Calcium Deposits

[kayhannan]

I was just given two leopard geckos from a friend who was just going to give them away. Both are large and are 1 and 2 years old. The eldest has "armpit bubbles" (assuming they're calcium deposits). We just moved them a few hours to my house and changed their terrarium to a more natural substrate. They have both eaten since we have had them but they don't seem as interested in food as others are, is this normal after this much change to their environment? Also to deal with the deposits, should I feed them separately and cut back on the amount of calcium in her food until they go down or just ignore them and continue to feed both the regular amount of calcium.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Hi Kay ~

Welcome to Geckos Unlimited!

Please share photos of both leos showing their "calcium" bubbles. Those bubbles may be something else. Can you also share separate videos of each leo walking around?

Please share the supplements you have for them with the exact brand, name, and frequency you plan to use those supplements. Check the expiration dates.

Here's an abbreviated Leo Care Sheet to get you started:

For link 81 (& 87) click: Leopard Gecko Care Sheet (abbreviated) -- June 2019 update (show handout)​

 

[kayhannan]

Only one has the bubbles, we are feeding calcium with D3 right now from repticalciun but will be switching to the calcium + vitamins from repashy when it comes in the mail, we have not left any in the tank whatsoever. Not sure what the last owner had been doing. We have dusted half of her food with it and fed them separately so the one without bubbles is getting everything dusted. they get fed three times a week and get between 4 and 6 mealworms or 3 to 4 crickets each. I do know it is possible for them to become “addicted” to calcium. She doesn’t seem to concerned by them and still climbs and is handled without issue. I will post pictures when I get back to my house.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Only one has the bubbles, we are feeding calcium with D3 right now from repticalciun but will be switching to the calcium + vitamins from repashy when it comes in the mail, we have not left any in the tank whatsoever. Not sure what the last owner had been doing. We have dusted half of her food with it and fed them separately so the one without bubbles is getting everything dusted. they get fed three times a week and get between 4 and 6 mealworms or 3 to 4 crickets each. I do know it is possible for them to become “addicted” to calcium. She doesn’t seem to concerned by them and still climbs and is handled without issue. I will post pictures when I get back to my house.

Thanks about the armpit bubbles on just the eldest. Those bubbles could also be fat bubbles.

I don't recommend dusting with a D3 product more than 1x per week. Currently are you using Zoo Med's Repti Calcium with D3? D3 is fat soluble. Vitamin D3 sticks around in a leo's body for about 1 week and metabolizes plain calcium during that week.

Please post videos so we can check their gait. I'm checking for signs of MBD. I'd appreciate being able to actually see them walking around, prior to suggesting Weekly Supplement Schedules.

Have you ordered Repashy's Calcium Plus (all-in-one multivitamins)? I don't recommend leaving any in the enclosure. This all-in-one multivitamin:

(click to enlarge)​

Please let us know the full length of each leo.

 

[kayhannan]

We won't be leaving any in the enclosure for sure. We also have the repti calcium without D3 so I can dust with that during the other feedings. Yes that is what I have ordered just waiting for it to come in. How many times per week do you recommend dusting with that?

 

[kayhannan]

 

[Geopard Lecko]

What kind of substrate did your switch them from an what are you using now?

 

[kayhannan]

They were on wood chips, now they're on eco-earth. But the deposits were there for a while as per their old owner who had them on wood chips

 

[kayhannan]

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

We won't be leaving any in the enclosure for sure. We also have the repti calcium without D3 so I can dust with that during the other feedings. Yes that is what I have ordered just waiting for it to come in. How many times per week do you recommend dusting with that? View attachment 48352 View attachment 48353

A video of each leo is really necessary. That way I'll feel comfortable recommending an age-appropriate supplement schedule or adding supplementation with plain calcium carbonate if there is some MBD present.

Please also share full body still pictures of each leo and their total lengths.

Plain calcium carbonate NEVER expires like Zoo Med Repti Calcium withOUT D3 or the human grade calcium carbonate NOW. Other supplements do expire.

Here's the Repashy's Calcium Plus (all-in-one) multivitamins schedule that GU's acpart (Aliza Arzt) has used for all her leopard geckos ----> breeders and non-breeders. You'll need 2 different powders.

-----> February 2019 -- "I've been using an 'every other' feeding schedule with Repashy's Calcium Plus since 2009. Adults get fed Mondays and Thursdays. They get Repashy on Thursdays.

"I fed juveniles and hatchlings 3 times a week. (They would be getting mealworms so there would always be some in their bowls.) For juveniles I'd dust with Repashy's Calcium Plus at every other feeding. For hatchlings 0-2 months old & any slow-growing leopard geckos under ~6 grams, I would also dust every other feeding in addition to keeping plain calcium in the cage 24/7."

Aliza

Repashy's Calcium Plus (all-in-one) multivitamins
(withOUT UVB)​

Early stage metabolic bone disease (MBD) problems include uneven (lopsided) gait, bowed limbs, belly dragging, and an underbite.

1. Feeding & Supplementing HATCHLING leopard geckos - 0-2 months old & any slow-growing leopard geckos under ~6 grams ~ Feed 3x per week.

• Feed Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Saturdays
• Dust prey with Repashy's Calcium Plus (all-in-one) multivitamins at every other feeding
• ALSO: Keep a bottle cap of plain calcium in the cage 24/7.
• [See dusting chart below]

2. Feeding & Supplementing JUVENILE leopard geckos ~ Feed 3x per week.

• Feed Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Saturdays
• Dust prey with Repashy's Calcium Plus (all-in-one) multivitamins at every other feeding
• [See dusting chart below]

3. Feeding & Supplementing ADULT leopard geckos ~ Feed 2x per week.

• Mondays ~ feed (no dusting)
• Thursdays ~ feed & dust prey with Repashy's Calcium Plus (all-in-one) multivitamins

\/ \/ \/


R = Repashy's Calcium Plus, Cc = pure precipitated calcium carbonate (withOUT vitamin D3)

Week 1 Repashy dusting (for JUVENILES & HATCHLINGS):
M-------T-------W------Th-------F-------Sat-------Sun
............R...........................................R...................


Week 2 Repashy dusting (for JUVENILES & HATCHLINGS):
M-------T-------W------Th-------F-------Sat-------Sun
..................................R..........................................​

-----> For hatchlings 0-2 months old & any slow-growing leopard geckos under ~6 grams: Aliza also places a bottle cap of pure precipitated calcium carbonate (withOUT vitamin D3) in the cage 24/7.

For link 144 click: Repashy's Calcium Plus (all-in-one) multivitamin Schedules for Leopard Geckos -- December 2019 update

 

[Geopard Lecko]

Oh i dont think its related.. I ask because loose substrate can be tricky with these guys some will eat it an get impacted. Eco earth is better then sand tho.. I did see you sont leave food in there and thats good! Leopard geckos have whats called a jacobsons organ and they tend to go around licking everything it kinda helps them know where they are at and other things so thats always something to keep in mind.

 

[kayhannan]

one of our other baby geckos that was sent with a box of baby snakes to a breeder without notice, all very malnourished but gaining their weight back and thriving now has MBD and walks on his forearms.

 

[Geopard Lecko]

Def calcium boobies lol, seems to walk around ok from what i can tell.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

How about a longer video for the second leo?

 

[kayhannan]

I have posted the link to her walking. She is just around 6 inches long. The other has no deposits and has no mobility issues.

 

[kayhannan]

the second leo has no issues or deposits and I wouldn't be able to get her right now as she is sleeping in her hide and i don't want to pull her out as she tends to get stressed a little easier. That's the only leo with the deposits, they are very bubbly-like and are not solid.

 

[Geopard Lecko]

the second leo has no issues or deposits and I wouldn't be able to get her right now as she is sleeping in her hide and i don't want to pull her out as she tends to get stressed a little easier. That's the only leo with the deposits, they are very bubbly-like and are not solid.

i would just ease off the calcium for a bit. maybe go a week an see how she looks.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I have posted the link to her walking. She is just around 6 inches long. The other has no deposits and has no mobility issues.

Are you sure that both leos are female?

Generally a 2 yo female leo should be longer than 6 inches from snout to tail tip. Sunny looks pudgy to me. A 2 yo leo is an adult. For Sunny follow Aliza's Schedule 144 for adult leos. Then you'll only be dusting Sunny's prey 1x per week. That, alone, may reduce the armpit bubbles. I'd also put Sunny on a diet. At first substitute crickets for any mealworms she gets now. Mealworms are significantly higher in fat! After 2 weeks on this mealworm-free diet, if Sunny shows no armpit bubble reduction and/or weight loss, reduce the number of crickets she gets at each of 2 feedings per week.

(click to enlarge)​

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

one of our other baby geckos that was sent with a box of baby snakes to a breeder without notice, all very malnourished but gaining their weight back and thriving now has MBD and walks on his forearms.

Depending upon the stage of MBD some recovery may be possible.

Try this schedule for that leo. I like Zoo Med's supplements better than Repashy's Calcium Plus, because both Zoo Med's Repti Calcium with D3 and Zoo Med's Reptivite multivitamins withOUT D3 contain substantial amounts of plain calcium carbonate per dose.

Weekly Schedule 124 for Leopard Geckos 0-12 months old
(withOUT UVB)​

Early stage metabolic bone disease (MBD) problems include uneven (lopsided) gait, bowed limbs, belly dragging, and an underbite.

• Crickets or dubia >> Monday - lightly dusted with Zoo Med's Repti Calcium with D3
• Mealworms >> Tuesday
• Crickets or dubia >> Wednesday - lightly dusted with pure precipitated calcium carbonate withOUT D3 (Zoo Med's Repti Calcium or NOW human brand calcium)
• Crickets or dubia >> Thursday
• Crickets or dubia >> Friday - lightly dusted with Zoo Med's ReptiVite multivitamins withOUT D3
• Mealworms >> Saturday
• No food or free choice >> Sunday

For link 124 click: Weekly Feeding & Supplement Schedule 124 for leopard geckos 0-12 months old

For link 77 click: Gecko Multivitamins

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

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

PS:

What are you feeding the leos' insects and worms? The nutrition the feeders receive is passed on to your geckos.