Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I went to the vet today because my leo hasn't been eating. She said my leo might have parasites. So she gave it some Panacur and gave me some to give it in 10 days. She also said to give it a UVB light, because that might help. She was looking at the poop I took her (of the leos), but she had to hydrate it she said because it all dried out. So anyone use a UVB light for their leos? Does it help? I am going to give it a try. Just wondering if anyone has any experience or info on that.
And my leo tried to bite the vet. It doesn't like if you hold it so it can't move and flip it on its back. But it opens it's mouth so you can give it medicine that way.
And they asked me my leo's name. I felt dumb when I told them it didn't have one because I didn't know if it was a boy or girl yet.
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Tim W. My Pictures
0.0.1 Leopard Geckos
0.1.0 Dumeril Boa

Silkworms are great!
Why doesn't kingsnake have auto login?

Well being that leos are nocturnal, they do not require UVB..... UVB lighting can be damaging to nocturnal reptiles...... Leos get all of their vitamins and minerals from their natural environment in the wild...... In captivity they get what they need from the insects you feed them and the suppliments you offer as well....... No need to put UVB ontop of your leo.....

That is what I was thinking. Being they don't go out in the sun they probably don't need it to live healthy. But how is it damaging to them?
>>Well being that leos are nocturnal, they do not require UVB..... UVB lighting can be damaging to nocturnal reptiles...... Leos get all of their vitamins and minerals from their natural environment in the wild...... In captivity they get what they need from the insects you feed them and the suppliments you offer as well....... No need to put UVB ontop of your leo.....
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Tim W. My Pictures
0.0.1 Leopard Geckos
0.1.0 Dumeril Boa

Silkworms are great!
Why doesn't kingsnake have auto login?

I have been using UVB lights since my first leos was diagnosed with a slight calcium def in adolescence. (this was a few years ago). I have to say in my experience, it def helped in that case. (she had stopped growing just under 40g) and she is now almost 60 grams. It does also seem to stimulate the appetite a little too. I only keep it on for a few hours, and it MUST be at least 12in from your leo. Also, UVB cannot go through glass, so it's got to be from the top (if you have a fishtank) Mine are mounted on the wall above the tank.Not sure what kind of damaging effects to expect, but I have yet to see any.
Gregg?
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1.0 Pastel/Jungle Leopard gecko from JL (BJ)
1.0 Hypo from Crested (Apricot)
1.0 Tremper Albino Hypo? (Cloud)
0.4 Normal/Hi-Yellow Leopard gecko (Beatrice, Goldie, Freckles, Pepper)
0.1 SHCT Leopard Gecko (Brite)
0.1 Tangy Mutt Leopard Gecko (Rainbow)
0.0.2 Corn Snakes (MIA)

The main reason that you use UVB on any reptile is that those animals use the UVB to create vitamin D3 naturally, which helps them absorb the proper amounts of calcium. Leopard geckos may do this to a very small degree (i haven't heard of any studies saying anything either way), but it is not usually necessary. Supplimenting with calcium and occasionally calcium with d3 should fulfill the calcium requirements.

As to if UVB be damaging, yes, it can. Maybe not in leopard geckos but in other nocturnal reptiles. Their skin is never exposed to it so if you gave them UVB it could cause skin damage. It would be like if you lived in a basement for a year and then spent a day on the beach in the middle of summer... you would sunburn much faster than anyone else.
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Brian Skibinski
Brian@MilwaukeeReptiles.com
www.MilwaukeeReptiles.com
Leopard Gecko Care Sheet

I am confused on whether or not to use it. It gets light from a window above its tank, but glass filters out UV I think. It spends a lot of time in it's huid hide, so I figure if it wants to get some UV it can come out. If not, it is shielded from it. The vet did say that UV light in nocturnal species has not been proven yet to be beneficial or harmful. Anyway, I am giving it a shot.
>>The main reason that you use UVB on any reptile is that those animals use the UVB to create vitamin D3 naturally, which helps them absorb the proper amounts of calcium. Leopard geckos may do this to a very small degree (i haven't heard of any studies saying anything either way), but it is not usually necessary. Supplimenting with calcium and occasionally calcium with d3 should fulfill the calcium requirements.
>>
>>As to if UVB be damaging, yes, it can. Maybe not in leopard geckos but in other nocturnal reptiles. Their skin is never exposed to it so if you gave them UVB it could cause skin damage. It would be like if you lived in a basement for a year and then spent a day on the beach in the middle of summer... you would sunburn much faster than anyone else.
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>>Brian Skibinski
>>Brian@MilwaukeeReptiles.com
>>www.MilwaukeeReptiles.com
>>Leopard Gecko Care Sheet
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Tim W. My Pictures
0.0.1 Leopard Geckos
0.1.0 Dumeril Boa

Silkworms are great!
Why doesn't kingsnake have auto login?

could you point me to some more info on this? I'd really like to know more.
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1.0 Pastel/Jungle Leopard gecko from JL (BJ)
1.0 Hypo from Crested (Apricot)
1.0 Tremper Albino Hypo? (Cloud)
0.4 Normal/Hi-Yellow Leopard gecko (Beatrice, Goldie, Freckles, Pepper)
0.1 SHCT Leopard Gecko (Brite)
0.1 Tangy Mutt Leopard Gecko (Rainbow)
0.0.2 Corn Snakes (MIA)

ZooMed's article on UVB and D3
http://home.att.net/~chameleons/zoomeduvb.html

As much as I disagree with kaplan on some stuff... she does have a good article on UVB and D3
http://www.anapsid.org/uvd3.html

more about calcium metabolism
http://www.herplife.co.uk/gecko/calcium.htm
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Brian Skibinski
Brian@MilwaukeeReptiles.com
www.MilwaukeeReptiles.com
Leopard Gecko Care Sheet