Calcium Citrate?

[Aellie]

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After reading in the care sheet and various threads that "pure calcium" can be found cheaper at health food stores, I decided to check one out and see what they carry. The store sells calcium citrate powder. Can this powder be left in a gecko's tank 24/7 instead of calcium carbonate? I have noticed that the word "carbonate" is underlined and in bold in the care sheet.

[Elizabeth Freer]

After reading in the care sheet and various threads that "pure calcium" can be found cheaper at health food stores, I decided to check one out and see what they carry. The store sells calcium citrate powder. Can this powder be left in a gecko's tank 24/7 instead of calcium carbonate? I have noticed that the word "carbonate" is underlined and in bold in the care sheet.

Yes, it is important to get the calcium carbonate.

[Aellie]

To be honest, I am a little confused by your answer. Is that actually a "no" to my question?

[Elizabeth Freer]

Yes, it is important to get the calcium carbonate.

To be honest, I am a little confused by your answer. Is that actually a "no" to my question?

That is a "no" answer to your question regarding calcium citrate.

[aquamentus_11]

calcium citrate is more readily available for use by the body than calcium carbonate so a little goes a long way. i've tried to think of a reason why they say not to use it for geckos, but all i can figure is that we're talking about long-term, maintenance of Ca2+ levels so no need to use the big guns. if you were to use it like the normal calcium carbonate powder, you'd quickly run into hypercalcemia: constipation, gas, etc. even if you were to be careful, i wouldn't give a tiny, non-human human-approved supplements. you think herbal/supplement companies care about us? they're not under government control and so can throw pretty much anything they want into that bottle.

[Aellie]

Battlecat? Who do you think you are, He-man?

i wouldn't give a tiny, non-human human-approved supplements.

This is my sentiment as well. Then again, there are some reptile-specific products that are scary too. Figured I would research some of the stuff I've been reading.

[aquamentus_11]

well he came with the red armor

[Elizabeth Freer]

calcium citrate is more readily available for use by the body than calcium carbonate so a little goes a long way. i've tried to think of a reason why they say not to use it for geckos, but all i can figure is that we're talking about long-term, maintenance of Ca2+ levels so no need to use the big guns. if you were to use it like the normal calcium carbonate powder, you'd quickly run into hypercalcemia: constipation, gas, etc. even if you were to be careful, i wouldn't give a tiny, non-human human-approved supplements. you think herbal/supplement companies care about us? they're not under government control and so can throw pretty much anything they want into that bottle.

Hi Nate ~

Thanks for this share...great post! Helps ALL to know the reason why.

[Peter B]

If you can find calcium-lactate try that one. It is much better absorbed by the body than carbonate. I think the citrate will be more acidic than the lactate and surely than the carbonate. Both citrate and lactate dissolve in water.Carbonate doesn't.

[aquamentus_11]

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if you guys really want to try this stuff, maybe cut the number of times per week that you use the calcium in half. personally, i'd see what you can read on the subject before actually going through with it. peter, you sound like a chemically-inclined guy; have you heard of anyone using these alternate forms of calcium with their reptiles?