Can You Put Reptile Calcium on Wax Worms?

Wax worms, the larvae of the wax moth (Galleria mellonella), are a popular live feeder insect for reptiles. They are high in protein and fat, and they are readily accepted by most reptiles. However, wax worms are also low in calcium, which is an essential nutrient for reptiles.

Why Do Reptiles Need Calcium?

Calcium is essential for a variety of bodily functions in reptiles, including:

• Bone growth and development
• Muscle function
• Nerve transmission
• Blood clotting

Without adequate calcium, reptiles can develop a variety of health problems, including:

• Metabolic bone disease
• Rickets
• Osteoporosis
• Paralysis

Can You Put Reptile Calcium on Wax Worms?

Yes, you can put reptile calcium on wax worms. This is a common practice among reptile owners, and it is a good way to ensure that your reptile is getting enough calcium.

There are two ways to put reptile calcium on wax worms:

1. Dust the wax worms with calcium powder. To do this, simply place the wax worms in a plastic bag with some calcium powder and shake the bag until the worms are evenly coated.
2. Gut-load the wax worms with calcium-rich food. To do this, feed the wax worms a diet of high-calcium foods, such as gut-loaded crickets or mealworms.

Which method is better?

Both methods of supplementing wax worms with calcium are effective. Dusting the worms with calcium powder is a quick and easy way to get calcium into your reptile's diet. However, gut-loading the worms is a more natural way to provide calcium, and it also provides your reptile with other essential nutrients.

How Often Should You Put Calcium on Wax Worms?

The frequency with which you should put calcium on wax worms depends on the age and species of your reptile. Younger reptiles need more calcium than older reptiles, and some species of reptiles require more calcium than others.

As a general rule, you should put calcium on wax worms:

• Every day for young reptiles
• Every other day for adult reptiles
• Once a week for pregnant or nursing reptiles

What Kind of Reptile Calcium Should You Use?

There are a variety of reptile calcium supplements available on the market. Some of the most popular brands include:

• Rep-Cal
• Zoo Med
• Fluker's

When choosing a reptile calcium supplement, be sure to look for one that is:

• High in calcium
• Low in phosphorus
• Free of vitamin D3

Vitamin D3 is a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for calcium absorption. However, too much vitamin D3 can be harmful to reptiles.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

There are a few common mistakes that people make when putting calcium on wax worms. These mistakes include:

• Using too much calcium. Too much calcium can be harmful to reptiles. Follow the instructions on the calcium supplement package for the correct dosage.
• Using a calcium supplement that is too high in phosphorus. Phosphorus can bind to calcium and prevent it from being absorbed. Choose a calcium supplement that is low in phosphorus.
• Using a calcium supplement that contains vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 can be harmful to reptiles. Choose a calcium supplement that is free of vitamin D3.
• Not dusting the wax worms evenly. Make sure that the wax worms are evenly coated with calcium powder.
• Not gut-loading the wax worms with calcium-rich food. Gut-loading the wax worms is a more natural way to provide calcium.

How to Put Calcium on Wax Worms

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Place the wax worms in a plastic bag.
2. Add a small amount of calcium powder to the bag.
3. Shake the bag until the worms are evenly coated.
4. Feed the wax worms to your reptile.

Tips:

• You can also gut-load the wax worms with calcium-rich food, such as gut-loaded crickets or mealworms.
• If your reptile is not eating enough wax worms, you can try mixing them with other live feeder insects, such as crickets or mealworms.
• You can also offer your reptile a calcium supplement in a separate dish.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Easy to do
• Inexpensive
• Effective way to provide calcium
• Can also be used to gut-load wax worms

Cons:

• Can be messy
• May not be as natural as gut-loading
• Not all reptiles like the taste of calcium powder

Stories

Story 1:

A bearded dragon named Spike was having trouble shedding his skin. His owner, Sarah, took him to the vet, who diagnosed him with metabolic bone disease. The vet told Sarah that Spike was not getting enough calcium in his diet. Sarah started dusting Spike's wax worms with calcium powder every day, and within a few weeks, Spike's skin problems cleared up.

Story 2:

A leopard gecko named Leo was not growing properly. His owner, Tom, took him to the vet, who diagnosed him with rickets. The vet told Tom that Leo was not getting enough calcium in his diet. Tom started gut-loading Leo's wax worms with calcium-rich food, and within a few months, Leo was growing normally again.

Story 3:

A ball python named Python was having trouble laying eggs. Her owner, Mary, took her to the vet, who diagnosed her with a calcium deficiency. The vet told Mary that Python was not getting enough calcium in her diet. Mary started dusting Python's wax worms with calcium powder every day, and within a few weeks, Python was able to lay eggs again.

What We Can Learn from These Stories

The stories above illustrate the importance of providing your reptile with adequate calcium. Calcium is essential for a variety of bodily functions, and a deficiency can lead to a variety of health problems.

If you are concerned that your reptile is not getting enough calcium, talk to your veterinarian. Your veterinarian can recommend a calcium supplement and provide you with instructions on how to use it.

Tables

Table 1: Recommended Daily Calcium Intake for Reptiles

Table 2: Calcium Content of Common Feeder Insects

Table 3: Reptile Calcium Supplements