Reptile & Amphibian Forums

The first night I fed my new leo, he took his crickets. However I forgot to dust them but made sure I did so the next night. BUT I don't think he saw them because he didn't eat one of them. The last couple nights I haven't dusted them and he's eating. He was on paper towels and then I changed it to newspaper. Is dusting the insects absolutely, no questions asked, necessary? Tonight I will dust them and see if he takes them since he's now on newspaper (maybe it will provide more contrast). I have a little dish in there with the ReptoCal vitamins, its calcium with D3. Is that good or should I use something else? I think I remember seeing something here about only pure calcium...so I don't know.

Has anyone else thought that there should be leopard gecko vitamin water? How easy would that be...

I don't know how VITAL it is that we dust crickets for leos, but it is a good practise. If he misses one or two it may just be that he's had enough to eat for the time being. Might try feeding that many less next time you feed. As for him missing the target, sometimes they try to hard and over or under shoot. Not really a problem, he'll get it sooner or later . Also being that they are dusted, making them white, it may be that he miss judges distance because you have a white substrate, the news paper, which could make it more difficult to see. I use indoor/outdoor carpet for the floors of my gecko tanks, and although they do still miss on occasion I don't think they'll go hungry for lack of trying . Just some thoughts to mull over.

Quig
-----
Don't interupt me when I'm talkin' to myself

Dusting crickets is important and good husbandry.

Gecko's vision is movement based, not contrast based. Dusting or not dusting will not make a difference in their ability to "see" the prey neither will the background color. Trust me. See Jurassic Park for examples. You can watch a gecko lose sight of its prey simply because it stopped moving long enough.
-----
0.1 Albino Leo Gecko
0.1 Crested Gecko
1.0 Dear Boyfriend
Departed: Harvey and Spock

You can watch a gecko lose sight of its prey simply because it stopped moving long enough.
I have to say sleepygecko is right on that one! Also it's ok to have 1 or two left over crix. Not a big deal. Yes dusting is a great idea, i do it about 2-3 times a week. Yes it is supposed to be PURE CALCUIM not calcuim with d3. Too much d3 will kill them!