Seems that D3 thing comes into play no matter what these days when dealing with lizards, so I thought I would make a post to get everyones take on it since I didn't want to hijack V's ackie post....my two cents version...

To me it is no different then a diurnal snake such as colubrids, for years when I was a kid they all said you needed sunlight or UVB or they are going to die and never reproduce....well we all know that is a load now so I see it no different from any lizard that is able to get it from their food 100%...I know the plant eaters can't get it from the plants so they have to create it themselves from the food.

Something I would love for someone with more knowledge on the subject to explore would be the D3 drop argument, don't know if it is like the calcium where they would pass what they don't use or if to much would be a bad thing like with mammals...don't know enough about it to know how it is absorbed in the form of liquid vitamins or even if the stuff they claim is D3 really is D3...that would be an interesting topic to further get into also....

The main reason for the D3 and UVB in lizards and torts is for the proper use of calcium in their diet. Everyone figured out that in snakes and most smaller lizards the calcium issue is void do to the diet. Snakes get calcium from the bones of rodents and can digest and use it without the uvb issue. Lizards and torts need the uvb for correct usage of the vitamins.

Now, I am no expert on the matter by any means however I have spoke with many breeders and they say the uvb bulb thing is way over rated. Most use simple flouro tubes or the lower end uvb tubes with great success. I use a 5.0 tube with a cuttlebone rubbed together for calcium. (cuttlebones are 100% calcium and cost a penny compared to the powders) Best case would be some outdoor time a few times a week for natural uvb and D3 absorption.

Hope this helps some. I will let someone with more knowledge jump in and clarify this.

BTW what are you keeping?

BTW what are you keeping?

I'm not keeping anything that requires it now, just started this thread to get some hopefully indepth takes from others that keep or have kept them in the past....maybe some trial and error sort of stuff....always love to hear the trial and error stuff personally...

I kept beardies. I will post my setup later.

For my boxie and water turtles, I use a food that contains D3 and calcium.

Well I'm not much of a lizard person but I have lizards - if that makes sense. I know if the UV bulb in my Chams cage starts to loose it's juice they start showing their stress colors pretty quick. I have not seen any indication from the Beardie that her light is not up to par -- it's going on 6 months of use and I'm sure needs to be replaced.

As far as I know lizards are not able to absorb calcium without the Vit. D - don't know if that is just the ones that I own and have research or if that is for all Lizards. I read too much D supplementation is not healthy for them - causes kidney damage I believe -- don't take my word for it tho it's been some time since I looked this stuff up. I prefer to use lighting over the supplemental form of Vit. D. because the lizards can regulate that to their needs.