Questions as a new leopard gecko owner

[reptilesunleashed]

I am new to geckosunlimited and a new gecko owner and have a few questions.
1. How much does and average vet checkup cost and how often are you supposed to take them to the vet?
2. Can darkling beetles escape? I have a mealworm farm and I am wondering if darkling beetles can escape. They are in plastic drawers and there are 1cm gaps in between the plastic drawer and this thing that goes around them. Will the darkling beetles escape? I heard they rarely fly and can't climb smooth surfaces.
3. How often do you feed your adult leopard gecko? Is every 2 days good enough? I currently use Miner-all , which is an indoor supplement that has calcium and vitamin d3. It says for adult reptiles, supplement your feeders, every 3rd feeding. Should I supplement the feeders every 3rd feeding?

That is all I can think of at the moment. I might ask more questions.

 

[SpottedDragon]

I can only answer about the mealworms. I raise thousands of the things in the white rubber-maid drawers (the 3 drawer high ones) and don't really have issues with escape. After moving the beetles to new bins I occasionally find one wandering around on the floor - but they can't survive without some sort of edible bedding.

Since joining here, I've also learned that mealworms fed on wheat bran are too high in phosphorous to be a good food for geckos, but you can pull what you intend to feed 12 to 24 hours prior to feeding and put them in a good gut-load medium that is higher calcium / lower phosphorus to remedy this. Also, feeding roaches and other insects will result in a better diet overall

 

[reptilesunleashed]

What gecko do you have? If you own leopard geckos, then what does a healthy feces look like?

 

[reptilesunleashed]

Any other answers and thoughts?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

What gecko do you have? If you own leopard geckos, then what does a healthy feces look like?

Allowing for variation for size of the gecko, healthy feces are well formed, dark brown, and about the size of 2 tic tacs. Healthy urates are pure white. Then there is a puddle of urine that's usually absorbed by the substrate.

My vet charges $85 for a visit (+ any extra tests like x-rays) + $50 more for a 2nd patient brought in at the same time. These vets require a visit before performing a fecal on that gecko. It's a good idea to get a new leo checked out. Then I make "problem" visits if problems arise.

3. How often do you feed your adult leopard gecko? Is every 2 days good enough? I currently use Miner-all , which is an indoor supplement that has calcium and vitamin d3. It says for adult reptiles, supplement your feeders, every 3rd feeding. Should I supplement the feeders every 3rd feeding?

I feed my 13.5 year old leo 2 times per week.

Miner-all Indoor contains a very low amount of vitamin D3 (4,400 IU/kg). Compare that to Zoo Med's Repti Calcium with D3 (22,907 IU/kg). I've found Repti Calcium with D3 should be used @ 1 feeding per week.

• For 24 click: Calcium powders with D3: Zoo Med, Rep-Cal, Fluker, Exo Terra, + others

I suggest these supplements for your leo instead of Miner-All Indoor.

Weekly Schedule 126 for Leopard Geckos 18 months old +​

(without UVB)​

Crickets or dubia >> Monday - lightly dusted with Zoo Med Repti Calcium with D3
Crickets or dubia >> Thursday - lightly dusted with Zoo Med ReptiVite multivitamins without D3
Mealworms >> Saturday - no dusting

Future weeks:
Continue on since all weeks are identical. . . . . .

 

[Sg612]

Elizabeth freer already explained what a healthy feces looks like, so I just wanted to mention that sometimes they step on it and make it look flat and out of shape. Don’t panic right away and just wait to see what the next one looks like if that happens.

 

[Sg612]

Vet prices are different everywhere. This is what Philadelphia prices are like. Some fees are for blood test,radiology and so on. The Medicine is usually cheap.

 

[reptilesunleashed]

Elizabeth Freer- Are you saying to take your gecko once the first time when you get him/ her and then only take him to the vet when problems arise?

 

[reptilesunleashed]

The previous owner of my leo had him for 4 years and he's used Miner- all and he is perfectly healthy.

 

[Sg612]

The previous owner of my leo had him for 4 years and he's used Miner- all and he is perfectly healthy.

Ive been doing research myself and while doing so noticed that some of these https://www.merckvetmanual.com/mana...n-exotic-and-zoo-animals/nutrition-in-reptile are not on here. MINER-ALL Indoor

 

[Sg612]

Not sure why the first link isn’t working but amino acid requirements for reptiles was listed.

 

[reptilesunleashed]

Are you supposed to take your leo the first time you get him/ her to the vet and then take him/her only when problems arise?

 

[Sg612]

Are you supposed to take your leo the first time you get him/ her to the vet and then take him/her only when problems arise?

You specifically asked Elizabeth freer so I wasn’t sure if you wanted anyone to answer? I would take your gecko for a wellness visit.

 

[reptilesunleashed]

Whats a wellness visit?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Elizabeth freer already explained what a healthy feces looks like, so I just wanted to mention that sometimes they step on it and make it look flat and out of shape. Don’t panic right away and just wait to see what the next one looks like if that happens.

Thanks for elaborating, Sg612.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Elizabeth Freer- Are you saying to take your gecko once the first time when you get him/ her and then only take him to the vet when problems arise?

Yes, that's correct. Your leo's first visit establishes a baseline. A "baseline" is how your gecko appears at that visit. Some vets recommend annual check-ups.

The previous owner of my leo had him for 4 years and he's used Miner- all and he is perfectly healthy.

Since your new leo is perfectly healthy now, continue supplementing and feeding like he's used to. I've never used Miner-All Indoor for any extended time. I've shared what works for me and many, many Geckos Unlimited leopard geckos. All 3 Zoo Med supplements I mention have made tremendous differences in the health of geckos l'm currently breeding that are more "delicate" than leopard geckos.

Whats a wellness visit?

A "wellness visit" is bringing a seemingly healthy lizard in for a check up. It formally estabishes contact with that vet should something else happen in the future. The vet may or may not wish to run other tests.



Hi reptilesunleashed ~

I'm not certain whether you saw my complete reply, reply #5. Can you scroll back to it? I don't know how links "work" if you're checking in by phone.

. . . . . .

My vet charges $85 for a visit (+ any extra tests like x-rays) + $50 more for a 2nd patient brought in at the same time. These vets require a visit before performing a fecal on that gecko. It's a good idea to get a new leo checked out. Then I make "problem" visits if problems arise.

. . . . . .

I've highlighted what I personally do and what vet charges are right now in Portland, Oregon USA.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

The previous owner of my leo had him for 4 years and he's used Miner- all and he is perfectly healthy.

Make sure you see 3 new replies on this thread: 15, 16, & 17. Be sure to read these replies completely.

Please share a video of your leo walking around. That video will really help us out.

Please share a photo of your leo's enclosure too.

 

[Sg612]

You’re welcome. I can’t believe what crossed my mind( Leo stepping on poop)

 

[Sg612]

Since the link didn’t work for whatever reason, I took a screenshot.

Blurred. Sorry I tried.

 

[reptilesunleashed]

I've also been doing some research and came across another forum about tortoises and they said Miner- all contains all essential amino acids for reptiles. My leo does have calcium overdose ( those bubbles behind their arms), but some people say that it is just a sign of your leo storing something.