My FBT Photo Thread

[Heatheranne]

UVB rays help us to produce vitamin D, which helps with calcium absorption.

Here is a nice article about humans and UVB, but the data will help you to understand.

It is important that we provide calcium with vitamin D3 to our frogs in captivity because of the lack of calcium in the insects we provide. In nature, the insects that frogs and toads eat often eat leafy green plants that are calcium-rich. This is why we also recommend gut-loading insects fed to our frogs.

Cases of metabolic bone disease and symptoms of low blood calcium starting becoming a problem when humans had amphibians without proper supplementation. Many would lose vital organ functions and mobility due to lack of smooth, skeletal and cardiac muscle abilities, progressing to deformities, inabilities, intestinal problems, and even seizures, heart attacks, and death, with several other disabilities in between. After these findings became recurrent, supplements were produced and UVB lighting to assist with vitamin D production.

Calcium supplements with vitamin D3 are fine if used with a consistent and proper schedule with feelings. Only certain frog species require additional UVB lighting. However, many reptiles do require UVB.

Here is the article.

http://www.health.harvard.edu/mens-h...nd-your-health