Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My gecko will be two this coming august, she was a rescue from a Petco that had a mite infestation and she was the only one that didn't and I got her for $10. Well within a few weeks I found out why she was so cheap. She had SEVERE MBD with MULTIPLE bone fractures. It was really bad the vet did not think she was going to make it. In fact the MBD was so bad she basically had NO bones and she was translucent, me being a new leo owner I thought it was just something with jeuveniles, boy was I wrong. Anyway with some tender loving care she looks great and has been doing VERY well until recently.
I have her in a 10 gal tank, I felt that she may want more room so I moved her to a 20 gal. At that point she would not come out of her cave and she would not eat for about a week. My local reptile store said to put her back in the 10 and that she was scared to be in such a big space. So I did and it took her a little while and a trip to the vet but she started eating again. However she does not eat the same amount that she used and does not get as excited when I feed or even when I come in the room. I also noticed this evening that it looks like the leg fracture that I had originally found on her when she was a baby seemed to be acting strange. When she would walk the leg actually collapeses I guess you can say so I am concerned about a reoccuring injury.
Basically what I am trying to find out from this lengthy message is if anybody has had experiences with bone fractures in general and if they could easily reoccur. And if MBD can come back. I haven't changed anything she gets calcium, she has calcium in her tank at all times she has a uvb light. I am worried that I am doing something wrong.
Thanks for your help in advance
Christina
PS What substrate do most of you guys use I hear a lot of different ideas.
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1 Russian Tortoise (Willy)
1 Ornate Box Turtle (Lily)
1 Red Eared Slider (Chester)
2 White's Tree Frog (Kermit & Phil)
1 Red eyed Tree Frog (Justin)
2 Big Eyed Tree Frog
2 Bubbling Frog
2 Tiger Leg Tree Frogs (Akari & Shiro)
3 Amazonian Milky Tree Frogs
1 Dwarf Megophrys
1 Rainbow Burrowing Frog??
1 Praire Dog (Timmy)
2 Chinchillas (Layla & Snickers)
4 mice (Gabby and friends)
1 dog (Holly)
2 Cats (Champ & Bear)

Oh and a husband

Hi,
What brand of calcium do you use and does it contain vitamin d3? UVB bulbs are almost usless for leopard geckos. The first being they are nocturnal so won't bask under them as much as they should. Also, depending on the bulb you own how old it is and how far from the gecko it is, it my be getting little to no benefit from the bulb.
good luck
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Bill DiFabio
Garden State Herpetoculture...website to follow...
Email Me
"If you don't have enemies, you don't have character." - Paul Newman

I use the reptical, I don't know if it has d3 should it. What is the advantage of d3? The bulb is new I know they need to be changed every 6 months. And b/c she is only in a 10 gal it is plenty close to her.
Thanks
Christina
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1 Russian Tortoise (Willy)
1 Ornate Box Turtle (Lily)
1 Red Eared Slider (Chester)
2 White's Tree Frog (Kermit & Phil)
1 Red eyed Tree Frog (Justin)
2 Big Eyed Tree Frog
2 Bubbling Frog
2 Tiger Leg Tree Frogs (Akari & Shiro)
3 Amazonian Milky Tree Frogs
1 Dwarf Megophrys
1 Rainbow Burrowing Frog??
1 Praire Dog (Timmy)
2 Chinchillas (Layla & Snickers)
4 mice (Gabby and friends)
1 dog (Holly)
2 Cats (Champ & Bear)

Oh and a husband

D3 is needed for calcium to be absorbed...that's what UVB bulbs do...although its utterly useless for a leo. Check the container the calcium powder came in for if it has D3 or not...it will say on the label, if it isn't fairly obvious you should be able to check the ingredients.
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Christina

2.3 leos
-0.1 tangerine het rainwater albino w/jungle background (Blinkers)

-0.2 jungles (Vahz & Skissor)

-1.0 tremper albino (Spitfire)

-1.0 tangerine rainwater albino (Bronx)

Unless your leo actively basks under the light, it is not doing much if anything. I have never used or relied on uvb producing bulbs for any of my reptiles, even the ones that some keepers claim need it. Read the label of the reptocal and see if it has d3 in it. in the ingredients it would sy cholecaciferol or d-activated animal sterol. Do you dust the insects with the dust and how often. The MBD should never recur if the gecko is getting supplemented right.
good luck
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Bill DiFabio
Garden State Herpetoculture...website to follow...
Email Me
"If you don't have enemies, you don't have character." - Paul Newman