calcium substitution?

[ralphdacanay]

Hello i live in philippines and I've done my research about leopard gecko care and I people say that leopard gecko needs calcium but there's no leopard gecko calcium available here in philippine is there's any substitute for calcium

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Leopard geckos do need calcium with vitamin D3, at least. Have you access to online ordering like Amazon (Prime).

What do Philippine area breeders use?

Here are some alternate calcium sources:

• NOW brand calcium carbonate found in health foods store (for humans)
• Cuttlebone ~ That may be found in pet stores and can be shaved off for leopard geckos.

Thing is many necessary nutrients can be found in the diet you feed your leos bug's and worms. What are you feeding your leo? What are you feeding those feeders?

 

[ralphdacanay]

I haven't ask the breeders yet but I'm going to use cuttlebone as substitute

 

[LEOPARD1]

I haven't ask the breeders yet but I'm going to use cuttlebone as substitute

I would use cuttlebone as my last choice. I spent a little time in the country and Its hard for me to believe you have zero access to supplements. It may take some research but I'm sure you can find it.

What it boils down to for me and someone in your situation is to order what you need from Amazon like I mentioned in your other post. I am guessing your 14 so you would need an adult to do it.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I haven't ask the breeders yet but I'm going to use cuttlebone as substitute

The NOW brand calcium carbonate is pure calcium carbonate. It is very inexpensive in the USA.

Click: Calcium Carbonate Powder - 12 oz.

Some vitamin D3 source occasionally is extremely important to prevent MBD (metabolic bone disease) in your leopard gecko.

It will be helpful if you reply to the other questions I asked. Many nutrients can be obtained via feeding the insects and worms a healthy diet. We don't know unless you tell us.

 

[ralphdacanay]

Tnx guys I've done my research and pass by some calcium carbonate powder online, how many or how often should I give my Leo calcium? And im still planing to get one

 

[ralphdacanay]

And the seller of calcium carbonate told me that its for aquarium that lower the pH?

 

[LEOPARD1]

Hey Bro,

Im not calling you out. When I was 15 I had almost every available species of CB Buthid. Then jumped into Venomous Snakes and very rare and deadly one (thanks G. Herp you douches).

I studied though. I havent kept a buthid in over a decade but can still ramble off the latin names of almost all of them. I was in CONSTANT contact with Dr. Scott Stockdale and lurked on the HOT boards

Leiurus quinquestriatus
Androctonus australis (LD50 = 0.3 - 0.7) I wont even go into LD50's.
Androctonus bicolor
Androctonus crassicauda
Parabuthis liosoma
Centruroides exilicauda (only medically significant scorpion in USA)

Those are a very few of what I kept ( my top hitters), the list could go on. Its been 15 years! I havent thought about Scorpions in 15 years.

You were close to my age when I kept exotics so maybe study ALOT about what the Leopard Gecko needs. Then buy the Leopard Gecko; sure we have care sheets and everything else but Leopard Geckos are misunderstood. Due to the fact that they breed readily in captivity and are extremely attractive and cheap they are labeled "beginners species". It was easier taking care of a Bitis Gabonica then these guys. Impulsivity will get you no where.

Jazakallah Khair

 

[ralphdacanay]

Hello I have a sailfin dragon I bought it in a pet shop and his condition is so poor you can even see his back bones and ribs now after 3 months I thought that he would die because of his condition but now his very healthy and he's my first exotic pet the only prob with him is his very jumpy but not aggressive.

 

[LEOPARD1]

I haven't ask the breeders yet but I'm going to use cuttlebone as substitute

Hello I have a sailfin dragon I bought it in a pet shop and his condition is so poor you can even see his back bones and ribs now after 3 months I thought that he would die because of his condition but now his very healthy and he's my first exotic pet the only prob with him is his very jumpy but not aggressive.

I managed a Petco. They make an amazing turn around with the right companion.

Also this thread was not about sick to health with other species.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Tnx guys I've done my research and pass by some calcium carbonate powder online, how many or how often should I give my Leo calcium? And im still planing to get one

You've shared on your profile that you are 14 yo. That's a good age to get a leopard gecko for a pet. Thing is there are many care sheets "out there" all claiming to be "proper" for leopard geckos. From what you've posted on Geckos Unlimited, I have no idea what type of advice you've read.

I am happy that you are researching first. :cheer: Some first time leopard gecko keepers buy the gecko and then research.

There's more than one way to raise a healthy leo. However, some things are very basic to all care.

And the seller of calcium carbonate told me that its for aquarium that lower the pH?

You are about to use calcium carbonate for your leopard gecko.

I like to have more information, before suggesting things like supplement dosages for calcium, et cetera. Part of that depends upon the leopard gecko, its age, and its condition. The other part depends very much on the type of insects and worms that you plan to feed your leo and the food you plan to feed those bugs and worms.

In order to maintain healthy bones calcium carbonate and vitamin D3 are necessary. Both too little or too much vitamin D3 can cause MBD (metabolic bone disease) which can be fatal. Vitamin D3, a fat soluble vitamin, sticks around in a gecko's (or human's) system and helps geckos (and us) absorb calcium. Both are necessary either via very light powdered supplement dusting, diet fed, or both.