Calcium with vitD3 or without vit D3?

[guilletto]

You may also consider this important point"

"Phosphorus is also an important component of bones and must also be included with calcium in the diet.Consequently, amphibians must have adequate calcium and phosphorus in their diet, and sufficientVitamin D3 must be supplied through the diet or by UV-B lights."

Source: UV-B, Vitamin D3, and amphibian health and behaviour Dr Robert Browne, Postdoctoral Fellow, robert.browne@gmail.com; and Dr. Francis Vercammen, Veterinary Officer,Center for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, Belgium.

You re absolutely right ! I'm studying vet and the calcium is integrately relationated with phosphorus. Depend on the spp, there must be a suitable proportion

[flybyferns]

https://aark.portal.isis.org/researc...tamin%20d3.pdf

https://aark.portal.isis.org/researc...0nutrition.pdf

above link ------------includes---------- the quoted information below :

>Nutrients
The proximate composition for feed, including the calcium/phosphorus ratio and lipid/protein ratio, has
mainly received the focus of amphibian nutrition. However, recent studies have shown that the
adequate provision of micro-nutrients may be major requirement for balanced nutrition. In particular
with current knowledge these are Vitamins D3, Vitamin A, and carotenoids. The levels of micronutrients, minerals, and protein and lipid percentage composition and type all vary between prey
species. There are also general regional differences in prey nutritional composition. For instance in
cold climates all thermo-regulators tend to have higher levels of unsaturated fatty acids to retain
metabolism and flexibility, and in tropical rainforests with leaching the levels of minerals and vitamins
may be lower. There is an established commercial industry for the production of amphibians for
consumption. The development of this industry has been supported by nutrition studies of both larval
and adult stages.
Lipids
Lipids (oils and fats) are important in amphibian diet both in their quantity and quality. Too greater
percentage of lipids in the diet can lead to either obesity, or an imbalance in the diet in respect to
protein or other nutrients. Not only must the amount of lipids be optimal but also the types of lipids.
In particular the amounts and types of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids must be balanced.
Insects range from less than 10% to more than 30% fats on a fresh weight basis, and are relatively
high in the essential C18 fatty acids, oleic acid (18: 1), linoleic acid (18:2) and linolenic acid (18:3)
(DeFoliart, 1991). The Coleoptera (beetles and weevils) are generally particularly high in C 18:2 while
the Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) are particularly high in C 18:3 (Fast, 1970).
The essential fatty acids, provide precursors for the hormone-like compounds needed for localized
metabolic regulation in many tissues, to regulate cellular lipid metabolism, are required for growth
(Dadd 1983), and regulate the fluidity of the membranes in thermo-conforming organisms (StanleySamuelson et al 1988). Vertebrate metabolic studies show that vertebrates are poor at metabolising
new forms of fatty acids and so they should be provided in diet. For a discussion of unsaturated fatty
acids in diet see Li et al. (2009). The best current method to provide greater amounts of unsaturated
fatty acids, and probably all special and micro-nutrients, is through feeder invertebrate dietary
supplementation (Li et al. 2009).
Protein and carbohydrates
As insectivores amphibian diets will naturally be 30% to 60% protein (McWilliams 2008). For instance
Commercial diets for the bullfrog (Rana catesbieana) showed pathology at 16% protein and good
health and growth at 23% protein (Coppo and Mussart, 2005). MartÃ*nez et al. (2004) showed that
Rana perezi juveniles showed the best growth and health when fed trout fodder with a composition of
46% protein, 22% lipids, and 13.5% carbohydrates. 45% protein was found the optimum for R.
catesbieana tadpoles (Carmona-Osalde et al., 1996). There is probably only a negligible amount of
calorific value in carbohydrates from amphibian diets. Amphibians fed diets with excessive fibre have
developed intestinal blockage, but the effects of the amounts of digestible carbohydrate is unknown
(McWilliams, 2008). Minerals
Macro-minerals; Calcium and phosphorus
For example, Yoshimi et al. (1996) found that frogs crickets raised on cricket diet then dusted with
mineral supplement developed hypercalcemia and tissue mineralization from too much of either
dietary calcium or vitamin D3. Calcium can be absorbed through the skin of adult amphibians
(Kingsbury and Fenwick, 1989), and through the gills in larvae (Baldwin and Bentley, 1980).
Micro(trace)-minerals; Iodine deficiency in tadpoles can cause spindly leg and retard or prevent
metamorphosis (Wright and Whitaker, 2001).
Vitamins
Vitamin A
A deficiency of vitamin A can develop in captive amphibians if they do not have a source of dietary
vitamin A. Amphibians cannot synthesize carotinoids, including vitamin A (retinal) (Wright 2006).
However, it is not known if vitamin A precursors are dietary essentials. Vitamin A promotes healthy
skin, it is a yellow pigment in amphibian colour (Frost-Mason et al. 1994); and required for calcium
metabolism. Too little Vitamin A (hypovitaminosis A) causes “short tongue syndrome” (reduced ability
to capture live prey with the tongue), with lethargy, weight loss and finally death (Li et al., 2009;
Pessier et al., 2005; Wright 2006). Excessive Vitamin A develops in captive amphibian animals
through feed enriched with too much vitamin A; amphibians fed mammalian livers and/or whole
immature rodents are at risk for developing hypervitaminosis A include NMBD, anemia, liver disease
and weight loss (Crawshaw 2003). Li et al. 2009 showed that enriching crickets with fish oils and
carotenoids improved growth and prevented squamous metaplasia.
Vitamin D
For a review of Vitamin D3 in amphibians see Browne and Antwis (2009), and in ‘UV-B, Vitamin D3
and amphibian health and behaviour’. Too much Vitamin D3 (hypervitaminosis D) can come from over
supplementing feed or from diets of goldfish (Frye 1992). A deficiency of vitamin D3 can be related to
a dietary deficiency and low UV-B and causes bone deformities, seizures, oedema, poor growth,
reproductive problems, muscle weakness, anorexia, gut stasis and constipation. Hatching failure can
occur even in females without sufficient exposure to UVB on an adequate diet with adequate vitamin
D3 and calcium (Ferguson et al. 2002). >

other:
http://www.academicjournals.org/jpap...%20et%20al.pdf

lighting:

http://www.uvguide.co.uk/

below - current lighting information/experiment

http://www.anapsid.org/jamesball.html

gut loading/cricket enrichment
http://www.bioteck.org/Amphibian%20H...Enrichment.htm

[guilletto]

good investigation work! =) being spanish (but future vet) i have understood every word of the Calcius' physiology.