| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| matthewsaint |
Posted - 03/05/2012 : 15:44:19
I have been researching supplements such as calcium, and they say that it is necessary for all reptiles to have a calcium supplement in their diet.
Is this true for ball pythons?
only I have never seen anyone talking about supplements. |
| 10 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Se7enS1ns |
Posted - 04/05/2012 : 13:54:28
Good response! |
| Lotabob |
Posted - 04/05/2012 : 13:10:13
Its not required to ascertain whats needed above what they get from their food. You give supplements, if its needed in the body its absorbed, if its not it will be passed. I dont believe its required to supplement on a large scale for snakes, I provide a very small infrequent amount as a backup should my snakes be lacking in anything. Wild snakes eat a varied diet and also do have exposure to UV something which they don't in captivity, supplements go some way to addressing this. To be honest take it or leave it, its not an absolute requirement just as its not an absolute requirement for humans to take vitamins but it does have its benefits, thats what Nutrobal is, the Sanatogen of the reptile world. |
| Se7enS1ns |
Posted - 03/05/2012 : 23:57:31
I'm not sure where I stand on supplements generally - how would you ascertain what (if any) is required on top of what they get naturally from their food? |
| Lotabob |
Posted - 03/05/2012 : 23:39:11
What I meant is in the correct dosage and limited use it wont cause any change in the poop of your snake. It is true that there is limits to how much of the supplements will be absorbed by the body and the rest will make a nutritious poop but if you are giving enough supplements to cause any ill effect at all you are giving far too much which is why I suggest not giving to a snake until at least 500 grams and you are better able to dose the supplements. Its all about being sensible and sticking to dosage guidelines or less. |
| Se7enS1ns |
Posted - 03/05/2012 : 23:06:22
quote:
Originally posted by Lotabob
It will not cause any difference in poo its not fibre or spices its vitamins lol.
Thats not strictly true Bob - not that I wish to debate on the subject too strongly, as I'm certainly no expert on the matter; however it is true that any species has a set ability to absorb / process vitamins and nutrients to a given level - and excesses to this limit are excreted naturally. So not necessarily poops, or limited to poops, but urates and urines too. We excrete through sweat too!
This is no less or more true for snakes or any other living being as it is in humans; try stocking up on vitamin C capsules from Holland and Barret and necking the whole box - it's not fibre or spices, it's vitamins, afterall, but I'll put money on you having the squits shortly afterwards 
Quite what a snakes "RDA" of calcium is though is anyones guess!! |
| Lotabob |
Posted - 03/05/2012 : 22:20:52
It will not cause any difference in poo its not fibre or spices its vitamins lol.
I use nutrobal once a month once my snakes. Only the bigger ones as its difficult to dose to smaller snakes (1 pinch per 1kg of snake). My thinking is that I have to have nutrobal in the house, I use it for my Gecko and my Frog and its not going to do them any harm at all to give them a few vitamins and calcium balancers etc. |
| matthewsaint |
Posted - 03/05/2012 : 20:21:08
This is true. I think I may just leave it haha. His poo smell is bad enough! |
| Se7enS1ns |
Posted - 03/05/2012 : 17:50:37
Bare in mind that it is true of any animal that they can only absorb a given amount of a vitamin - anything above that amount cannot be absorbed / prosessed and is simply excreted - so expect some particulalry smelly / runny poops as the body goes into "eject" mode
Also consider the source of the advise - of course a supliment producer is going to advise using it... it doesn't necesserily make it so. |
| matthewsaint |
Posted - 03/05/2012 : 16:28:30
ok thanks :)
I think I might try some kind of calcium supplement, and see if he grows any quicker or anything or looks healthier. Mind you he's looking pretty amazing for a normal at the minute.
I'll try it for a couple of months and post back to let you know if there was any great difference :) |
| n/a |
Posted - 03/05/2012 : 16:02:07
I for one have never used a calcium supplement. And my snakes are doing pretty well, though I say it myself.
A couple of years back I read a post on RFUK advocating supplements for snakes feeding on frozen/thawed rodents, as it was feared these lost necessary nutriments during the storage process.
I believe someone on here plans to use Nutrobal. Why not, can do no harm, and if I felt a supplement was needed, I'd use it too, but so far, so good, (fingers crossed of course.)
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