weird problem

[krrc]

my leo is a little over a year old now and for probably the past 6 months or longer she has had a shaking in her limbs when she walks slow. Now I'm not too alarmed because she is growing fine, has been eating well, and is pretty plump! lately though she has not been eating her crix. although I suspect they are too big for her. and I'm going the go back to mealies. thats for the advice.


Matt

[LISA127]

why would any size crickets be too big for a leo that old?

[krrc]

dono. some animals have size prefrances belive it or not. mine do anyways :)

[Tim and Julie B]

Try adding a small dish of calcium into the cage. I had a pictus gecko do the same thing and 3 days after I put the calcium dish in she was walking fine. Funny, 'cause I calcium dust all insects 2-3 times a week, but I always see the geckos lapping it anyways.

[ThEmAdHaTtEr]

They cant OD on that? I always thought they could. Sheesh! I heard from somewhere that it can impact them from getting too much of it and getting it straight.

[Tim and Julie B]

Impactions usually occur from the comsumption of too large a food item, not calcium powder. They can better regulate the amount they need than we can. If you were to feed them calcium on their crix every time then yes, YOU (any keeper) could od them, but if given in a dish, they can eat as much as they need to. They also need fresh water at all times which can greatly reduce the chances of any impactions. I've never had any impaction in any of my leos and they have always had a calcium dish. It's also important that you provide a D3 supplement too, which helps in the absobtion of calcium in reptiles, especially nocturnal ones. Diurnal species need UV light (natural D3) to absorb calcium.:D Though there are always exceptions to everything.

[Alicewave]

You CAN OD them on D3 but it's difficult and rare. D3 is essential in Leos but they don't need as much as some other herps. I think OD only occurs with the liquid calcium. I try to alternate between a calcium with D3 and a calcium without making sure to use D3 at least once a week. Most people use a calcium with D3 all the time, (RepCal is a great brand) and have had no OD problems. They can get clogged with the powder if your Leo eats 20 or more insects per feeding and you dust every single insect. You don't really need to dust more than 5 insects per dusted feeding, then if they need more they can get it from a dish.

[krrc]

I've had a cap of calci powder in there. it dident do any good. I use repi cal powder w/vit d3 and repivite. dono. Also is their belly useally firm? it's uniform amd doent seem out of the ordanary but i never noticed it before.

[krrc]

anybody know about the post above?