When to dust?

N

Number1Sticky

New member
I have a leo that is about 9 1/2. Recently she has been losing a little weigh. Nothing too be overly concerned about. But I decided to start feeding her everyday until she's back up to a healthy way. I feed her 6 crickets a day. But I was wondering how often I should dust with the vitamin / calcium?

The vitamins I use is zoo med reptive with d3.

And the calcium is now calcium carbonate. 100% calcium. I use to put it in a cap in her cage. But she no longer eats it that way.

Thanks!!
 
A

acpart

Well-known member
I agree that she doesn't need calcium in her cage. If you're feeding her every day, maybe you could dust every third feeding with the calcium and D3.

Aliza
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Number1Sticky said:
I have a leo that is about 9 1/2. Recently she has been losing a little weigh. Nothing too be overly concerned about. But I decided to start feeding her everyday until she's back up to a healthy way. I feed her 6 crickets a day. But I was wondering how often I should dust with the vitamin / calcium?

The vitamins I use is zoo med reptive with d3.

And the calcium is now calcium carbonate. 100% calcium. I use to put it in a cap in her cage. But she no longer eats it that way.

Thanks!!
Click to expand...

Number1Sticky said:
View attachment 40493
View attachment 40494
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As long as your leo has a firm jaw (not squishy) and a good gait, there's really no reason to lightly dust with NOW plain calcium carbonate. Zoo Med's Reptivite multivitamins also contain 24.9-28% calcium carbonate.

Please share a picture of your leo. What do you feed her crickets?

I'd lightly dust all her crickets 1x per week (at the 6 the crickets a day seven days a week schedule) with Zoo Med's Reptivite multivitamins with D3. If you go to feeding 3x per week with more than 6 crickets per feeding, then I'd only lightly dust half the crickets you feed at one time.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

#126---Monthly Feeding & Supplement Schedule for leopard geckos 18 months old +
adapted for Number1Sticky's 9.5 year old female leo​

Feed an adult leopard gecko crickets or dubia 2x per week and mealworms 1x per week:
Crickets or dubia>Monday
Crickets or dubia>Thursday
Mealworms>Saturday

  • Use Zoo Med ReptiVite multivitamins with D3 lightly dusted on crickets or dubia at only one feeding per week. Maybe only dust half the insects at that feeding.
  • Use some plain precipitated calcium carbonate (purer than oyster shell calcium). The NOW brand sold in health foods stores is ideal.
Feed finely ground Zoo Med's Natural Adult Bearded Dragon Food (or an equivalent high quality dry diet) 24/7 to the insects and worms to cover the basics. Add high calcium, low phosphorus veggies like collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, and pesticide-free dandelion flowers/greens in a dish off to the side for extra calcium and for moisture! Vary your leopard gecko's diet. Crickets, Blaptica dubia, hornworms, Phoenix worms, and silkworms are all good.

Nutritional Comparisons of Insects & Worms

Monthly Schedule for Leos 18 months old +​
Week 1:
Crickets or dubia>Monday- Zoo Med Reptivite multivitamins with D3
Crickets or dubia>Thursday- no dusting
Mealworms>Saturday- no dusting

Week 2:
Crickets or dubia>Monday- Zoo Med Reptivite multivitamins with D3
Crickets or dubia>Thursday- lightly dust half the insects with NOW calcium carbonate
Mealworms>Saturday- no dusting

Week 3:
Crickets or dubia>Monday- Zoo Med Reptivite multivitamins with D3
Crickets or dubia>Thursday- no dusting
Mealworms>Saturday- no dusting

Week 4:
Crickets or dubia>Monday- Zoo Med Reptivite multivitamins with D3
Crickets or dubia>Thursday- lightly dust half the insects with NOW calcium carbonate
Mealworms>Saturday- no dusting

Week 5:
Continue......
 
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N

Number1Sticky

New member
This is the schedule I was following. But she's still losing weight. The lady at the reptile store gave me some fluker's calcium with d3 and told me to use that twice a week. And then use the zoo med reptive with d3 3 - 4 times a week on the other days.
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Number1Sticky said:
This is the schedule I was following. But she's still losing weight. The lady at the reptile store gave me some fluker's calcium with d3 and told me to use that twice a week. And then use the zoo med reptive with d3 3 - 4 times a week on the other days.
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I would not place other female leos with your girl until your leo is healthy and not losing weight. I'd also quarantine any new leos for 60, maybe 90 days, and follow Aliza's recommendations in your earlier thread today.

What you describe above is too much D3 and too frequent use of your Reptivite multivitamins with D3! :(

What are you feeding your leo? What are you feeding the bugs and/or worms?

Please share a video or at least some photos of your leo.
 
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N

Number1Sticky

New member
Elizabeth Freer said:
I would not place other female leos with your girl until your leo is healthy and not losing weight. I'd also quarantine any new leos for 60, maybe 90 days, and follow Aliza's recommendations in your earlier thread today.

What you describe above is too much D3 and too frequent use of your Reptivite multivitmins with D3! :(

What are you feeding your leo? What are you feeding the bugs and/or worms?

Please share a video or at least some photos of your leo.
Click to expand...

No I would never put them together unless they were all a healthy weight. If I do get the other ones I wouldn't be getting to for a few months.

That was my concern and the d3. I felt like that was too much.

Her staple is crickets but she also gets hornworms and super worms at least twice a month. And very rarely waxworms. I've tried roaches but she doesn't eat them.

I feed them the Fluker's Cricket Quencher with calcium and the Fluker's high calcium cricket diet.

I will try to get a picture of her later today. I've been sick in bed for a week now.
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Number1Sticky said:
No I would never put them together unless they were all a healthy weight. If I do get the other ones I wouldn't be getting to for a few months.

That was my concern and the d3. I felt like that was too much.

Her staple is crickets but she also gets hornworms and super worms at least twice a month. And very rarely waxworms. I've tried roaches but she doesn't eat them.

I feed them the Fluker's Cricket Quencher with calcium and the Fluker's high calcium cricket diet.

I will try to get a picture of her later today. I've been sick in bed for a week now.
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Number1Sticky said:
Should I still use the fluckers calcium with d3?
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I hope you feel better soon!

I would only use 1 supplement with D3 once a week. Since you have Reptivite with D3 that's all you can do 1x per week.

I prefer Zoo Med's Repti Calcium with D3 and Zoo Med's Reptivite multivitamins without D3.

Fluker's High Calcium Cricket Diet offers poor nutrition. It would be much better to feed your crickets finely ground Zoo Med's Adult Bearded Dragon Food. The Reptile Supply Company in Sacramento, Calidfornia has that for very good prices.
 
N

Number1Sticky

New member
Elizabeth Freer said:
I hope you feel better soon!

I would only use 1 supplement with D3 once a week. Since you have Reptivite with D3 that's all you can do 1x per week.

I prefer Zoo Med's Repti Calcium with D3 and Zoo Med's Reptivite multivitamins without D3.

Fluker's High Calcium Cricket Diet offers poor nutrition. It would be much better to feed your crickets finely ground Zoo Med's Adult Bearded Dragon Food. The Reptile Supply Company in Sacramento, Calidfornia has that for very good prices.
Click to expand...

I don't have a multivitamin without d3. Should I get one? All I have is the Reptivite*with*D3, flukers calcium with d3 and the now calcium.

I'm almost out of the cricket food. Next time I'll buy the bearded Dragon food. :)
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Number1Sticky said:
I don't have a multivitamin without d3. Should I get one? All I have is the Reptivite*with*D3, flukers calcium with d3 and the now calcium.

I'm almost out of the cricket food. Next time I'll buy the bearded Dragon food. :)
Click to expand...

Buy
  • Zoo Med's Natural Adult Bearded Dragon Food
  • Zoo Med's Reptivite multivitamins without D3
  • Zoo Med's Repti Caclium with D3
Fluker's calcium with D3 contains more than 4x the amount of D3 per pound than Zoo Med's Repti Calcium with D3 contains. More D3 is not better and could be harmful.

Fluker's calcium with D3 is made from limestone flour calcium. The precipitated calcium carbonate that's found in the Zoo Med brand is purer.
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Then follow this Feeding & Supplement Schedule.

#126---Monthly Feeding & Supplement Schedule for leopard geckos 18 months old +​
If a leo is doing well at 12 mo, here's the Feeding & Supplement Schedule I recommend next:

Feed an adult leopard gecko crickets or dubia 2x per week and mealworms 1x per week:
Crickets or dubia>Monday
Crickets or dubia>Thursday
Mealworms>Saturday

  • Use Zoo Med Repti Calcium with D3 1x per week. Lightly dust it on half the crickets or dubia, not every insect at that feeding.
  • Use Zoo Med ReptiVite multivitamins without D3 lightly dusted on crickets or dubia every other week or 2x per month. Maybe only lightly dust half of the insects at that feeding.
  • Use some plain precipitated calcium carbonate (purer than oyster shell calcium). The NOW brand sold in health foods stores is ideal.
Feed finely ground Zoo Med's Natural Adult Bearded Dragon Food (or an equivalent high quality dry diet) 24/7 to the insects and worms to cover the basics. Add high calcium, low phosphorus veggies like collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, and pesticide-free dandelion flowers/greens in a dish off to the side for extra calcium and for moisture! Vary your leopard gecko's diet. Crickets, Blaptica dubia, hornworms, Phoenix worms, and silkworms are all good.

Nutritional Comparisons of Insects & Worms

Monthly Schedule for Leos 18 months old +​
Week 1:
Crickets or dubia>Monday- Zoo Med D3 Repti Calcium
Crickets or dubia>Thursday- no dusting
Mealworms>Saturday- no dusting

Week 2:
Crickets or dubia>Monday- Zoo Med D3 Repti Calcium
Crickets or dubia>Thursday- plain (no D3) ReptiVite multivitamins
Mealworms>Saturday- no dusting

Week 3:
Crickets or dubia>Monday- Zoo Med D3 Repti Calcium
Crickets or dubia>Thursday- no dusting
Mealworms>Saturday- no dusting

Week 4:
Crickets or dubia>Monday- Zoo Med D3 Repti Calcium
Crickets or dubia>Thursday- plain (no D3) ReptiVite multivitamins
Mealworms>Saturday- no dusting

Week 5:
Continue this every other week schedule.
 
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N

Number1Sticky

New member
Elizabeth Freer said:
Then follow this Feeding & Supplement Schedule.

#126---Monthly Feeding & Supplement Schedule for leopard geckos 18 months old +​
If a leo is doing well at 12 mo, here's the Feeding & Supplement Schedule I recommend next:

Feed an adult leopard gecko crickets or dubia 2x per week and mealworms 1x per week:
Crickets or dubia>Monday
Crickets or dubia>Thursday
Mealworms>Saturday

  • Use Zoo Med Repti Calcium with D3 1x per week. Lightly dust it on half the crickets or dubia, not every insect at that feeding.
  • Use Zoo Med ReptiVite multivitamins without D3 lightly dusted on crickets or dubia every other week or 2x per month. Maybe only lightly dust half of the insects at that feeding.
  • Use some plain precipitated calcium carbonate (purer than oyster shell calcium). The NOW brand sold in health foods stores is ideal.
Feed finely ground Zoo Med's Natural Adult Bearded Dragon Food (or an equivalent high quality dry diet) 24/7 to the insects and worms to cover the basics. Add high calcium, low phosphorus veggies like collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, and pesticide-free dandelion flowers/greens in a dish off to the side for extra calcium and for moisture! Vary your leopard gecko's diet. Crickets, Blaptica dubia, hornworms, Phoenix worms, and silkworms are all good.

Nutritional Comparisons of Insects & Worms

Monthly Schedule for Leos 18 months old +​
Week 1:
Crickets or dubia>Monday- Zoo Med D3 Repti Calcium
Crickets or dubia>Thursday- no dusting
Mealworms>Saturday- no dusting

Week 2:
Crickets or dubia>Monday- Zoo Med D3 Repti Calcium
Crickets or dubia>Thursday- plain (no D3) ReptiVite multivitamins
Mealworms>Saturday- no dusting

Week 3:
Crickets or dubia>Monday- Zoo Med D3 Repti Calcium
Crickets or dubia>Thursday- no dusting
Mealworms>Saturday- no dusting

Week 4:
Crickets or dubia>Monday- Zoo Med D3 Repti Calcium
Crickets or dubia>Thursday- plain (no D3) ReptiVite multivitamins
Mealworms>Saturday- no dusting

Week 5:
Continue this every other week schedule.
Click to expand...

Thank you so much. Would it'd be ok to use the flukers calcium with d3 and the multivitamin with d3 just until I can get some of that stuff?
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Number1Sticky said:
Thank you so much. Would it'd be ok to use the flukers calcium with d3 and the multivitamin with d3 just until I can get some of that stuff?
Click to expand...

NOPE! Using two powdered supplements both containing vitamin D3 is too much D3!

It would be better to get the stuff I recommend in post 13 right now.
 
N

Number1Sticky

New member
Elizabeth Freer said:
NOPE! Using two powdered supplements both containing vitamin D3 is too much D3!

It would be better to get the stuff I recommend in post 13 right now.
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I don't want my poor baby to have too much d3. :(

The only reason I ask is because I have to order the stuff online so it will take probably 1 - 3 weeks to get here. I'll probably order it tonight. So for now should I follow your schedule I post #4?
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Number1Sticky said:
I don't want my poor baby to have too much d3. :(

The only reason I ask is because I have to order the stuff online so it will take probably 1 - 3 weeks to get here. I'll probably order it tonight. So for now should I follow your schedule I post #4?
Click to expand...
Until your new supplements arrive, follow the schedule in post 4.

Order from the Reptile Supply Company. Their prices are excellent!!!
  • Zoo Med's adult beardie food
  • Zoo Med's Repti Calcium with D3
  • Zoo Med's Reptivite without D3
 
N

Number1Sticky

New member
Elizabeth Freer said:
Until your new supplements arrive, follow the schedule in post 4.

Order from the Reptile Supply Company. Their prices are excellent!!!
  • Zoo Med's adult beardie food
  • Zoo Med's Repti Calcium with D3
  • Zoo Med's Reptivite without D3
Click to expand...

Thank you!! I was just about to buy them from another website. And I saved a little money. :)
 
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