Calcium + D3 supplements
Plain calcium (no D3) for daily dusting + calcium + D3 1–2× weekly. Repashy Calcium Plus (all-in-one), Arcadia EarthPro CalciumPro Mg, Zoo Med Repti Calcium. Single most important supplement. MBD prevention starts here.
🚚 Free delivery on orders over $100
contact@alleavia.com
+353 87 712 0654
Health And Care
🩺 Health + care
Reptile health & care — prevent the preventable
Reptile illness is mostly husbandry failure: wrong temperatures, no UVB, poor diet, low humidity. Get the husbandry right and reptiles can live 15–50 years. Get it wrong and they die slowly of metabolic bone disease (MBD), respiratory infection, or stuck shed. Here's the health kit + the Irish exotic-vet contacts you should save NOW.
Photo: Patricia Beliga / Pexels
What we'll be stocking
Health kit essentials
Multivitamin
1× weekly to compensate for captive-diet gaps. Repashy SuperVite, Nutrobal. Don't over-dust — fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) accumulate. One day a week max.
Shed aid + humidity boost
Shedding aid sprays (ZooMed Repti Shedding Aid, Lucky Reptile) for stuck sheds. Always investigate root cause: humidity too low? humid hide missing? Sprays are emergency fix, not routine.
Mite treatment
Reptile mites (Ophionyssus) — small black dots in eye corners, water bowl, between scales. Provent-A-Mite (rare in IE), or Predatory mites (Hypoaspis miles) — biological control. Quarantine new animals 30 days minimum.
Infrared temp gun + digital thermometer
IR temp gun (€20) measures basking spot surface temp instantly — essential for setup verification. Digital probe thermometer in enclosure for ambient. The 2-tool combo is critical for diagnosing heat-related illness.
Daily checks + the MBD prevention checklist
👀
Daily 60-second observation
Bright eyes, clean nostrils, normal posture, eats + drinks, normal shed pattern, alert when approached. Sick signs: nostril mucus, half-closed eyes, "rubber jaw" (MBD), curved limbs, sunken eyes (dehydration), tail kinks. ANY of these = vet within 24h.
🦴
MBD prevention — the 5 rules
(1) Working UVB tube replaced annually. (2) Calcium + D3 dusted on insects per schedule. (3) Correct basking temperature (allows D3 synthesis). (4) Varied calcium-rich diet. (5) For herbivores: high calcium-to-phosphorus ratio greens (dandelion, rocket — NOT spinach/kale daily). MBD is irreversible once severe.
💦
Hydration check
Skin tent test: pinch loose skin gently. Snaps back fast = hydrated. Stays tented = dehydrated. Snakes: should poo normally + shed in one piece. Dehydration → constipation → impaction → death. Soak weekly in warm shallow water 20 min if questioning hydration.
🧹
30-day quarantine for new animals
NEVER add a new reptile straight to an existing enclosure. Quarantine 30 days minimum (60 better) in separate enclosure with paper towel substrate. Watch for parasites, mites, respiratory issues. Same goes for second-hand decor — bake / boil / sterilise before re-use.
🩺
Find an exotic vet BEFORE you need one
Most "small animal" vets don't see reptiles competently. Irish exotic-vet referrals: UCD Veterinary Hospital, Kildare Vet Group (specialist exotics), Pet Vet Hospital Glasnevin. Phone before booking — confirm reptile experience. Save the number; emergencies progress in days, not weeks.
🐾
When to vet immediately
Open-mouth breathing, nasal mucus (respiratory infection — fatal within days). Stuck shed on toes/tail (necrosis within a week). Refusing food + lethargy + sunken eyes (dehydration / parasitic). Soft jaw, curved limbs (MBD). Visible mites + restlessness. ANY blood. Always same-day or next-day vet.
📦 We're stocking up
Our health and care range goes live as we vet suppliers — we won't list anything we wouldn't use ourselves. In the meantime, our calculators, breed guides and AI vet tools below are free and don't need stock.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find a reptile vet in Ireland?
Exotic / reptile-experienced vets in Ireland include UCD Veterinary Hospital (Belfield), Kildare Vet Group, Pet Vet Hospital Glasnevin (Dublin), Cliffs Veterinary Group (Cork). ALWAYS phone before booking + confirm reptile experience. Most general practices see one reptile a year and aren't equipped. Save the number BEFORE you need it.
My bearded dragon's back legs look weak — is it MBD?
Sounds likely. Metabolic bone disease (MBD) presents as: rubber jaw, curved limbs, weak hind legs, tremors, soft shell (tortoises). Causes: weak/expired UVB, poor calcium dusting, wrong basking temperature. Vet appointment NOW + audit your husbandry — UVB date, basking temp, calcium routine. Mild cases reversible with vet calcium injections + husbandry fix; severe cases lifelong damage.
Stuck shed on my snake — should I peel it?
Never peel — damages skin underneath. Soak the snake in lukewarm shallow water for 30–60 min (head out), then offer a damp pillowcase to crawl through (gentle abrasion peels the shed). Persistent stuck shed on eye caps or tail tip = vet (necrosis risk). Prevention: humid hide + correct enclosure humidity for species.
My new lizard has tiny black dots near eyes — what is that?
Almost certainly mites (Ophionyssus natricis). Quarantine immediately + treat the enclosure (fully strip, replace substrate, bake decor at 60 °C+, treat animal with vet-approved miticide or biological predatory mites). Mites multiply fast + transmit between animals — isolate from any other reptiles. Vet visit recommended for severe infestations.