Feeding and Nutrition :: vitamin d3 help

[danshun77]

I currently have a 10.0 uvb light but
I was wondering if I gave my turtle the vitamin supplement D3
could it replace the light?
No intentions to do this just curious what you all thought.

[octpusgirl8]

There is a lot of debate on the subject. My feeling is that we all know that a UVB lamp does the job, so why fool around with artificial methods and risk the health of the turtle.

[megcornell]

I've been giving one of my turtles D3 supplement, and the other has a UVB light.
When I first got the turtle on D3 his eyes were very sensitive and the UVB light really affected him badly. Now that he's more healthy and rambuctious I think he's ready for light again, but haven't switched it over as I'm going to be moving next month. But in any case, I haven't seen any adverse effects of him not having UVB (he certainly didn't have it in his prior home either).


Have you found your turtle to be irritated by the 10.0 bulb? A lot of people notice eye irritation with such a strong bulb.

[danshun77]

my 10.0 bulb is about 10 inches away from where he basks... His eyes look really healthy I thought they needed at least a 10.0. oops,I guess ill be changing that today thanx for the advice

[Chrisbarnett]

Well, no need to change it if the turtle is healthy and his eyes are fine.

I have a 7% in my tank, but would never mess with putting in d3 supplements instead of UVB lighting. JMO.

[steve]

I do make sure that their pellets contain some D3. Reptomin and HBH are brands that do.

[scripta_elegans]

D3 is a fat soluable vitamin, which means that it is waaaay too easy to over do. The side effects of too much D3 can be just as bad as not enough. THe UVB light allows the turt to synthesize the amount they need, and to stop making it when they have enough to metabolize the calcium that they need. D3 can't be passed out of the system the way that water soluable vitamins can, which is what makes it rather tricky to use as a supplement.