Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well I've had my leopard for almost a month and not once have I given him any calcium supplement. I only now learned I need to do so, is he in any kind of danger? Im getting the supplement over my lunch and bringing it tyo him right away. Do you suggest I put it in a bowl in the cage? Will he go to it and lick it up? Or is it required I put it on his crickets before eating? Please let me know as Im doing the ebst to take the best care of him. Thanks

Both. I leave old snapple caps full of calcium (WithOUT D3) in the cage all the time, and dust crickets with D# every other feeding.
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Brian Skibinski
Brian@MilwaukeeReptiles.com
www.MilwaukeeReptiles.com
Leopard Gecko Care Sheet

Do they seem to take to the one in there alright? Im concerned because my geckos tail just doesnt seem to be getting very fat. Perhaps Im not feeding him enough?He's always alert and active it seems so I dont think he's unhealthy. Does it take until a little later in their life for that tail to really start fattening up?

>>Do they seem to take to the one in there alright? Im concerned because my geckos tail just doesnt seem to be getting very fat. Perhaps Im not feeding him enough?He's always alert and active it seems so I dont think he's unhealthy. Does it take until a little later in their life for that tail to really start fattening up?

As long as the gecko is about 3 months old or more, I say the tail should be AT LEAST as wide as the neck before I say that they look healthy. Obviously other factors go into it as well.
A thin gecko is not usually from a lack of calcium. Usually there are other factors involved. Read through a couple pages of posts here and you'll find a lot of similiar questions with good answers.

Here's a basic checklist (really basic, but should give a starting point) from Dr Gecko's Website (www.drgecko):

Checklist Of A Healthy Gecko

This checklist includes those qualities that are to be found in a healthy leopard gecko. Use this checklist when you are looking to purchase a leopard gecko and be sure to refer to it during the quarantine period after you first acquire the gecko.

Eyes
_____ Bright and clear
_____ No drooping or swollen eyelids
_____ No discharge, tearing or crusting residue

Mouth & Jaw
_____ No cheesy or foaming mucus discharge
_____ Not hanging open
_____ Firm

Nose
_____ No mucus discharge

Vent
_____ No unusual swelling
_____ No dried, dark stains

Stools
_____ Feces should be brown to black
_____ Urates whitish and solid/pasty in consistency
_____ No loose or runny stools
_____ No discoloured stools
_____ No pungent/sour/strong odor to stools

Overall Body
_____ Rounded thighs and calves
_____ Skin should be tight with few skin folds
_____ No open sores or blisters
_____ No evidence of mites or ticks
_____Tail is complete; no missing digits
_____ No evidence of runny stools
_____ Stomach should be fat and full

Overall Appearance
_____ Gives impression of vigor
_____ Good muscle tone
_____ Good weight
_____ Frisky and alert
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Brian Skibinski
Brian@MilwaukeeReptiles.com
www.MilwaukeeReptiles.com
Leopard Gecko Care Sheet

>> _____Tail is complete; no missing digits

>>

So what if your gecko has missing digits? When I got Kalypso her back right foot had 3 missing toes (the middle ones) from a bad bad shed. Of course I've made sure all of her sheds since then have been real successful ones so she has no more missing digits.

That's nice you put the checklist up.

Also you should include something about the fat deposits behind their front arms, it will like like they have a bulge. If you scroll down the main page for leopard gecko's you should see something about fat armpits.
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1.1 mali uro's-Ares and Apollo
1.saharan uro- Iris
1.2 bearded dragon-Hades and Draco
0.2 leo gecko-Kalypso
0.3 tokaye gecko-Sid Vicious
1.0 tarantula-Peter Parker
0.2 dog-cheeka
0.2 zebra finch-beeps
0.2 african gray parrot-keya
1.0 red headed parrot-pancho
0.3 Fish (sorry no names for them)

For questions, comments or updates email is: uromastyx101@yahoo.com

I have a question regarding the use of calcium with Vit. D3 in reptiles that do not utilize UV rays to help in their calcium absorption.
Has anyone read of any studies being done on if it is indeed necessary for nocturnal reptiles and if so should as much of it be fed as to the reptiles that do utilize it with basking under a UV lamp?
Just curious
LG