I have a leopard gecko about 8 mnths old. shes not growing and has rubber front legs. the doctor just thinks its a disease and as long as she hunts shes ok...but thats not my issue. i want to get another one thats normal that will get big. is it ok if i get another one and put it in the same cage or will there be territorial issues or nething like that?
2007-08-10 17:04:47 · 4 answers · asked by singingcutie369 1 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
and yes...we know she has calicium deficiency. we do powder her crickets, syringe feed her calcium, and feed her baby food green beans
2007-08-11 04:53:35 · update #1
If it's simply calcium deficiency, you may be able to get away with adding another. They are social to an extent, and more likely to be social if being introduced into the habitat at the same time. You run the risk of exposing a new one to any disease though if it's more than just a calcium problem.
Best bet is to keep them separated, especially for the safety of your first gecko. Those rubbery legs can be a problem for efficient hunting when there is competition around.
Getting back to the calcium thing, do you have a UV light on the tank as well as a heat source? A lot of times the UV is overlooked and deemed unneccessary, when they are compeltely necessary to help metabolize calcium. If you can, get a good UV light, and make sure there's no clear plastic between the bulb and the screen or habitat top. Any extra resistance to the light beams makes it harder for them to be effective when they reach the gecko.
2007-08-11 12:16:30 · answer #1 · answered by Tre 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would agree with the first poster about the likely calcium deficiency. Use a phosphorus free calcium supplement that also has vitamin D3 in it, Rep- Cal is a widely available brand. Leopard geckos are not natural baskers and really will not easily derive much benefit from a UV light. UV light stimulates the production of vitamin D3 which helps them absorb the calcium from the diet. In your case I would suggest supplementing the D3 through the diet instead.
If you get another one you will need to make sure that this one can adequately compete for food, perhaps feed her in a separate container to be sure. I would also suggest a second female, your first one is in no shape to be breeding and producing eggs.
2007-08-11 06:27:37 · answer #2 · answered by Thea 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If she has rubber legs, mostly likely she has a calcium deficiency. This baby needs help quick!! Gut loading the crickets with a calcium rich food will help with the next one, or sprinkling calcium powder on the crickets before feeding. plus, a reptile bulb that mimics natural sunlight is a MUST. Please get her to another vet. Nothing against your current vet. They just may not know much about reptiles.
2007-08-11 00:17:29 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ok, I see the mistake.. you feed it baby food? That's what's wrong. You should feed it crickets and mealworms dusted with calcium and vitamins...
Oh and I would not put another leo in the cage because he might spread the disease to the other one.
2007-08-11 14:46:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋