Loulabelle’s Jungle

Amaryllis wants you all to know that we have a WhatsApp channel so you don’t miss out on tickets!

https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8TDCFC6ZvpyQqugV38

Because we have decided to do it as a channel I can’t separate the page into groups so all our events will be posted on there ☺️

When mum wakes you up early because you have a visit at Tumbles Play Gym to do 🤣.
I don’t think Sprout is impressed 🌱

⚠️ATTENTION ZOOLOGY CLUBS AND HOME ED FAMILIES!!!⚠️

Unfortunately the lovely Facebook has decided to sting small businesses, they are trying to corner me into paying to post links to my events and also for you all to see my posts! I also can’t even notify you all with the tag any more either 😑.

I have spoken to a few people and floated the idea of a WhatsApp group so you all don’t miss out on events, let me know if this is something that would interest you?

If you are interested pop me an email at [email protected] and in the subject put WhatsApp group and let me know what group you would be interested in eg Mirfield zoology club, Mirfield 5-10s home ed, Mirfield 11-16s home ed etc.

I had a really interesting conversation earlier about metabolic bone disease, and it got me thinking about how often we describe MBD as simply “a calcium deficiency” without explaining what’s actually happening inside the animal.

So, what is MBD doing to the skeleton?
MBD is a general term for problems affecting how the body manages minerals and maintains healthy bone. In reptiles, it’s commonly linked to inadequate calcium, vitamin D3 and/or UVB, but nutrition, growth, kidney function and other factors can all play a part.

Your reptile needs calcium in its blood for much more than just bones. It’s also important for muscle contraction, nerve function and other essential processes.
If the body can't get enough usable calcium from the diet, or can't absorb it properly, it still has to maintain those blood calcium levels. One way it can do this is by taking calcium from the skeleton. Basically, the bones become a calcium reserve.

Bones aren't dead structures, they’re living tissue that's constantly being broken down and rebuilt. Osteoclasts break down old bone, while osteoblasts build new bone. Normally, these processes stay balanced.
With a long-term mineral imbalance, more bone can be broken down than is replaced and properly mineralised. Over time, this can leave bones softer, weaker and less dense, potentially causing deformities, fractures and abnormal growth.

Where does UVB come in?
UVB allows the skin to produce vitamin D3. The body then converts this into active vitamin D, which helps regulate calcium and phosphorus and allows the intestine to absorb calcium from food efficiently.

UVB -> vitamin D3 -> calcium absorption -> healthy bone
(And this is exactly why our kits don't skimp out on UVB 😉)
If that process isn't working properly, simply adding more calcium isn't necessarily going to fix the problem. You can have plenty of calcium in the diet, but if the animal can't absorb and use it properly, you still have a problem.
It’s a whole system involving diet, UVB, vitamin D3, calcium absorption and mineral regulation.

Understanding the why behind reptile care is so important. MBD isn't just a wonky jaw or soft bones, it’s what happens when the systems maintaining a healthy skeleton can't keep up, often long before we can see the damage.

Ps This baby beardie is perfectly fine, they just wanted to have their photo taken!

So excited to be doing another Mimmy adventure in September! I love doing these so much!

I am going to have a couple of days to myself!
It has been an amazing but insanely busy summer so far and I have absolutely loved it!
But I think I need a couple of days to recharge, I will catch up with everything once I am back to it! A reminder that September dates for Mirfield zoology club are now open (can’t post the link because fb now charges us for more than 2 link posts) but it is a post up from this. Let me know if you would like a possible WhatsApp group so I can post when dates are released? That way no one will miss events!

If you have messaged me through any platform and I have missed your message please email [email protected] because I am struggling to keep track over several platforms I think I am on top of everything but the occasional one slips through! At least on email I can star it so I know it’s unanswered! That way it doesn’t get lost!

Thank you all again! 💚

What it looks like when Haggis does his zombie eyes!