Questions on Calcium and Lighting

[Kelsey12]

Hey everyone, I'm new here and I just have a couple of questions that I would like to find the answers to before I buy my gecko! I have been reading up a little, but I'm still confused. Ok, so first...that Repashy Calci Plus stuff? Is this stuff good enough to where I don't have to mix vitamins and other D3/plain calcium and therefore eliminating days where I alternate supplements?? If so, do I still need to leave plain calcium in the cage? It's all so confusing! D=

Second, I plan on using an UTH to heat the tank...I have read that Leos need special lighting for vitamins/minerals or something, but I have also read that they don't. If the UTH isn't warming up enough, then is it ok to use a heat/basking lamp?? Thanks SO much for your help! I hope I worded everything clearly enough.

 

[thekooliest]

Its pointless. I am getting my gecko in two weeks. I learned that they can get their vitamins and minerals from the calcium supplement. But I still got a light thinking I would put it and the UTH on together during the day, and at night turning off the light. Even with a rheostat on low, this was like 98 degrees of heat. I am now trying to sell my light because they NEED the UTH for digesting food.

As for calcium it is confusing. The main thing I know is that you should plan to dust your feeders (crickets, mealies, roaches) once every week. Also you should use the lid of a milk carton and wash/dry it. Then put it upside down on the cage with calcium supplements. You can leave it there for a month or two (or so I have heard). Most people never see the geckos eating out of it. But if he/she isn't getting enough calcium and is getting sick, she will know to eat out of it.

 

[GeckoJunkie]

Kelsey,
Sam pretty much got it right, they do not 'need' a light but do need a UTH. If the UTH is not heating up enough.....get a bigger one. They need the belly heat plain and simple.
The calcium is a must. Dust your feeders with a good vitamin supplement and leave a small lid of any type with calcium in the cage at all times. You will from time to time see them licking the calcium. Hope this helps some!!

 

[Kelsey12]

Thanks for all the info! So, if I were to use Repashy Calci Plus, how many times do I dust the feeders a week? Also, if I use Repashy, do I need to use other types of calcium or multivitamins in addition?

 

[zzz888]

Don't use any over head heating device!!! They may burn your gecko's eyes!!
Especially with Albino and Blizzard, they are very sensitive and can't see anything under the bright light! So the UTH is the best heat source
For juniviles, use mutivitamins 2~3 times a week, calcium 4~5 times a week.
For Adults, use mutivitamins 1~2 times a week, and calcium 2 times a week.

 

[godzillizard]

Your post was very clear, Kelsey. I use Repashy's calcium plus every time I feed live foods--unless I'm feeding phoenix worms--because they are already full of calcium. The Repashy dust is the best supplement i've used so far...I lightly coat every bug I feed (except phoenix worms) If you use it every other feeding, even once or twice a week, you're little guy/girl will do very well. I use Repashy's calcium plus and no other supplements for all 6 species that I work with (mostly rhacodactylus). Good luck! and don't hesitate to ask more questions! I'd be nowhere without this community

 

[thekooliest]

Kelsey,
Sam pretty much got it right, they do not 'need' a light but do need a UTH. If the UTH is not heating up enough.....get a bigger one. They need the belly heat plain and simple.
The calcium is a must. Dust your feeders with a good vitamin supplement and leave a small lid of any type with calcium in the cage at all times. You will from time to time see them licking the calcium. Hope this helps some!!

I am quite happy to get this complement.
I am about to buy my first gecko, will have it by next Wednesday.
And I feel confident about all of the research I have done that I am able to answer people.
xD
-Sam

 

[dunderpate]

Hi, im going to share my two bits and as for zzz888 quote

Don't use any over head heating device!!! They may burn your gecko's eyes!!

Thats a bit ridiculous. I use a heat lamp above, an infared light that is set on a timer. It comes on a couple times a day and i adjust the amount of time its on according to the season. IE: Its summer now, so the heat lamp is on once a day if that and usually in the early part of the morning. Ive dusted my insects with calcium. But i also gut load my superworms with fruits and veggies. From what ive read, as long as my Leopard Gecko has a healthy fat tail, and his bones arent poking out nad theres a sparkle in his eye, then in general his health is good. As far as the underaquarium heaters go, be careful, the last thing you want to do is burn the underbelly of your lizard, which is a heck of a lot more sensitve then the top part of his skin, hence choosing overhead heating lamp.

 

[thekooliest]

Well it is true with at least albinos.
They are very sensitive to light and wont eat unless the lights aren't to bright.

 

[Scoots85]

I've actually been dusting literally every meal with calcium. Is that over doing it?

 

[thekooliest]

ive heard every other time-twice a week.

 

[Gecko Ranch]

Your post was very clear, Kelsey. I use Repashy's calcium plus every time I feed live foods--unless I'm feeding phoenix worms--because they are already full of calcium. The Repashy dust is the best supplement i've used so far...I lightly coat every bug I feed (except phoenix worms) If you use it every other feeding, even once or twice a week, you're little guy/girl will do very well. I use Repashy's calcium plus and no other supplements for all 6 species that I work with (mostly rhacodactylus). Good luck! and don't hesitate to ask more questions! I'd be nowhere without this community

Ding ding ding! Brian wins. You are correct, sir! :main_thumbsup: Calcium Plus has a lot of "stick" so insects get a good coat and you don't have to use a lot of it to accomplish that. Use it every time on insect feeders, no need for anything else since it is an all in one supplement.

 

[Kelsey12]

Thanks for all of the replies! So, would it be better to use the Repashy at every feeding or not? Can health issues occur if a gecko gets too much calcium? And, finally...since the Repashy sticks well, do I still need to add it to the cage in a cap just in case? Does it include D3 or no?

 

[Gecko Ranch]

Thanks for all of the replies! So, would it be better to use the Repashy at every feeding or not? Can health issues occur if a gecko gets too much calcium? And, finally...since the Repashy sticks well, do I still need to add it to the cage in a cap just in case? Does it include D3 or no?

Use the Repashy Calcium Plus on your insects every feeding. You do not need to add any in the terrarium, that is one of the nice things about this supplement. It is all in one, so yes, it has D3 and everything, all the vitamins and minerals, your gecko needs to be healthy. It even has three pigment enhancers that will brighten your gecko's pigmentation. It has even some of my older guys looking bright!

 

[fallen_angel]

Julie, do you have some pics to show the difference in brightness? That would be very interesting to see, I didn't know there were pigment enhancers in the stuff.. Very cool

 

[MelissaDiane]

Well it is true with at least albinos.
They are very sensitive to light and wont eat unless the lights aren't to bright.

Hello Sam, Nice to meet ya. Just wanted to let you know that I am in Lancaster Co., PA. Its nice to see another gecko person who is in my area. I also want to congratulate you on the research you have done on the animal you are interested in. So many young people just go out & get something just because.....with no research. I want you to know that I have a Tremper Albino female & right now I am home from work waiting on my line bred snow to arrive. She is coming out of North Dakota. I just purchased my Tremper back in July. She is an albino & I can tell you she does not like the light & hides out most of the time. She is very sweet & docile when I hold her.

I just want to wish you the best of luck with yours & also, its good to know someone who can help out with computer type of things such as web sites.

 

[Gecko Ranch]

Julie, do you have some pics to show the difference in brightness? That would be very interesting to see, I didn't know there were pigment enhancers in the stuff.. Very cool

I don't think I have before and afters. I was pretty skeptical about this color enhancement stuff when I first started using Calcium Plus. I do have the MOGUL to look at a particular Sunglow male I got from her who has surpassed his beauty when I got him! My pix never do justice to the coloration of my geckos anyway. I need a good flash set-up to really get that accomplished.

 

[fallen_angel]

I am sure Marcia can definitely attest to it