--------------------------Concentrationa-------------------------- | |||
---|---|---|---|
Nutrientb | Carnivorous Reptiles | Omnivorous Reptiles | Herbivorous Reptiles |
Crude proteinc | 30%–50% | 20%–25% | 18%–22% |
Fat | 3%–6% | ||
Crude fiber | 20%–35% | ||
Arginine | 1.0% | 1.8% | |
Isoleucine | 0.5% | 1.3% | |
Lysine | 0.8% | 1.5% | |
Methionine | 0.4% | 0.4% | |
Methionine + cysteine | 0.75% | 0.75% | |
Threonine | 0.7% | 1.0% | |
Tryptophan | 0.15% | 0.3% | |
Linoleic acidd | 1.0% | 1.0% | |
Calcium | 0.8%–1.1% | 1.0%–1.5% | 1.4%–2.0% |
Phosphorus | 0.5%–0.9% | 0.6%–0.9% | 0.8%–1.0% |
Potassium | 0.4%–0.6% | 0.4%–0.6% | |
Sodium | 0.2% | 0.2% | |
Magnesium | 0.04% | 0.2% | |
Manganese | 5 ppm | 150 ppm | |
Zinc | 50 ppm | 130 ppm | |
Iron | 60–80 ppm | 200 ppm | |
Copper | 5–8 ppm | 15 ppm | |
Iodine | 0.3–0.6 ppm | 0.4 ppm | |
Selenium | 0.3 ppm | 0.3 ppm | |
Riboflavin | 2–4 ppm | 8 ppm | |
Pantothenic acid | 10 ppm | 60 ppm | |
Niacin | 10–40 ppm | 100 ppm | |
Vitamin B12 | 0.020 ppm | 0.025 ppm | |
Choline | 1,250–2,400 ppm | 3,500 ppm | |
Biotin | 70–100 ppb | 400 ppb | |
Folacin | 200–800 ppb | 6,000 ppb | |
Thiaminee | 1–5 ppm | 5 ppm | |
Pyridoxine | 1–4 ppm | 10 ppm | |
Vitamin Af | 5,000–10,000 IU/kg | 15,000 IU/kg | |
Cholecalciferol (vitamin D3)g | 500–1,000 IU/kg | 500–1,000 IU/kg | |
Vitamin Eh | 200 IU/kg | 200 IU/kg | |
a Nutrient concentrations are recommended minimums for carnivorous reptiles and averages for omnivorous reptiles. | |||
b Nutrient levels expressed on a dry-matter basis. | |||
c Taurine requirements have not been determined for reptiles (the requirement for cats is 400–500 mg of taurine/kg dry diet). | |||
d A dietary source of arachidonic acid at 200 mg/kg dry diet may be necessary. | |||
e Thiamine concentrations should be increased to 10–20 mg/kg if frozen, thawed fish constitute >25% of the diet offered. | |||
f A source of preformed vitamin A may be required because it is not known if reptiles can convert carotenes to retinol (vitamin A), although it is likely that herbivorous reptiles can. | |||
g Requirements for vitamin D may be partially or totally satisfied by exposure to sunlight or appropriate sources of artificial ultraviolet light. These suggested concentrations are not sufficient to prevent signs of vitamin D deficiency in green iguanas. | |||
h 300 IU/kg dry matter is advisable if the diet is high in fat, especially unsaturated fat. |