Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Do Geckos need UVB light? My gecko has been having problems with his eyes. I was told that he needed a UVB light and wasnt getting the proper diet. (I feed mealworms) They told me to give him jarred baby food fruits as well as the mealworms, and the eye problem would get better. Also told that too much calcium could be harmfull as well. Any opinions on this??
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This is courage.. to bear unflinching what heaven sends. -unknown

2.1 chocolate labs and bassett (Harley, Barker and Capone)
1.0 leopard gecko (Nacho)

no idea sadly, i have a 40w UVA light i think for my leo, but now that you mention it, he always has one of his eye's closet, or when he opens them, there closed soon after. can you tell by lookin if there's something wrong with his eye's, he never really seems to notice anything.

maybe best if more knowledged people reply to this, although, this forum has seemed quite dead over the past few days...lol

I'm still here! And still waiting for someone to answer my post! Anyway, I'm not sure what kind of gecko you have- I am assuming since you posted here, its a leo, but these answers are not accurate for other types. 1- the debate on UVB for leos is still out. Being generally nocturnal, any benefit is prob minimal. It prob won't hurt tho, unless its too close to your animal. 2- leos should never be fed any plant based food items. That includes fruit and fruit baby food. 3- leos do need vit A for their eyes. The problem arises when calcium and D3 are used together. Check your calcium powder! If there's D3 in it, you need different powder. Too much D3 can interfere with metabolism of calcium, resulting in low calcium, even when you are giving the calcium D3 at all times. Ideally, your leo should have pure calcium, without D3, at all times, and get a vitamin/mineral supplement with D3 and Beta Carotene in it. Beta Carotine is vit A, but in a form that prevents overdoses. Use this supplement a few times a week, dusted on prey.
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1.0 Hypo stripe, Het RW from JL (BJ)
1.0 HypoTang from Crested (Apricot)
1.0 Tremper Albino from Petsmart (Cloud)
1.0 SHCT hatched by me! (Sunny)
0.1 Hi-Yellow Leopard gecko from Petco (Beatrice)
0.1 Stripe female (rehabilitated rescue)(Pepper)
0.1 Jungle het RW hatched by me! (Jungle Bunny)
0.1 Normal from 2001 (Freckles)
0.1 SHCT Leopard Gecko from Petco (Brite)
0.1 Tangy Mutt Leopard Gecko from Petco (Rainbow)
0.1 RW Stripe hatched by me! (unnamed yet)
0.1 Leucistic rescue (unnamed yet)
RIP Peaches, Ghost, Bill
Adopted out: Goldie, Leucy, "Q"
Hatched: ~50

lol well im pretty sure that my calci dust is D3 free, but its only 99% calcium, so the other 1% could be D3, but the tub doesnt say what the extra 1% is. it says it should be combined with a UVB light, and adequate D3, although this seems like its referring to bearded dragons. my bro give his BD a small amount of D3 and has a big cap full of calcium at all times, aswell as a UVB light paired with a ceramic light for when it's basking.
but yeah, i guess a normal light would be sufficient for a leo, mine hides away when the lights on.
does your herp sit where the UTH is? or anyone elses for that matter, my leo likes to sit where the UTH isnt, and when i slide it to where he's lying, he just ups and moves lol
also, the forum seems to have died, as my last post has not been answered either, but, guess we can just wait lol

I use a normal light to but its red. I have read in numerous books that they cannot see the colour red so it does not affect them. I dust the prey with Vitamins that contain D3 every 3 days as the D3 helps break out the Calcium and always have a small dish of pure calcium in there also. My Leo sits on the UTH after eating to help her digest. If yours does not want to sit there i suggest that its either to hot or you do not have enough subtrate over it and this will make it to hot also. What subtrate are you using?. I use tile as it holds the heat better and disributes it evenly