Occelated skink

[-Exotic]

Alrighty I bought a occelated skink with a heat lamp and all but I cant afford a uvb light ( the ones at the cooling area) what should I do?

 

[kupo969]

People generally have their own opinion about UVB lighting. Some say it's totally necessary and other say their herps have done fine without them(I'm sure you know that UVB lighting is for better calcium intake).

I don't have one because I don't have the money for it so I just coat his/her (Eumeces schneideri) food more often with calcium.

 

[-Exotic]

So I guess I should just count the food item with calcium d3 powder like for every feeding?

 

[Shagrath666]

People generally have their own opinion about UVB lighting. Some say it's totally necessary and other say their herps have done fine without them(I'm sure you know that UVB lighting is for better calcium intake).

I don't have one because I don't have the money for it so I just coat his/her (Eumeces schneideri) food more often with calcium.

while it is the calcium they get from UVB, mainly it is used for vitamin D-3 absorption, and that is taken care of with most calcium dusting supplements but be careful b/c you can overdose with dusting and give too much D-3 causing bad sheds or (very rarely but ive seen it happen) death. thats why most people prefer UVB cause the animal self regulates the amount of D-3 it gets. but if you dont have the money 4 UVB occasional dusting is just fine

 

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Alright I was getting worried I have armadilo lizards and the people ( which I trusted foolishly) said that every feed there food must be dusted., since im getting the impression it may be over dosing im gonig to stop.

 

[Shagrath666]

Alright I was getting worried I have armadilo lizards and the people ( which I trusted foolishly) said that every feed there food must be dusted., since im getting the impression it may be over dosing im gonig to stop.

I breed Acanthosaura capra and armata (mountain horned dragons), and i dose extra calcium to get the proper calcium ratio in the eggs and i only dose every third feeding. Lemme guess, the person who told you to use it every feeding was the one selling ti to you? i dont want to be mean to whoever told u that but that is ussually the case, they want to sell more, or they were uninformed by a person who wanted to sell more dusting stuffs. or if you want to avoid dusting entirely, earthworms are an EXCELLENT source of calcium with the amount of dirt the process plus most herps love em just feed those once a week and you will be good.

 

[JohnEDove]

while it is the calcium they get from UVB, mainly it is used for vitamin D-3 absorption,

you meant that in the reverse order, did you not?

to the OP
Chalchides Ocellatus ocellatus spends very little time above the surface in the wild and has very little if any requirement for the D3 provided from the sun. I'd go with calcium dusted prey, no D3 added.

 

[Shagrath666]

you meant that in the reverse order, did you not?

to the OP
Chalchides Ocellatus ocellatus spends very little time above the surface in the wild and has very little if any requirement for the D3 provided from the sun. I'd go with calcium dusted prey, no D3 added.

im pretty sure they get vitamin D-3 from UBV, like you an i and any animal, and D-3 helps with calcium absorption within the body. Calcium is an element, light cannot transfer an element, thus calcuim is not absorbed through UVB. but at any rate you are right about Chalchides Ocellatus ocellatus being a burrower and dusting would most likely be the route to go.

 

[JohnEDove]

im pretty sure they get vitamin D-3 from UBV, like you an i and any animal, and D-3 helps with calcium absorption within the body. Calcium is an element, light cannot transfer an element, thus calcuim is not absorbed through UVB.

Exactly the point I was making, they get the D3 from the UVB not "it is the calcium they get from UVB"

 

[Shagrath666]

Exactly the point I was making, they get the D3 from the UVB not "it is the calcium they get from UVB"

sorry, i miss-typed in my original post at least we are all on the same page now, sorry for the miscommunication

 

[ShellsandScales]

Calcium must be ingested true, D3 is used by the body to process/utilize calcium. Light connot transmit D3 either, it stimulates the production of D3. D3 is produced by the body with exposure to UVB(it may also be ingested but this is the part that is under speculation, wether or not ingested D3 is as effective as D3 produced by the body and frankly I just don't trust the suppliment companys when it comes to D3, many powders simply don't include it). Without UVB, ingested calcium is not utilized nearly as effictively by the body and passes through in their feces. Their body will use some calcium but the majority isn't absorbed without ample D3. For diurnal(sp? i was never good at english){awake in the day} species UVB is essential. Even some nocturnal species have proven to do better when given UVB at proper daytime intervals.{ex. Triblonatus Gracilis. In one zoo, I believe cincinatti but don't quote me on location, these skinks were developing MBD as they grew and the zoo put them under UVB even though they are very reclusive and nocturnal. After the introduction of UVB they stopped developing MBD and recovered.} I don't use UVB for my Triblonatus Gracilis, however, it is worth noting.
It is absolutely essential for diurnals however. They may appear to be fine for a long time, especially if they are fed very well, however, over time they will loose bone density and eventually develop metabolic bone disease. This isn't speculation it is proven veterinary fact.