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Feeding

mdterp Apr 07, 2008 04:35 PM

I'm thinking about getting a leopard gecko but I have a few questions. First, I read that they should be fed no more than they can eat in one sitting(15 mins.) Does that mean to take any extra food out 15 mins. after putting the food in? I also read that they should be offered pure calcium twice a week. Is pure calcium the same as calcium carbonate or just calcium w/o vitamin D3? What's the difference between the 2? And last I read to offer it a multi vitamin once a week. What is a multi vitamin?
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two oregon newts
one male eastern box turtle
ten gallon tropical fish tank

Replies (3)

ryuman1 Apr 07, 2008 07:51 PM

>>I read that they should be fed no more than they can eat in one sitting(15 mins.) Does that mean to take any extra food out 15 mins. after putting the food in?

Yes, if the prey is crickets. Crickets can bite if left in the cage. But, if you feed mealworms, they can be contained in a bowl. Both are better than one or the other.

>>I also read that they should be offered pure calcium twice a week. Is pure calcium the same as calcium carbonate or just calcium w/o vitamin D3?

The calcium you should use is calcium carbonate with vitamin D3. The D3 helps in the absorption of the calcium

>>And last I read to offer it a multi vitamin once a week. What is a multi vitamin?

A multi vitamin is a suplement like calcium. You sprinkle it on the insects to provide extra nutrition. As hatchlings and juveniles the multi vitamin is not as neccesarry as the calcium. They are growing very quick and need alot of protein and calcium for bone growth.

I would recommend leaving a dish of calcium in the cage all the time. Leos do eat the calcium if they need it. I would also put mealworms in this same dish. As for the multi vitamin, once or twice a week should be good throughout your geckos life.

otis07 Apr 07, 2008 10:05 PM

just feed and if the gecko looks skinny feed more, fatter, feed less. in the winter i only feed 1x every few weeks, about a dozen. in the summer for breeders i do every to every other day with 12 crix, superworms, mealworms, and pinky mice to anyone who wants one. i just stick my hand in the tank and if they are hungry they will look at you like they are going to eat your hand, thats how i know how much to feed.
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Leo_Lover07 Apr 08, 2008 07:24 PM

I never stuck to that 15 min. rule my three females get fed about onnce or twice a week. They eat about 6 crickets each. My male will take about 7 a week. During breeding season ive been one of my girls swallow down 12 at a time plus an entire can of waxworms (she was very underweight). If you put in mealworms and they cant get out of the bowl just leave them in the bowl, but crickets can be annoying to your reptiles and if hungry they have been known to eat leopard gecko toes (eww). so you may take them out if you wish. Def. leave a bowl of calium out for them at all times. The problem with the calcium supplements is alot of the time the gecko needs the calcium but not eveything else in the powder so they actually oversupplemtent and can get ill. They know when they need calcium, dont worry about that. I usuall measure out my vitamin and calcium for a weeks worth and dust the my crickets and mealworms with a mix of both calcium and mulitvitamin. Then i leave out another bowl of calium, just in case. I would suggest Rep-Cal for calcium and Zoo Med for Multi Vitamins, they shoudl be both found at either Petsmart or Petco. Good Luck!!!

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