Zoo Med Reptivite Reptile Vitamins with D3 make it easy to make sure your box turtle (and all your reptiles) get the calcium and vitamins he needs.

According to Zoo Med, this formulation was originally developed specifically to treat soft-shell problems in turtles at the San Diego Zoo. Now it’s available to any reptile keeper to help them keep their own turtles and other reptiles healthy. And it’s still a top choice for many zoos worldwide.

It’s all natural and doesn’t contain fillers like soy or sugars.

Much like humans, it’s best for reptiles to get their vitamins from their food. But it can be hard to be sure they’re getting enough. So a supplement can be helpful.

Keep reading for more about Reptivite with D3:

Jump to the Section You’re Most Interested In
Sizes & Ingredients       How to Use       Will Your Pet Eat It?
Pros & Cons               Check Prices               Pros & Cons

Reptivite with D3 Sizes and Ingredients

This vitamin supplement comes in 5 sizes:

• 2 oz.
• 8 oz
• 16 oz
• 2-1/2 lb
• 5 lb

For most home enthusiasts, the two biggest sizes are going to be way too much. But depending on how many animals you have, it could be worth getting either the 8-oz or 16-oz size. The per-ounce price is generally lower for bigger sizes and it’ll last you a while.

One of the hardest things to make sure your box turtle is getting enough of is calcium. And according to Zoo Med’s analysis, Reptivite with D3 is at least 24.9% calcium and up to 28%. It also has the optimal 2:1 ratio of calcium to phosphorus, to help keep bones and shell strong and healthy.

Plus, as the name says, it also has the D3 he needs to be able to use that calcium.

Please do note: Because it contains D3, you do need to be careful not to give your pet too much. Too much D3 can be dangerous and even fatal. If your pet gets enough UVB exposure, you don’t need to add D3 to his diet. In that case, consider using ReptiVite without D3 instead.

But this supplement is more than just a calcium supplement. It helps ensure your boxie gets all the nutrition he needs. Other needed nutrients include:

• Amino acids: These help digest protein. According to Zoo Med, this is the first reptile vitamin to contain the complete complex.
• Vitamin C: Helps keep the immune system strong (just like you)
• Vitamin K: Helps keep the liver healthy and prevent bleeding.

These are all human-grade vitamins, too. And there are no fillers like soy or yeast. In other words, you could safely eat it, too.

You can find the complete analysis on the Zoo Med website, if you’re interested.

Now, if your box turtle is eating a varied diet, you may not strictly need vitamin supplements (you may still need calcium supplements, since that’s a little harder to supply enough of). But if your pet is a picky eater (yes, captive box turtles can get quite picky), dusting his food with this stuff a couple times a week can put your mind at ease that you’re doing your best for him.

(Back to Top)

Ease of Use/How to Feed ReptiVite with D3

According to Zoo Med, this is an ultrafine, super stick formula, meaning that it will stick to your pet’s foods, so she eats more of it rather than wasting it.

Just dust it lightly on whatever you’re feeding your boxie. That includes everything from fruits & veggies to mealworms, grasshoppers and crickets.

Use it 2-3 times a week, but not more often. This formulation contains D3 which is very important to your boxie’s health, but is also dangerous at too high levels.

As long as your pet is also getting nutritious foods, 3 times per week should be plenty. If your pet’s not eating much or your vet thinks she needs vitamins more often, ReptiVite also comes in a D3-free version.

(Back to Top)

Do Box Turtles Like it?

Some reptile owners (with various kinds of pets) believe their pets seem to like this vitamin powder. We can’t say for sure if that’s true, but we haven’t seen any reviews or had any experiences where an animal has avoided food dusted with this vitamin powder.

And that’s really to main goal: for them to keep eating normally and get extra vitamins and minerals while doing that.

Reptivite accomplishes that.

If you have a different experience with your pet, please share!

(Back to Top)

Pros and Cons Summary

 
If your box turtle needs extra vitamins and D3, this product seems to be a good choice. But there are risks to giving too much. So if you don’t need it, it’s best not to use it (if you’re not sure, check with a vet). This is not a case where “it can’t hurt.” If you’re not sure what you’re doing, it actually can hurt.

Pros:

• Provides calcium your boxie needs for bone and shell growth.
• Includes the correct ratio of calcium:phosphorus your turtle’s body needs
• Provides Vitamin D3 to ensure your pet’s body can use the calcium
• Provides a wide variety of vitamins and minerals so you don’t have to worry as much if your pet will only eat certain foods

Cons:

• Too much Vitamin D3 can be fatal, so you have to be careful about how much you give

You will notice we have cautioned strongly about the dangers of overdosing on D3. But we don’t mean to alarm you. D3 is very important for your pet, and if he needs it, you should give it to him. Overdosing with oral D3 is not too terribly common (it’s more likely with injected D3). As long as you’re using only a little bit no more than 3 times a week, you should be fine. But again, if you have any doubts, it’s best to talk with a vet before using this product.

(Back to Top)

Check Prices and Availability

Ready to get your pet his very own multi-vitamin? We offer a few links to stores that sell it:

• Amazon sells three sizes: 2-oz, 8-oz and 16-oz bottles
• PetCo sells the 8-oz size. You can get a discount if you sign up for automatic shipping.

 

(Back to Top)