in the wild

[scw]

why do we have to give calcium and vits so much if on natural weed and sun diet. How do they get calcium and vit in wild and do so well.

[luke123]

they get calcium from powerful sun, i think this is the case anyway but our uv tubes are no where near as powerful as the sun

[-EJ]

You don't.

I don't use supplements and raise good looking critters.

The key is to provide a balanced diet. This is why I push the manufactured diets as I do.

That balance can be provided with a varied diet but you would need a well planted yard or be very diligent in your provision of a varied diet.

Ed

Originally Posted by scw

why do we have to give calcium and vits so much if on natural weed and sun diet. How do they get calcium and vit in wild and do so well.

[scw]

i though they get vd3 from the sun 2 help absorb calcium

[Tina]

The food they eat in the wild is more calcium rich (from growing on calcium rich soil) than in the UK. Provitamin D is obtained (by a chemical reaction in their skin) from exposure to uvb (sunlight) which is converted by temperature to Vitamin D in their bodies.

So in captivity we provide limestone flour to replace the calcium rich plants they would eat in the wild, uvb tubes and Vit D3 supplements (if not exposed to natural sunlight at all) to replace the sunlight and basking areas to replace the heat.