Enoch the Western Toad.

[Greg M]

Hi Jace,

Don't worry - there is evidence that toads can recover from vitamin A deficiency and resume normal feeding. One example in the published literature is in the introduction of A complex Enrichment Diet improves growth and health in the endangered Wyoming toad (Bufo baxteri) - Li - 2009 - Zoo Biology - Wiley Online Library , which I think is an interesting paper for a variety of reasons. In short, 90% of severely affected Boreal toads resumed normal feeding and growth patterns within 3 months with supplementation (Li et al., 2009). My (very) big boy had that problem and recovered, hence my familiarity with the subject. pm me if you decide you want to try the Repashy...

Greg

[Jace]

I found Zoo Med's Reptivite with D3 that has...let's see....Vitamin a 99, 910 IU per lb or 220, 264 IU per kg. I honestly have no idea what that means but it was the only vitamin supplement I could find that even listed Vitamin A. Is this better than nothing? I will phone my fav petstore tomorrow and talk to them about Repashy and do some sluething on line. I will start Enoch on this supplement tonight. Let me know what you think. And thanks again Greg-I really appreciate all your help!

[Greg M]

Hi Jace,

I used Reptivite for a while. It has Vitamin A acetate, which is biologically available to toads (as far as I can tell from a cursory review of the literature), and is the same vitamin A form that is used in Repashy Calcium Plus. The Vitamin A content in the Reptivite is much higher (220, 264 IU/Kg) than in the Repashy formulation (80, 000 IU/Kg). I think you should be fine with Reptivite, although my toads object to the taste - they like the Repashy formulation better... There may, of course, be other issues that make one better than the other (and that are beyond me). I know Allen has spent a lot of time working on the Calcium Plus, so that it complements the crickets nutritional value...

Cheers,
Greg