What's the point?

[Pepper]

Why do we supplement, and do all that fancy stuff, when in the wild, Leo's would not be getting calcium covered crickets? Or calcium in a bowl?

I see the point of "gut loading" since obviously insects would eat in the wild.

But I don't see the point in dusting food, I do it, but that's just because I've heard your supposed too..

But, why?

 

[vctkiller]

Well, in the wild leopard geckos encounter about 60 different other insects with calcium,vitamins, and etc. In captivity we only have a couple of insects. Mealworms,crickets,roaches, and other worms. We can't get all those 60 different insects so we gotta dust them.

 

[Hacksaw]

also keep in mind that leopard geckos in the wild arent nearly as healthy as captive raised ones...

and they do not live as long either, because they do not have the benfits of having their foods dusted and having calcium bowls:main_thumbsup:

 

[Bodon]

Think about the difference between humans eating healthy and eating junk food, you can survive on junk food but its better to eat healthy. Leos could survive without supplements too but its better for them to be healthy.

 

[Snowy & Petra de Gecko]

Because

Assuming that a Leo can live for about 27 or 28 years ... then, you have your answer.

A captive leo can live for that long because, it is being provided for.

In the wild ... there is no way that they live that long.

So they will eat a variety of different insects. I would suspect that they would eat anything that moved.

But, if they lived only for 4 or 5 years then, they have lived a full life.

We do what we do because the Leos are our pets. And because of that they will live longer.

So you do not have to dust or provide calcium and you can hope that a leo gets all that it needs.

But, then do not be surprised when they get diseases or if they die.

 

[Pepper]

Gotcha, makes sense.

I thought about it after that they only get crickets and mealies and occasional waxies and whatever bugs..

But in the wild they'd be getting bunches of different protein and calcium sources...

Thanks for the info

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Good question, and good answers! The soil where leopard geckos originate contains a LOT of limestone, which is a sedimentary substance made up of calcite. Calcite comes from ancient shellfish and coral... almost pure calcium! The vegitation that grows in this soil is calcium-rich, and the insects (primarily locust, etc.) eat these plants. This calcium is then ingested by the geckos.

Since we cannot mimmick their natural environment and food sources completely, we need to supplement their diet with calcium in order for their bones to develop and maintain strength properly.

 

[shadowx362]

You don't want to see a non supplemented gecko
Like all the others have said, geckos natural habitat contains natural outlets of supplementation. whether its a nutritious bug or the high in calcium rocks/dirt they lick on, their natural environment is full of vitamins and minerals that are not found in crickets and meal worms.