Vitamin D

Question
hello
i would like to ask about supplement of vitamin D for a red slider turtle. I now that they need the UV light but i have a reason for not using it. is there any way to supply vitamin D without the light? what about the human Vitamin D, is it possible, because there is not a vitamin D supplement for turtles in stores.
thank you

Answer
Miri,

You can supply vitamin D without the light, but it's not without risk.  I used a product for a couple years (here's the link):
http://www.reptilesupply.com/product.php?products_id=55 I've since stopped using it and just keep my lights fresh.  It's so much easier and safer.

The danger comes because the vitamin is already activated.  Your turtle can get too much.  The Miner-all products I linked you to provides small amounts so you can dust their food more often.  For RES, you can cut a slit in a dead fish, and put some vitamin inside, and hold it until the turtle bites it from your hand.  They should get some vitamins down their throat.  I think D3 is fat-soluble, and not water-soluble, so it can get tricky and messy.

If you give too much, it could lead to stuff like liver failure, I think, or something like that (I'm being lazy right now to look it up).

Now, even if you could be successful with the activated D3 fiasco, I am willing to bet a lot of money (if I had it, which I don't, so don't get excited) that broad spectrum lighting does more for reptiles than simply activates one vitamin.  Scientists can't even get baby formula to be the same as breast milk, for goodness sake, so it'll be years and years before poor turtles get their complete metabolic needs researched.

For one thing, I think basking turtles are happier.  I mean, I'm a human living in Seattle (suicide capitol of the US I hear) and I can tell you for a fact that Seattle folks are less happy than Southern Cali folks because I've lived there too.  It's quite obviously due to the differences in sunlight.

In case my very pursuasive argument has won you over (please please please pretty please)here is some info on lighting.

http://redearslider.com/light_sources.html

Another option, if you live in a warm part of the US, is to do vitamin D supplements in the winter, and build the turtle an outside pond in the summer - or take him out to a kiddy pool every day.  That should be enough for him to stay healthy without an artificial light.