What two critical mineral elements must be dusted onto prey to prevent Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) in captive *Lepidophyma flavimaculatum*?
Calcium and vitamin D3
Ensuring the correct nutritional balance for captive Yellow-spotted Night Lizards hinges on providing adequate specific minerals to prevent serious health conditions like Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD), which causes abnormal bone growth. The critical elements required for skeletal health are Calcium and Vitamin D3. Care sheets dictate that feeder insects must be dusted with a powder mixture containing these two components regularly. This supplementation practice is vital because it helps the lizard maintain the necessary calcium-to-phosphorus ratios required for optimal development and bone structure, even though this species does not demand the high levels of UVB lighting sometimes required by other reptiles. A protocol often suggested involves dusting prey once weekly using a 3:1 ratio of calcium to Vitamin D3, sometimes combined with a multivitamin.
