Nekton Nutritional Supplements

Carbohydrates supply energy. A complete lack of carbohydrates in the diet would lead to a breakdown in the composition of the intestinal flora and disrupt vitamin synthesis. 

Fats are also concentrated sources of energy. Like carbohydrates, they principally supply energy to drive the process of life. Another important job of dietary fats is as “carriers” of fat-soluble vitamins and, as such, together with the provisions of fatty acids, play a serious role in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and provitamins. The nature of the fat is decisive as well and unsaturated fatty acids are considered as particularly important as they are needed for good growth of the skin and horny scales as well as regulating the water balance in the body.

Food proteins are made up of different amino acid chains. There are no substitutes for amino acids, from which an organism can build its own structural and functional proteins.

Minerals are divided into macro and micro (trace) elements. Sodium. Potassium, phosphorus, calcium and magnesium are the most essential of the macro elements. Traces of the inorganic elements copper, zinc, manganese, cobalt, molybdenum, iodine and iron are known to be particularly important. Minerals are essential to the water balance and amino acid metabolism and must be accompanied by the hydrochloric and phosphoric acid salts, chloride and phosphate. Of the macro elements, a well-balanced ratio of calcium and phosphorous is extraordinarily important for bone formation and stability.

The animal organism needs vitamins to support smooth functioning of all life’s processes. Vitamins act as catalysts. They do not themselves supply energy to the body nor are they used as building units for the structure of the body cells, but they are essential for the transformation of energy and for the regulation of the metabolism of structural units. Even a healthy body cannot synthesize all the vitamins and then not always in sufficient amounts. A lack, or vitamin insufficiency, leads to deficiency disorders and diseases. Vitamin deficiencies are known to cause a number of disorders in reptiles and amphibians. Insufficient vitamin A, for example, leads to eye inflammation or damage. Bone deformities in amphibians and softening of the bones in reptiles are due to a vitamin D deficiency. A lack of the B group of vitamins results in gastrointestinal troubles, paralysis and skin diseases. 

In order to avoid deficiency disorders and provide a means of increasing the nutritional value of the diet to an optimum level, NEKTON has developed a number of special-purpose products for reptiles and amphibians.

NEKTON-REP and NEKTON-REP-COLOR are dietary supplements containing all of the vitamins and mineral supplements known to be needed by reptiles and amphibians. Free amino acids round off the composition so that both products give excellent support to an animal’s entire organism.

Most herps are carnivores, feeding mainly on animal protein during their peak period of growth. Even tortoises should be given animal protein in addition to such greens as endive, clover, dandelion leaves and carrot, as plant matter alone does not contain all of the amino acids (protein components) in sufficient quantities to ensure smooth functioning of all of the metabolisms. NEKTON-REP as well as NEKTON-REP-COLOR takes this fact into consideration and both have been enriched with amino acids in their L configuration, the form utilizable by an organism.

First and foremost, however, these supplements are extremely valuable vitamin and mineral formulas. The large proportion of vitamin A they contain is extremely important for forming the skin and mucous membranes of reptiles and amphibians. Very often these animals have difficulty in sloughing their skins or suffer from skin diseases due to an inadequate supply of the vital vitamins, macro and trace elements. 

Tortoises are also an example of vitamin/mineral deficiency disorders in animals. They frequently suffer from motor malfunctions together with deformed or soft shells. In many cases this is because of a lack of calcium, which can also lead to the illness known as rickets. An adequate supply of calcium is also important to insect-eaters, as this element is usually missing in the chitin cuticle or skeleton of insects. NEKTON-REP and NEKTON-REP-COLOR, therefore, contain a high percentage of calcium together with vitamin D3 to aid in the absorption of calcium by the animal’s body. However it is the harmony and balance of the formula that make them two of the most beneficial supplements for reptiles and amphibians. Each vital substance is dosed and blended to complement and promote the other, thus strengthening the entire organism. 

Through the same formula of important vitamins, amino acids, macro and trace elements, NEKTON-REP-COLOR is in a position to prevent many deficiencies and thus help avoid deficiency disorders. The additional substances, Canthaxanthin and Apocarotinal are intended to prevent skin colors from fading or to bring out faded colors again. 

Canthaxanthin and Apocarotinal (apo-8-carotenoic acid ethyl ester) are carotenoids, an important group of natural reddish/yellow pigments widely distributed in plants such as tomatoes, carrots or oranges. Many carotenoids are precursors of vitamin A. That means they develop certain vitamin A qualities in the body. This means they have a beneficial physiological value as well as enhancing colors or reviving pale and faded colors to their former beauty. 

The carotenoids in NEKTON-REP-COLOR have been produced synthetically but are nevertheless identical to those that the animals would find in their diet in the wild and therefore safe. 

Health, growth and maintenance all depend on a well-balanced combination of nutrients and active substances... as provided by NEKTON-REP and NEKTON-REP-COLOR. 

 Similarly, various pieces of meat dusted with NEKTON-REP or NEKTON-REP-COLOR can be given in this manner. It is enough to dust just one or two pieces of meat with the powder. 

If the animals are fed on live prey, it is better to dissolve the NEKTON-REP or NEKTON-REP-COLOR in water and inject this under the skin of the animal used as fodder. 

In the case of insect-eating reptiles and land amphibians, put the dose of NEKTON-REP or NEKTON-REP-COLOR powder into a jar, place the insects in and shake the jar. The insects are then covered with the powder and can be fed to the animal as usual. 

NEKTON-REP-COLOR should be given daily until the skin or shell colors have reached the desired intensity. After that point in time, continue with NEKTON-REP to ensure a full-value diet.   

NEKTON-REP and NEKTON-REP-COLOR help to protect all metabolic functions in reptiles and amphibians.

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To be of any value to the body, a tonic must enter the blood stream and be distributed to all the living regions fast. All of the ingredients in NEKTON-TONIC-R are in such a form that they are immediately and easily absorbed in full by the animal’s organism. They need not be digested in the upper alimentary canal, but go straight to the small intestine where they can pass through the intestinal lining and take effect at once. 

This makes NEKTON-TONIC-R particularly valuable during such stress periods as illness, skin sloughing, re-housing and acclimation and has proved an excellent help in raising young animals. 

NEKTON-TONIC-R supplements a diet with sufficient carbohydrates, fats and proteins and the activating substances vitamins, macro and trace elements that an animal’s body structure needs. 

Carbohydrates give the basal metabolism added energy and boost activity. 

Proteins here are made from the same vegetable matter that the reptile’s organism is used to in its natural surroundings. In addition, 18 free amino acids have been added to increase the nutritive value of the tonic impressively. 

Essential fatty acids, which an animal’s organism definitely needs, help prevent deficiency disorders. 

Vitamins and provitamins, which are vital organic substances, must be present in a herp’s diet if serious and irremediable illnesses are to be avoided. 

Mineral elements: Even if an animal does not receive a sufficient supply of these vital substances regularly, its organism constantly secretes them unchanged so that any tonic has to have a high content of macro and trace elements if it is to have any far-reaching effect. In this respect, you can rely on NEKTON-TONIC-R completely. 

NEKTON-TONIC-R fortifies normal diets with a well-balanced combination of nutritive and active substances to make pets look and feel better.

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A number of the inorganic elements (minerals) are regarded as absolutely essential of all of Life’s processes and it is therefore our task to ensure that the diets of the animals in our care contain the appropriate amounts and ratio of these essential macro and trace (micro) elements. A deficiency of these elements in an otherwise nutritionally adequate diet can lead to very diverse and indefinite metabolic abnormalities. 

NEKTON-MSA provides the metabolism and the bones with the necessary minerals and amino acids, helps prevent rickets, activates metabolisms and helps against calcium deficiencies.  

Mineral elements are extremely important for maintaining good health, top stamina and uninterrupted propagation. They must be present in fairly constant concentration in the healthy tissues of all living animals. An animal’s organism is in a position to store many of these elements; the bones, for example, serve as temporary storage sites for calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. These reserves can be mobilized in times of stress, for example, or in the case of restricted dietary intake. If this dietary deficiency persists, however, vital body processes will suffer and eventually structural and physiological abnormalities will occur. In addition, the rate at which these elements are excreted by the various tissues and organs not only differs but also fluctuates, so that, all-in-all, it is the primary job of the herp owner to see that they are replenished constantly by means of diet. As the name TRACE ELEMENTS suggests, only minute traces of these minerals are needed, whereas the macro or quantitative elements can make up 0.1% - 2% of the dry food.  

The most important factor, whether in respect to diets or food supplements, is not only the number of individual substances but, above all, their well-balanced and well-matched composition. For example, it is a comparatively well-known fact that calcium and phosphorus have a complex relationship with each other and in correlation with one another can prevent rickets and osteomalacia. In general a Ca-P of 2:1 is regarded as ideal, but, of course, cannot apply to all species. Because of this, a large proportion of vitamin D3 has been added to NEKTON-MSA, as this vitamin is able to attune the Ca-P ratio to the requirements of each individual organism to a certain extent. By means of vitamin D3, calcium and phosphorus are also better deposited in the animal’s bones, thus achieving full benefit of the supply of minerals. 

The relationship between the various mineral elements is highly complicated and sophisticated. For example, too much calcium in the organism has a negative effect on the zinc balance, as does an overdose of potassium in the diet on the magnesium content. On the other hand, too much magnesium accelerates the secretion of calcium, whereas a high concentration of calcium prevents the absorption of the copper content and so on in a vicious circle. Now we can see how important the composition and compatibility of the various macro and trace elements are for the animal’s organism. Minerals and, of course, vitamins and amino acids must blend and harmonize to produce the best possible effect on your pet’s health and appearance. With this in mind, we have composed NEKTON-MSA as an ideal means of providing your pet with the benefit of all these essential substances. 

NEKTON-MSA is not soluble in water. It should be added to soft or moist food. 

Reptiles require a great deal of different minerals which we have already taken into account when composing our NEKTON-REP. NEKTON-MSA can be used in addition to the above preparation when symptoms of a mineral deficiency disease occur.

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NEKTON-Iguana is formulated to meet nutritional needs of Green Iguanas and other plant and fruit-eating reptiles. 

This product contains the nutrients needed to maintain life and good health in a well-balanced formula to supplement the daily diet; Carbohydrates, Fatty Acids, Proteins, Vitamins, Macro and Micro elements. 

Carbohydrates and fats contain only carbon, hydrogen and oxygen and are principally of value as energy-yielding ingredients. Like carbohydrates therefore, fats are an important source of mechanical and heat energy, but they are also essential for transporting fat-soluble vitamins. The fatty acids and carbohydrates in NEKTON-Iguana are vital as a protection against deficiency diseases. 

Proteins are essential for growth and replacement. They are the main components in muscles, organs, skin and eggs and form enzymes, antibodies and many hormones. Proteins also function as carriers for numerous vitamins. The proteins in NEKTON-Iguana are already in their digested form, namely L-amino acids, the only form an organism can utilize and can therefore be absorbed into the bloodstream quickly and easily. 

In addition to the L-amino acids, this supplement is extremely valuable as a vitamin and mineral formula. Vitamins, minerals and trace elements are essential for the chemical activity of the body. Reptiles, like other animals, cannot produce all of their own vitamins or not in sufficient quantities and must obtain them “ready-made”. If a diet is deficient in one or more vitamins, this results in a breakdown of normal bodily activities and produces some symptoms of disease. An avitaminosis (vitamin deficiency) leads to the iguana’s fresh green color turning dull gray-green and can cause the points of the crest to die off. Together with a malfunctioning protein synthesis, it can also lead to gout, a common occurrence in reptiles. A deficiency in any of the B group of vitamins is particularly serious, as it can often result in paralysis, convulsions, impaired growth and skin problems, in particular the skin sloughing process. 

Furthermore, a wide variety of minerals and trace elements are required by the body for the construction of certain tissues. Although the body is able to store and “recycle” some of these mineral elements, certain amounts are constantly excreted unchanged and must be replaced daily to ensure adequate reserves in times of increased metabolic activity. 

Calcium and phosphorus, in particular, are needed for the bones, iodine for the proper functioning of the thyroid gland and traces of copper, cobalt and manganese are also essential for growth and in enzyme relationships. NEKTON-Iguana, therefore, contains a high percentage of calcium, together with vitamin D3 to aid the absorption of calcium by the animal’s body. But it is the harmony and balance of the formula that make it one of the most beneficial supplements. 

All of the ingredients of NEKTON-Iguana are in such a form that they are immediately and easily absorbed in full by the animal’s organism. To be of any value to the body, nutrients must enter the bloodstream and be distributed to all the living regions quickly. NEKTON-Iguana’s compounds are in soluble form and need not be digested in the upper alimentary canal, but go straight to the small intestine where they can pass through the intestinal lining and take effect at once. 

This makes NEKTON-Iguana particularly valuable to these animals during such periods of stress as illness, skin sloughing, re-housing and acclimation and has proved an excellent support during transport. 

NEKTON-Iguana is a powder supplement and simple to use. It can be sprinkled over moistened leaves or fruit or mixed with chopped or shredded soft food. If you only have one animal, put the daily dose on its favorite leaf or mix with its food and feed by hand to make sure it is getting all the valuable ingredients. In the case of insect-eating reptiles, put the dose of NEKTON-Iguana powder into a jar, let the insects in and shake the jar. Then feed to the animal as usual. 

The measuring spoon enclosed with each jar holds 1 gram of powder. 

Growing animals up to 60 cm (24”) length: 1/2 g (1/2 spoonful) per animal per day.

Adults over 60 cm (24”) length: 1 g (1 spoonful) per animal per day.

Do not feed other vitamin supplements at the same time as NEKTON-Iguana.

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© Copyright: Günter Enderle, NEKTON-Produkte. Reprinted with permission.

New York Worms, Long Island, New York

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