ReptiCal and other vitamin supplements?

[Koula]

Hey guys, is it really worth using any of them supplement things for spotted pythons? I got two small containers of this "Repti-cal" stuff, says it's "Natural Phosphorus Free Calcium and Vitamin D3 Supplement".

Is this safe to use, or be beneficial to a young spotted python if I lightly sprinkled some on a fuzzy every 5th or so feed?

The other container I have says its expiry date was April 05... is it still "okay" to use, I can't see grinded up clam shell with D3 vits "going off" like normal food does... but still... any advice?

[Jonathon]

you dont need to use it for snakes. The mice you feed it have all the vitamins and minerals your snake needs to be healthy

[Koula]

Coolies, thanks for that - but this stuff is still good for eastern common blue-tongues, ey?

[herptrader]

Australian Pythons need very little in the way of suppliments as said. A bit of UV light seems to be useful for some but that is about it.

Rep-Cal Calcium and Herp-t-vite are excellent suppliments but save them for your lizards and frogs.

[Jonathon]

Ykeep giving it to your blueys every now and then. Give the calcium more often than the vitamin supp.

[Koula]

What about the stuff that "expired" in April? Is that useless now, or still okay to use? *eats stuff after its best-by-date sometimes and never had any troubles*

[africancichlidau]

*eats stuff after its best-by-date sometimes and never had any troubles*

If you take risks with your own health why not with that of your animals?

[Koula]

Bah... I wont eat anything past it's "use-by" date... anything after the best-by date is usually a little stale, but still good. Don't worry guys, I just don't like stuff going to waste unneccesarily - I'll be using the new container and ditching the old (just that it's still 2/3rds full). ^^'

[Hix]

Swift Rat:

I can't speak for Veterinary products (and that's what these are), but from a human food perspective I can tell you what the difference is.

A Use-by-date is the date that the food must be consumed by if kept under the correct storage conditions. To consume it after this date poses a serious health risk. It is illegal for goods to be sold after their Use-by-date. Examples include milk, meat, chilled oysters etc.

A Best-Before date is the date the manufacturer guarantees the quality of the product (assuming the food is not abused i.e. subjected to extremes of temperatures). After that date the food is still edible, but the manufacturer doesn't guarantee the taste. In most cases the food is certainly edible and in many cases doesn't taste any diferent. It is legal to sell food after it's Best-before, and many businesses will sell the product at a reduced price. Near where I live is a weekly market and one of the vendors there sells food that is close to or past it's best before. The food is very cheap and tastes fine!

However: medicines are not classed as food. They come under the scrutiny of the TGA, and may have differences as far as Use-by-dates go (I don't think they have Best-befores). Veterinary products may be similar, but as you said "I can't see grinded up clam shell with D3 vits "going off" like normal food does".



Hix

[herptrader]

FWIW I have been told that the Rep-Cal suppliments will last well beyond their use by dates if kept cool. It was recomended that it be kept in the fridge if your rate of usage would see you supply last well beyond the use by date.