransmitter, helping transmit nerve impulses to muscles. If there is a partial loss of these neurotransmitters, it can lead to paralysis.

A calcium deficiency may result in conditions such as rickets (bone deformation), shell softening in turtles, and general growth disorders. Reptiles with severe calcium deficiency often show movement disorders (commonly described as muscle tremors) and skeletal changes due to the progressive demineralization of bones.

Pregnant females, as well as young and growing animals, have an especially high demand for calcium. For calcium to be properly metabolized by the body, reptiles also require vitamin D. Supplementing with vitamin D through the diet is usually unnecessary if the animal is provided with the right amount and quality of UVB lighting. With adequate UVB exposure, healthy animals typically do not suffer from vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin precursors ingested through food (primarily found in the muscle and fat tissue of feeder animals and in plants) are converted into a preform of vitamin D3 through the influence of sunlight (or UVB radiation) and heat in the skin, and then transformed into the active form of vitamin D3 in the kidney tissue. The necessary intensity and duration of UVB exposure depend on the species. The use of high-quality lighting specifically developed for herpetology is essential for keeping and breeding reptiles in good health.

The calcium content in food is generally low. Most feeder insects do not contain enough calcium, leading to deficiencies if not supplemented. In cases of calcium deficiency, reptiles may attempt to compensate by ingesting substrate, which often results in severe constipation. For this reason, calcium should never be placed in the substrate. Calci-sand and bird sand are not suitable for terrariums.

Since reptiles in the wild also supplement their calcium intake, it’s important to provide a proper source of calcium in captivity as well.

When using NEKTON-Rep-Calcium-Pur+ and NEKTON-Rep-Calcium+D3, proper dosage is essential.