Vitamin D and snails...

[Bettacreek]

Well, I've been hearing a good bit about theories on the calcium pills with vitamin D possibly causing problems in snails, if fed too often. I think I'm going to do a test on it. I'll probably mainly work with MTS (I can get babies to start from birth very easily, as compared to the other species of snails, the babies of those snails are too small for me to really see). Anyone interested in helping out with either the planning or run a "sister" test of their own? Or, if anybody knows of a link to a test/research already done on this, then it would be pointless for me to check it out. I'm curious on exactly how often you could get away with feeding the pills with added vitamin D without ill effects.

 

[Lupin]

I tried Caltrate with Vitamin D before. I dosed one tablet of 600mg per tank every 2-3 days and this was done for two to three weeks before I discovered Tums with the help of a local hobbyist when I made a thread about calcium pills available in a local forum. The time frame involved though isn't sufficient evidence to see if the Vitamin D is indeed toxic and I didn't want my snails at risk anyway when I discovered the Vitamin D might have consequences to their health although the snails remained unfazed anyway.

Whatever Caltrate has, it doesn't cloud up the water as well compared to Tums. Tums is pure calcium carbonate with a little flavor ranging from strawberry to orange added. I've used Tums daily with no ill effects minus the week long vacation which I didn't ask anyone to do so for fear they mght mess around my tank and going home to see disasters around.

I could try a test but I'll figure out when I could do that. It's yuletide season right now so I don't want my cash drained to an experiment on Caltrate with Vitamin D involved since I have snail orders and gifts coming. It doesn't hurt to try though. A few pond snails and MTS are worth experimenting for. If ever I am able to manage my time to conduct an experiment, I'll use the pond snails but not my canas and brigs. The species used might just be one of the factors that could influence the outcome of usage of calcium brands with Vitamin D.

Here are the snippets of recent discussions in www.applesnail.net about the potency of Vitamin D. I had discussed this a few times with them and I was just peeved from using Caltrate with Vitamin D again after it was pointed out the Vitamin D may have a potential to cause ill effects to the snails and I hate to see my snails suffer from excessive intake.

Per Pamelajo...
http://www.applesnail.net/forum3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=19007
It enhances calcium absortion, but if given in excess it is the most toxic of all vitamins. Supplements containing Vit. D in concentrated form are not safe. Adults should be careful when taking Vit. D. Keep out of reach of children.

Annie Anderson's detailed response about Vitamin D.
Thanks Pam, that's one thing I knew about both vitamin D and A. The oil soluble vitamins can cause overdosing quickly as they are not excreted from the body in urine, they are stored in fat cells. Calcium is absorbed and works better in the human body if it's combined with vitamin D and magnesium. It's very hard to overdose on a vitamin like C--the excess is quickly flushed out of the body. To be safe, unless a doctor tells you you have a deficiency in a certain vitamin and need to take an extra amount, take a good multi-vitamin and only take extra C when you feel like you're getting sick with a cold. It sometimes helps the immune system to ward it off or not get as bad a cold.

And any of the minerals taken in excess can cause you to be sick. They are only needed in trace amounts. Even zinc that is taken to prevent sickness should only be taken twice a day to prevent poinsoning--and only when you start feeling sick with a cold or flu.

This is why I always try to get the Caltrate without D for my snails. I have used it with D if I can't find the plain kind and haven't had any bad side effects from it. I don't use it often tho. It's not something that's naturally found in the snails wild environment but they have other sources of it in the rivers and ponds they live in that we can't get.

Badflash's line.
http://www.applesnail.net/forum3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=16997
D is an oil soluable vitamin. I'm not sure what it would do in water. I'd stick with foods high in calcium and D. Most of the green stuff we feed them already fits the bill.