NEKTON-Rep

Multivitamin supplement for reptiles and amphibians.

NEKTON-Rep contains 12 vitamins, 6 trace elements, 2 amino acids, and calcium. NEKTON-Rep increases skin formation rate and supports the function of mucous membranes as well as the entire energy metabolism of the animal, promoting growth.

Animals with vitamin/mineral deficiencies are usually less active. NEKTON-Rep balances these nutrient deficiencies, making the animals significantly more vital again. Even paralysis symptoms, such as dragging the legs, are prevented by regular administration of NEKTON-Rep. It positively affects the development of muscles, glands, and the nervous system. NEKTON-Rep also increases fertility and the hatching ability of amphibian and reptile embryos.

NEKTON-Rep is primarily a high-quality vitamin supplement that, due to its high content of the "epithelial protection vitamin" A (retinol), plays an essential role in forming the body skin and mucous membranes of reptiles and amphibians. Shedding difficulties or even skin diseases are often signs of an insufficient supply of essential vitamins and minerals in this animal group.

Amphibians and reptiles are vertebrates, like their aquatic ancestors. From the vast diversity of orders, families, genera, and species of prehistoric times, only a small remnant remains, but still, with about 9,000 species, they offer a wide variety of shapes, colors, and characteristics. Today’s reptiles and amphibians are found on all continents and inhabit various environments. Amphibians have not entirely separated from their ancestors' habitat. As their skin does not provide sufficient protection against evaporation, they still need to live mostly in or near water or at moist land sites to avoid drying out. Even though some reptiles are aquatic, their offspring develop without this intermediate stage, and miniature versions of the parent animals hatch from the eggs. In most reptiles, the embryo fully develops inside the egg and hatches just before, during, or shortly after birth. As the freshly hatched or newborn young are lung-breathers and have a firm body covering unsuitable for skin breathing, eggs or young must be laid on land.

The requirements that must be met to keep amphibians and reptiles appropriately and ensure species preservation are diverse. To set up the terrarium properly, one must first learn as much as possible about the animals’ natural habitat.

Even if it is not always possible to replicate the natural habitat entirely, the animal can still thrive in the terrarium, often in good health and ready for reproduction. The fundamental conditions for this are: light, temperature, air, space, and food.

The dietary requirements of our terrarium animals vary greatly. Amphibians are predominantly carnivorous, while reptiles may be carnivores, herbivores, or omnivores, depending on the species. Whatever the diet may be, the essential components of the food are: carbohydrates (e.g., starch, sugars, crude fiber), fats, proteins, minerals (macro and trace elements), vitamins, and water. Carbohydrates are energy suppliers. A complete lack of carbohydrates can harm the intestinal flora and disrupt vitamin synthesis.

Fats also serve as concentrated calorie carriers, providing the necessary metabolic energy for the animal's body. An important function of fats in metabolism is their ability to absorb fat-soluble vitamins and provitamins. Among the fatty acids, unsaturated fatty acids are particularly important, as they support the undisturbed development of the skin and horn scales and regulate the body’s overall water balance.

The protein substances in the diet consist of various amino acids that cannot be replaced by other substances. The individual amino acids from the diet are utilized differently by different animals to build their own proteins. Among the minerals, the following so-called macro elements are important: sodium, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium. Additionally, trace elements like copper, zinc, manganese, molybdenum, iodine, and iron are crucial for water balance and protein metabolism.

Salts such as chlorides and phosphates must be present. A balanced composition of calcium and phosphates is especially important for bone formation and maintaining stability.

The organism needs vitamins to support essential processes. Vitamins act like catalysts, meaning they influence metabolism without providing energy or serving as building materials for body cells. A healthy body can only produce some of them and not always in sufficient quantities. If they are not sufficiently available, deficiency symptoms occur. In amphibians and reptiles, several vitamin deficiency diseases are known. A lack of vitamin A, for example, can lead to eye inflammation or eye damage. Bone damage in amphibians and bone softening in reptiles arise from a deficiency of vitamin D. A lack of B-complex vitamins significantly contributes to digestive disorders, paralysis, and skin damage.

To prevent such deficiencies and to be able to offer the animal optimal nutrition at all times, NEKTON has developed a range of products that enable targeted supply with various essential nutrients and active ingredients.