Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know this sounds like a very silly question but how do nocturnal lizards like leopard geckos process calcium without exposure to sunlight?
-----
Leopard Geckos (3.4.0)
Hef,Naruto,Ranma.Aisha,Tohru,Ryoko,Lina
Crested Geckos (1.6.0)
Raymond.Toadie,Griffon,Dag,Nora,Raine,Raya
Bearded Dragon (0.0.1)
Curry
Gold Dust Day Gecko (1.0.0)
Midis
Green Anole (1.0.0)
Cham
Brown Anole (0.1.0)(A hitchhiker)
Fern
Cats (2.3.0)
Vash,Bigby.Gromit,Wallace,Kisa
Dog (1.0.0)
Peanut

They do get a small amount of vitamin D from natural sunlight, when they come out at dusk in the wild. For the most part, they derive the vitamin D needed to process the calcium from thier prey items. Because they are nocturnal, they process the calcium and D more effeciently, and need less of the D. If the prey has been in sunlight, it will have some D already in it. Because the prey items we feed our gecko don't actually come from outside, it's nessicary to supplement with D3 occasionaly. 1 - 2 times a week is plenty.

This is not a silly question at all! Yes, leopard geckos rely on calcium supplementation through the food they eat as well as consuming it in it's pure form. In the wild, the soil is hardpacked clay and limestone... a natural source of calcium. The insect prey that eats the plants that grow in that soil become fortified with calcium, and lets not forget that leos lick everything!

Vitamin D is not necessary for the assimilation of Calcium into the bloodstream, but it is a catalyst that helps it be absorbed more efficiently. When we drink milk, it is usually VitD fortified (for growing kids), but if we take Calcium supplements in pill form it is usually just straight Calcium in one form or antother.
-----
Marcia McGuiness
Golden Gate Geckos
www.goldengategeckos.com

Thank you, I'm glad it wasn't a stupid question. I just recently got a bearded dragon and was reading about different uvb lights and started wondering how my leopards process calcuim. I was at first afraid to ask because I thought I would get chewed out for not knowing. Thanks again the both of you for the quick responses.

-----
Leopard Geckos (2.5.0)
Hef,Naruto.Ranma,Aisha,Tohru,Ryoko,Lina
Crested Geckos (2.5.0)
Raymond,Raine.Toadie,Griffon,Dag,Nora,Raya
Bearded Dragon (0.0.1)
Curry
Gold Dust Day Gecko (1.0.0)
Midis
Green Anole (1.0.0)
Cham
Brown Anole (0.1.0)(A hitchhiker)
Fern
Cats (2.3.0)
Vash,Bigby.Gromit,Wallace,Kisa
Dog (1.0.0)
Peanut