I'm going to attempt to break this subject down to an easy to grasp understanding of the differences between heat and light, incandescent light and ultraviolet B, calcium and vitamin D3, calcium absorption and synthesis of vitamin D3.
All these elements form a physiological chain of events that are necessary for the healthy development and life of a thermoregulating reptile.
Incandescent light is fine for day/night cycles, and for heat for digestion. In digestion, calcium must be absorbed for bone development and strength. To absorb calcium, vitamin D3 is needed. To get vitamin D3, the animal must synthesise it. To synthesise D3, ultraviolet B light is required; REQUIRED, A MUST, not an option. If you don't want to spend the money on a UVB tube, then at least supplement the diet with calcium with added D3. Not plain calcium, because without the D3, the calcium's not going anywhere.
Like the "fire triangle," as an example. Heat, fuel, and oxygen are all required to create a fire. Take away any one of these elements, and it's impossible to have fire. Take away any of the elements or processes in the first paragraph, from your skink, BD, or whatever lizard you're providing for, and you will have a short lived animal.
These are things you can't see happening inside, but they are happening. You
can see the symtoms however; lethargy, lack of appetite, constantly staying in the hot or cool side of the cage, regurgitation, and even difficult sheds.
The usual inexperienced response to these symptoms is to put in a higher or lower watt light bulb, not considering the metabolism process going on inside the animal.
I simply can't understand why, when it is so simple, nowadays, to provide properly for these creatures, that so many choose to take shortcuts just to save a few bucks. Or why it seems no-one wants to expand their knowlege by doing some reading on general herpetology to get a better understanding of the metabolism of these animals, and whats required to make their life a healthy one. Though diet may vary slightly, the process is the same, whether it's an iguana, bearde dragon, or a BTS.
It seems my enclosure has been labeled "elaborate." It's not elaborate at all. It's basic, very basic, just proper heat,light, and day/night cycles. All kept regulated with a thermostat and digital timer. Couldn't be simpler. And yet, I'm still nowhere near the range of choices the animal would have in it's natural environment. But I am as close as can be achieved, which is what we should be striving for. Well, then you'll probably say, "But, these animals have never lived in the wild." True; but their requirements are in their DNA, not where they were born or have lived.
Tyler...........I have a question for you:
Regarding UVB, you say,
"Nope, i supplement his food about every third feeding with miner-all."
Here's the ingredients of "Minerall"
I see calcium on the list..........I don't see vitamin D3. You have no UVB light, and you don't supplement with D3. So tell me, how does your bluey absorb calcium?? He doesn't. He either has to synthesise D3, (and without UVB, that's impossible) or it has to be provided dietarily, and you don't do that. So, you could feed him a tablespoon of calcium a day, and it's not doing his bones a bit of good.
Keep in mind, I am talking long term effects here. You won't notice severe problems early on in days, weeks, months. But over the years you'll see the effects of insufficiant calcium absorption in MBD, along with a shortened lifespan. And, if you're feeding mice or any rodents to a non-carnivore skink to get the D3 from the liver of the rodent, it's not enough. Snakes get by with it because they don't have articulated joints. And, if you fed enough mice to get the D3 needed, you'll probably cut your skinks lifespan in half with fatty liver disease. The
only time pinkies or fuzzies would be appropriate is for a gravid female, to help keep up her fat stores while gravid. And even then, just occassionally.
People should read more than just opinions on a forum. Read actual studies on topics you have questions about. Those written by reputable herpetologists, and herp DVM's. Here's one to start with by Dr. Matthew Wheelock DVM., regarding UVB, D3 synthesis, and calcium.
http://www.chameleonnews.com/calcium.html
I don't usually like to muddle people's opinions and guesswork with facts. But I see so much unsubstantiated information being passed around as fact, I feel, for the sake of the animal involved, I can at least attempt to point people in the right direction.
Jerry
