GU Suggests
- Thread starter KaminariTheLeo
- Start date
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
Thanks so much!
When I click Kaminari's photo, I see her full body image. Kaminari is a gorgeous yellow leo! Even though Kaminari's tail is smaller proportionally, her overall body weight is ideal. Not all leos have a super fat tail.
Is there some sort of lump on her mid-to-lower back?
The other leopard gecko in your morph messages (your uncle's leo?) seems to have a thinner tail than Kaminari does here.
Here are troubleshooting questions:
1. What do you feed her?
2. How often do you feed her?
3. What do you feed her bugs or worms prior to feeding them to her?
4. Please list the exact brand(s) & frequency of supplements you use.
5. What are her warm end ground temps?
6. Cool end ground temps?
7. What size is her enclosure? L x W x H
8. How are you lighting & heating this enclosure?
When I click Kaminari's photo, I see her full body image. Kaminari is a gorgeous yellow leo! Even though Kaminari's tail is smaller proportionally, her overall body weight is ideal. Not all leos have a super fat tail.
Is there some sort of lump on her mid-to-lower back?
The other leopard gecko in your morph messages (your uncle's leo?) seems to have a thinner tail than Kaminari does here.
Here are troubleshooting questions:
1. What do you feed her?
2. How often do you feed her?
3. What do you feed her bugs or worms prior to feeding them to her?
4. Please list the exact brand(s) & frequency of supplements you use.
5. What are her warm end ground temps?
6. Cool end ground temps?
7. What size is her enclosure? L x W x H
8. How are you lighting & heating this enclosure?
KaminariTheLeo
New member
The thing that looks like a lump on her back is a pattern on her body.
I feed her mealworms right now because that’s all she will take. I feed her every other day. I feed the mealworms oats.
I dust the mealworms with FLUKER’S Repta calcium. I use a multivitamin but I don’t remember the brand name. I alter the dusting every time I feed
Ground temps are 73.9 (cold side) and 89.2 (warm side)
It’s a 40 gallon reptile tank
I heat it with a basking light above and a heat mat below
I feed her mealworms right now because that’s all she will take. I feed her every other day. I feed the mealworms oats.
I dust the mealworms with FLUKER’S Repta calcium. I use a multivitamin but I don’t remember the brand name. I alter the dusting every time I feed
Ground temps are 73.9 (cold side) and 89.2 (warm side)
It’s a 40 gallon reptile tank
I heat it with a basking light above and a heat mat below
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
"I dust the mealworms with FLUKER’S Repta calcium. I use a multivitamin but I don’t remember the brand name. I alter the dusting every time I feed."
Thanks for your quick reply!
1. Please let me know the exact name of this Fluker's supplement: Fluker's PLAIN calcium or Fluker's Calcium with D3?
2. Please get back to me with the exact name of Kaminari's multivitamin.
3. What type & strength basking light do you use overhead: UVB, incandescent, LED?
Please reply ASAP. Taking excessive supplements can be detrimental to Kaminari's health. I have other suggestions too.
Thanks for your quick reply!
1. Please let me know the exact name of this Fluker's supplement: Fluker's PLAIN calcium or Fluker's Calcium with D3?
2. Please get back to me with the exact name of Kaminari's multivitamin.
3. What type & strength basking light do you use overhead: UVB, incandescent, LED?
Please reply ASAP. Taking excessive supplements can be detrimental to Kaminari's health. I have other suggestions too.
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
Please reply ASAP. Taking excessive supplements can be detrimental to Kaminari's health. I have other suggestions too.
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
More replies between the lines:
"The thing that looks like a lump on her back is a pattern on her body.
Thanks!
I feed her mealworms right now because that’s all she will take. I feed her every other day. I feed the mealworms oats.
There are more balanced diets to feed your mealworms than JUST oats. We strive to feed our geckos a diet that's 1.5-2.0 parts calcium to 1 part phosphorus. Excessive phosphorus impairs the absorption of calcium. Oats contains too much phosphorus. Many bugs & worms are excessively high in phosphorus!
When you alternate supplements on Kaminari's feeding days, she could be getting excessive supplements! Most Reptile Multivitamins should be taken @ 1 feeding per week dusted on ALL feeders @ that 1 feeding. Vitamin D3 also needs to be taken @ 1 feeding per week, because D3 = fat soluble vitamin. Fluker's Calcium with D3 contains excessive vitamin D3 & limestone flour instead of pure calcium carbonate. Zoo Med's Repti Calcium with D3 contains an ideal amount of D3 & pure calcium carbonate.
Google Professional Reptiles Pro Gut load for your mealworm bedding. That's their food too. It doesn't cost much. Keep the extra dry diet in an airtight container.
Click: https://shop.professionalreptiles.com/Pro-Gutload-1-lb-p249877014
Click this chart to enlarge it:
I dust the mealworms with FLUKER’S Repta calcium. I use a multivitamin but I don’t remember the brand name. I alter the dusting every time I feed
I wish I knew which multivitamin & what type of Fluker's.
Ground temps are 73.9 (cold side) and 89.2 (warm side)
It’s a 40 gallon reptile tank
Those numbers look OK. The warm side ground could be warmer.
I heat it with a basking light above and a heat mat below"
What type basking light: halogen, incandescent, UVB, or LED?
"The thing that looks like a lump on her back is a pattern on her body.
Thanks!
I feed her mealworms right now because that’s all she will take. I feed her every other day. I feed the mealworms oats.
There are more balanced diets to feed your mealworms than JUST oats. We strive to feed our geckos a diet that's 1.5-2.0 parts calcium to 1 part phosphorus. Excessive phosphorus impairs the absorption of calcium. Oats contains too much phosphorus. Many bugs & worms are excessively high in phosphorus!
When you alternate supplements on Kaminari's feeding days, she could be getting excessive supplements! Most Reptile Multivitamins should be taken @ 1 feeding per week dusted on ALL feeders @ that 1 feeding. Vitamin D3 also needs to be taken @ 1 feeding per week, because D3 = fat soluble vitamin. Fluker's Calcium with D3 contains excessive vitamin D3 & limestone flour instead of pure calcium carbonate. Zoo Med's Repti Calcium with D3 contains an ideal amount of D3 & pure calcium carbonate.
Google Professional Reptiles Pro Gut load for your mealworm bedding. That's their food too. It doesn't cost much. Keep the extra dry diet in an airtight container.
Click: https://shop.professionalreptiles.com/Pro-Gutload-1-lb-p249877014
Click this chart to enlarge it:
I dust the mealworms with FLUKER’S Repta calcium. I use a multivitamin but I don’t remember the brand name. I alter the dusting every time I feed
I wish I knew which multivitamin & what type of Fluker's.
Ground temps are 73.9 (cold side) and 89.2 (warm side)
It’s a 40 gallon reptile tank
Those numbers look OK. The warm side ground could be warmer.
I heat it with a basking light above and a heat mat below"
What type basking light: halogen, incandescent, UVB, or LED?
KaminariTheLeo
New member
I still am unsure what the brand of multi I have. I got it from my uncle. I also want to note that since I’ve weighed her last she has gained some weight. The basking light isUVB
I think the calcium I use has D3 in it
I think the calcium I use has D3 in it
KaminariTheLeo
New member
I just found out what brand I use for multivitamins and it is the Zoo Med Reptivite Reptile Vitamins
But I was given 2 oz of it. And I dust them very lightly. His tail has grown too. So it might have just been how much I was feeding him! Thank you so much for being patient with me!
I appreciate you taking the time to help me.
But I was given 2 oz of it. And I dust them very lightly. His tail has grown too. So it might have just been how much I was feeding him! Thank you so much for being patient with me!
I appreciate you taking the time to help me.
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
Good afternoon! Please forgive my bold red type. Please share these details.
1. There's some chance you're oversupplementing with vitamin D3 and/or providing harmful UVB! Vitamin D3 dosage is usually "reduced" when a leo uses appropriate UVB. UVB depends upon type of UVB provided (bulb or tube) & distance from leopard gecko.
2. Are you using a UVB twisty bulb or a linear tube (Arcadia ShadeDweller)? Compact fluorescent twisty bulbs aren't recommended at all. Those twisty bulbs could be harmful & potentially cause burns! Then the linear tube needs to be a precise distance from your leo's basking area depending upon your 40 gallon's screen mesh top.
3. There are 2 kinds of Reptivite multivitamins: with or withOUT D3. Does your Zoo Med Reptivite also contain D3? (Zoo Med Reptivite multivitamin with D3)? Please check the container's label.
4. Please make sure whether your Fluker's calcium does or does NOT contain vitamin D3. I need to know to help out Kaminari.
5. You really don't want Kaminari to gain weight all over JUST for the sake of her tail! Her body weight looks great in the first picture you shared.
6. You're welcome. I try my best.
7. I'm confused. Is Kaminari female or male?
"I still am unsure what the brand of multi I have. I got it from my uncle. I also want to note that since I’ve weighed her last she has gained some weight. The basking light isUVB
I think the calcium I use has D3 in it"
"I just found out what brand I use for multivitamins and it is the Zoo Med Reptivite Reptile Vitamins
But I was given 2 oz of it. And I dust them very lightly. His tail has grown too. So it might have just been how much I was feeding him! Thank you so much for being patient with me! I appreciate you taking the time to help me. "
1. There's some chance you're oversupplementing with vitamin D3 and/or providing harmful UVB! Vitamin D3 dosage is usually "reduced" when a leo uses appropriate UVB. UVB depends upon type of UVB provided (bulb or tube) & distance from leopard gecko.
2. Are you using a UVB twisty bulb or a linear tube (Arcadia ShadeDweller)? Compact fluorescent twisty bulbs aren't recommended at all. Those twisty bulbs could be harmful & potentially cause burns! Then the linear tube needs to be a precise distance from your leo's basking area depending upon your 40 gallon's screen mesh top.
3. There are 2 kinds of Reptivite multivitamins: with or withOUT D3. Does your Zoo Med Reptivite also contain D3? (Zoo Med Reptivite multivitamin with D3)? Please check the container's label.
4. Please make sure whether your Fluker's calcium does or does NOT contain vitamin D3. I need to know to help out Kaminari.
5. You really don't want Kaminari to gain weight all over JUST for the sake of her tail! Her body weight looks great in the first picture you shared.
6. You're welcome. I try my best.
7. I'm confused. Is Kaminari female or male?
"I still am unsure what the brand of multi I have. I got it from my uncle. I also want to note that since I’ve weighed her last she has gained some weight. The basking light isUVB
I think the calcium I use has D3 in it"
"I just found out what brand I use for multivitamins and it is the Zoo Med Reptivite Reptile Vitamins
But I was given 2 oz of it. And I dust them very lightly. His tail has grown too. So it might have just been how much I was feeding him! Thank you so much for being patient with me!
I appreciate you taking the time to help me. "KaminariTheLeo
New member
Kaminari is a female. She is still very young so I have been weighing her and she did loose a bit of weight so I was happy when she gained weight. Also. Yes her tail did grow in size too.
The calcium contains D3 vitamins and the Multivitamin does not. The bulbs I use are in the screenshot below.
The calcium contains D3 vitamins and the Multivitamin does not. The bulbs I use are in the screenshot below.
Attachments
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
Your Zoo Med Repti Basking 100 watt Spot Lamps only produce UVA.
UVB rays change D3 powdered supplement requirements.
Providing UVB for a leopard gecko is totally different! For a 40 gallon breeder enclosure you'd need Arcadia's ShadeDweller 12 inch long UVB tube & dedicated fixture mounted on top of the screen & a certain number of inches above the basking area.
UVB rays change D3 powdered supplement requirements.
Providing UVB for a leopard gecko is totally different! For a 40 gallon breeder enclosure you'd need Arcadia's ShadeDweller 12 inch long UVB tube & dedicated fixture mounted on top of the screen & a certain number of inches above the basking area.
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
Zoo Med's Reptivite Reptile Vitamins withOUT D3 is much better than Rep-Cal's Herptivite Multivitamins with Beta Carotene (from your deleted message)!
Zoo Med's Reptivite contains pre-vitamin A acetate (retinol), whereas Rep-Cal's Herptivite only contains pro-vitamin A beta carotene. A wee bit of retinol lightly dusted on ALL bugs or worms on a once weekly basis is vital for healthy eyes & skin!
Zoo Med's Reptivite contains pre-vitamin A acetate (retinol), whereas Rep-Cal's Herptivite only contains pro-vitamin A beta carotene. A wee bit of retinol lightly dusted on ALL bugs or worms on a once weekly basis is vital for healthy eyes & skin!
KaminariTheLeo
New member
i would also like to mention that I have a dish of just regular calci powder. No other vitamins.
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
I'm very sorry for my response delay.
Here's a very recent message by GU's admin Hilde. Hilde has bred & kept leopard geckos & other geckos for years!
When I (Hilde) first started with leopards, I kept lids in the enclosure, because that's what every source said. Then I started reading it can be a problem, so I stopped. Never had a problem without extra free-will calcium."
As far as I know, Hilde has used Zoo Med supplements for many years! I've also used Zoo Med's supplements for many years. In contrast to some supplements, Zoo Med's Repti Calcium with D3, Zoo Med's Reptivite multivitamins with & withOUT D3, & Zoo Med's Repti Calcium (plain calcium carbonate) ALL contain generous amounts of plain calcium carbonate.
Despite rampant recommendations on Facebook, keep NO calcium dish in enclosure at all. Not necessary & could be harmful! Use premium supplements instead.
Please use a schedule like this for leo Kaminari:
Mondays ~ Zoo Med Repti Calcium with D3 on ALL bugs or worms
Thursdays ~ Zoo Med Reptivite multivitamins withOUT D3 on all bugs or worms
IF Kaminari still eats 3x per week use this schedule instead:
Mondays ~ Zoo Med Repti Calcium with D3 on ALL bugs or worms
Wednesdays ~ Zoo Med Repti Calcium (plain -- NO D3) on all bugs or worms
Fridays ~ Zoo Med Reptivite multivitamins withOUT D3 on all bugs or worms
The reason to use D3 only @ 1 feeding per week is that vitamin D3 = 'fat soluble'. 'Fat soluble' means that a single D3 dose sticks around all week long in a gecko's body & metabolizes any D3 that's ingested.