Leopard Gecko MBD?

[FishHobbyist1564]

Hello I have a leopard gecko that is approximately 8 months old in a 10-gallon tank. When I first bought it, it was healthy. A few months ago, I noticed its arms were looking weak, a little pink-ish, and somewhat bent-looking. I read about this disease, so I quickly began to raise its calcium levels. I have it on a diet of crickets, which I dust with a calcium supplement just before feeding. The gecko itself seems healthy and fine, since it constantly walks around, goes to the bathroom on a normal schedule, hunts for the crickets and gets them (it also vibrates its tail just before eating the crickets), and it drinks regularly. However, the gecko walks strangely, almost on its front elbows, since its front legs look bent and curved inward.

During the day, I keep one side of his enclosure at about 80 degrees Farenheit, and at night, I keep one side at about 70 degrees Farenheit. I also provide moisture daily (from a spraybottle with fresh water). It has logs to rest under and other areas to rest, but most of the time it is out and about. I just wasn't sure if the effect on its arms will eb completely irreversible, or if maybe they will look better as they grow?

Thanks for any replies

 

[Allee Toler]

First off, raise the temps. That's too cool for a leopard gecko. 91-97F on one side during the day with a 10degree gratiant for the other side. Then dropping a few degrees at night.

What calcium are you dusting with? Are you using any vitamin supplements? Humid hide? 2 other hides? What substrate?

Sounds like MBD to me (could be from over-dusting, under-dusting, what you're dusting, etc), but since your temps were wrong we might as well fix whatever else in your tank to make your pet happier. =]

 

[FishHobbyist1564]

I use a reptile rug/mat, because i heard that sand was not good for a young leopard gecko. Also, whenever I spray for moisture, I usually mist toward one side of the tank, but I make sure that the other side gets just a little bit of mist, so the gecko can choose whichever side it would like to be on.I am dusting with a calcium supplement called "Fluker's Calcium" It is phosphorus-free and has Vitamin D3. I also have a food spray that is a vitamin supplement with beta carotene, which helps their calcium metabolism. However, I try not to overload on all of these supplements, and I try to keep the amount I give my gecko at a reasonable level.

Right now I have the temperature at about 86 degrees Farenheit. The gecko is still walking around being active. When moistening the habitat, I like to keep the moisture between 30%-50%.

 

[kinglion887]

I agree to raise the temperature of your leos enclosureto about 91....provide a warm, humid and cool hide. A calcium dish, water dish, and I use paper towel as substrate....everything should be good from there....

 

[Allee Toler]

One side needs to be between 91F-97F. The other needs to be 78-85F.

You need THREE hides at least. A warm hide, a cool hide, and a moist hide. There should be no "misting" the tank. Take a plastic container, cut a hole in the side, put moist moss or paper towel in it. That will be the only humidity your gecko needs. Too much moisture in the tank can cause lung and sinus infections.

Dust twice a week with calcium+D3, once a week dust (not liquid) with a multivitamin.

In the tank you need a cap (I use milk caps) of calicium without D3 in there 24/7.

 

[FishHobbyist1564]

Alright thanks for all the info, and I have made changes to his environment, which the gecko seems to like (it keeps walking around and exploring).

I am just wondering if the gecko's arms might get better as it grows in these "new-and-improved" habitat conditions? Do you think its overall health will be fine?

 

[JordanAng420]

IMO, if your gecko recovers from the MBD, then he should be healthy, but may suffer permanent physical damage, and of course as a result should never be bred.