Electrolytes are extremely important for proper re-hydration therapy to take place in the body. Water alone will not hydrate your reptile if it's electrolytes are depleted or out of balance. Any time you begin any type of nutritional therapy on a sick or malnourished reptile, hydration therapy with electrolytes is essential. A reptile that has been off food for any amount of time will need fluid therapy with electrolytes before beginning any solid foods. Imagine an athlete running a marathon and only drinking water, they are still at risk of dehydration due to their lost electrolytes. Without electrolytes, cells, tissues and organs are unable to function properly because the electrical impulses that rely on them rely on on a balance of the conductive minerals calcium, potassium, sodium and magnesium. Plain water will not hydrate if these minerals are depleted or out of balance, so replenishment is crucial. .
Reptiles in captivity are major candidates for dehydration due to our way of making artificial environments, we blast them with excess heat, house them in air conditioned rooms, and deprive them from a constant supply of fresh water. On top of that, they are subjected to all sorts of external stimuli that can cause stress which all contributes to dehydration and electrolyte loss. There are commercial products that can be used temporarily or during an emergency, but they are full of sugars and lack what is really necessary to maintain a good balance of electrolytes. Pedialyte has no calcium or magnesium and has way too much sugar for use with reptiles. Say no to dextrose!
Oral re-hydration is the best way to keep your animal from losing excess fluids. Baby dragons should be given fluids 2 or 3 times per day, juveniles and adults at least once per day. They may not drink every time you offer, but will learn to enjoy the flavor over plain water. And remember, a dehydrated animal will not be able to eat.
Add 1/4 teaspoon to 4 ounces of fresh water, refrigerate unused portion up to 1 week. We suggest making 1 oz at a time.
What is considered an electrolyte? They are typically the minerals Calcium - Potassium - Sodium - Magnesium
The problem is, most commercially available electrolyte drinks for humans contain a lot of sugar and this is not okay for reptiles to consume for more than a couple days. Even many of the popular sports drinks are now doing away with simple sugars and replacing them with complex carbohydrates.
Zero sugar! Uses .75g of complex carbs instead. Pedialyte has double that in sugar.
Sodium 9mg - Pedialyte has 2.5mg
Potassium 18mg - Pedialyte has 1.25mg
Magnesium 3mg - Pedialyte has 0
Calcium 8mg - Pedialyte has 0
Also contains an array of water soluable B vitamins to aid in energy metabolism, these vitamins are not stored in the body and can be depleted very easily when a dragon is dehydrated. Once a dragon is well hydrated and has the vitamins needed to turn food into energy, their appetite will increase naturally.
- 1/4 oz Jar is 5 grams of powder (makes 40 ounces)
- 1/2 oz Jar is 10 grams of powder
- 1 oz Bag is 20 grams of powder
No artificial sweeteners, colors or flavoring
Each gram of powder contains the following ingredients
Complex Carbohydrates .75g
Vitamin C (as Ester C® calcium ascorbate and calcium citrate) 37mg
Thiamin (as thiamin HCI) 0.18mg
Riboflavin (as riboflavin 5-phosphate and riboflavin) 0.20mg
Niacin (as niacinamide) .6mg
Vitamin B6 (as pyridoxine HCI) .25mg
Folate (as folic acid) 12mcg
Vitamin B12 (as cyanocobalamin) .75mcg
Biotin 12mcg
Pantothenic Acid (as D-calcium pantothenate) .6mg
Calcium (as dicalcium phosphate, Ester C® calcium ascorbate, and calcium citrate) 10mg
Phosphorous (as potassium phosphate and dicalcium phosphate) 8mg
Magnesium (as magnesium oxide and magnesium aspartate) 3mg
Zinc (as zinc citrate) .35mg
Selenium (as selenium L-methionine complex) .4mcg
Chromium (as chromium dnicotinate glycinate) 1.25mcg
Copper (as copper oxide) .05mg
Manganese (as manganese sulfate) .05mg
Molybdenum (as sodium molybdate) .8mcg
Chloride (as sodium chloride) 14mg
Sodium (as sodium chloride) 9mg
Potassium (as potassium phosphate and potassium aspartate) 18mg
Choline (as choline bitartrate .25mg
Inositol .25mg
Vanadium (as vanadyl sulfate) 1.25mcg
Phyto-Blend: Pine bark 4:1 extract, grape seed extract, bilberry fruit extract, and grape skin extract 1.25mg
Stevia Leaf Extract 15mg
Other ingredients: Non-GMO Maltodextrin, natural flavors, citric acid, malic acid, spirulina for color,Lo han Guo fruit extract, silica.