Does my vet know what she's talking about...?

[SidAndCira]

Haha... I took my leopard geckos to the vet today and she asked me about my set-up. She said I do everything perfect except the following:

1. You are supposed to mist their cage every day.
2. You are NOT supposed to put calci-dish in their enclosure.
3. They need UV bulbs.

 

[Bubba_da_leo]

2. I put a calci dish in in my leos cages
3.I thought they dont need uv because there nocturnal
someone please correct me if im wrong

 

[5HiddenLizards]

Really? She said you need a UV bulbs? They are nocturnal & wouldn't require a UV Bulb.

I do mist one of my leo's tank, but only every three days. He's the one that had the bad shed. And even then its very very lightly misted.

Mine don't have a calcium dish, but I know most people do.

 

[acpart]

I don't think the vet is on the mark:

--too much misting will make it too humid
--they could use a calci dish without D3, though some people who use Repashy calcium plus don't do the calcium dish
--as long as they get some calcium with D3 (they don't need much), they don't need UV.

Aliza

 

[SidAndCira]

2. I put a calci dish in in my leos cages
3.I thought they dont need uv because there nocturnal
someone please correct me if im wrong

Same here, I've been using a calci-dish, rofl. She said even though they are nocturnal the UV will prevent Metabolic bone disease so it's a must. I was confused, maybe it's just HER way of caring for them. Lastly, I didn't think they needed a misting/fogger since they were from arid terrain.

 

[Fencer04]

Def no mister or fogger needed. As long as they have a humid hide they are good to go. No UV bulb is needed but it wouldn't hurt them. Just make sure they get enough calcium with D3. I do it about once a week.

 

[Dog Shrink]

Your vet is wrong. No UV... it can stress them and I think (but not sure) leos actually lack the ability to gather the proper uv values to process into D3 being "nocturnal" (They're actually technically crepuscular). If they can process uv into useable D3 then you suppliment as well you could risk too much D3 in their diet and that can lead to problems such as psudogout (calcium deposits which is dangerous and affects quality of life). Misting very rarely because of the previously mentioned issues, and calcium suppliment in the tank if you are NOT using an all in 1 like repashy calcium plus icb or T-Rex brand leopard gecko dust icb. By putting the added calcium in the tank you can risk over supplimenting with calcium and developing calcium bubbles behind the front legs. I was just thru this with my leo and since removing the calcium dish and just dusting every other feeding with the repashy the bubble is now completely gone. Not that the bubbles hurt them but it's a good indicator they're getting too much as they only develop those bubbles to store excess calcium.

 

[Jordan]

- too much misting can cause respiratory problems but it can be fine on a less often basis, but even then its not needed.

- A calci dish is required but some people dont have it depending on their supplimenting routine.

- and no lights are necessary for leo's at all. especially not UV, would be a waste of money and energy for you.