Does it look like my gecko has MBD?

[Atrocity]

I feed her 3 times a week and I dust her mealworms (can't catch the crickets to dust them) with vitamin D3 one day in the week, and pure calcium the other two. She has a pure calcium bowl in her terrarium as well. Her right arm has been kind of worrying me, as it's a little more bent than her left. Should she see the vet? She also has a UV light from Arcadia coming in next week (I might stop the D3 supplement when it arrives).

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Welcome to Geckos Unlimited!

Early stage metabolic bone disease (MBD) symptoms include uneven (lopsided) gait, walking on "elbows", bowed limbs, belly dragging, and an underbite.

Please share a 1 minute video of your gecko walking around on some solid surface like carpet or floor.

MBD can be caused by excessive calcium as well as too little calcium.

Which brand of D3 calcium are you using? How old is your leo?

 

[Atrocity]

She is about 1.5 years old. I use Rep-cal ultrafine powder with D3 and Fluker's calcium without D3. I apologize for the short sporadic clips of her walking rather than a consistent video, she kept stopping to stare at me and look around lol. Thank you for your reply!

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

. . . . . .

She is about 1.5 years old. I use Rep-cal ultrafine powder with D3 and Fluker's calcium without D3. I apologize for the short sporadic clips of her walking rather than a consistent video, she kept stopping to stare at me and look around lol. Thank you for your reply!

You're welcome.

I "think" I see what you mean. Please post a separate video of her walking on a level surface like the floor. That helps me see whether her gait is uneven.

Is she still growing?

I recommend removing any plain calcium within her enclosure.

Rep-cal calcium with D3 contains a huge amount of vitamin D3. Zoo Med's Repti-Calcium with D3 would be better. Please check this link to see how they compare.

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

Re your upcoming UVB bulb or tube: What size/dimensions is her enclosure? What type and strength of UVB have you ordered?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Have you tried catching Tenga's crickets with a 1 tablespoon-sized measuring spoon? I use one all the time.

​

 

[Atrocity]

You're welcome.

I "think" I see what you mean. Please post a separate video of her walking on a level surface like the floor. That helps me see whether her gait is uneven.

Is she still growing?

I recommend removing any plain calcium within her enclosure.

Rep-cal calcium with D3 contains a huge amount of vitamin D3. Zoo Med's Repti-Calcium with D3 would be better. Please check this link to see how they compare.

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

Re your upcoming UVB bulb or tube: What size/dimensions is her enclosure? What type and strength of UVB have you ordered?

okay, I'll post another video when she wakes up again. Her enclosure is 24 in long, 16 in tall, and 12 in wide (15 gal). The light I purchased is the Arcadia ShadeDweller ProT5 UVB kit, and it has 7% UVB and 17% UVA. She hasn't grown at all over the past 4 months or so, I think she's done. She's 8 inches now and 71g at her last vet visit (she went on a full tummy lol)

Link for the UVB light: https://www.pangeareptile.com/store/arcadia-shadedweller-prot5-uvb-kit-12.html

 

[Atrocity]

Have you tried catching Tenga's crickets with a 1 tablespoon-sized measuring spoon? I use one all the time.

View attachment 49342​

That's a good idea! I'll try that for her next feeding.

 

[Atrocity]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-XX9iD3UkU&feature=youtu.be

Here is another video of her walking. She still kept pausing, but hopefully it is better than the first

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-XX9iD3UkU&feature=youtu.be

Here is another video of her walking. She still kept pausing, but hopefully it is better than the first

Tenga's right arm bends "unusually" at her wrist and maybe at her right elbow.

Will you be removing the plain calcium dish in her enclosure?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

okay, I'll post another video when she wakes up again. Her enclosure is 24 in long, 16 in tall, and 12 in wide (15 gal). The light I purchased is the Arcadia ShadeDweller ProT5 UVB kit, and it has 7% UVB and 17% UVA. She hasn't grown at all over the past 4 months or so, I think she's done. She's 8 inches now and 71g at her last vet visit (she went on a full tummy lol)

Link for the UVB light: https://www.pangeareptile.com/store/arcadia-shadedweller-prot5-uvb-kit-12.html

Thanks for the second video.

How about joining Facebook's excellent Reptile Lighting group for their UVB recs in your situation? Admin Dr. Fran Baines has all the tools for measuring UV Index including a Solarmeter 6.5R. She takes each lizard under her wings. There are many variables that include enclosure height and whether your UVB tube needs a reflector or not in the fixture.

Please let us know what Dr. Baines says.

Even when using appropriate UVB, Dr. Baines recommends using a D3 calcium supplement 1-2x per month.

My 15 gallons measure 24" long x 12.75" wide x 12.75" tall.

Here's an excellent feeding and supplementing schedule for an 18 month old leo.

Weekly Schedule 126 for Leopard Geckos 18 months old +​

(withOUT UVB)​

Early stage metabolic bone disease (MBD) symptoms include uneven (lopsided) gait, walking on one or both "elbows", bowed limbs, belly dragging, and an underbite.

The Reptile Supply Company based in Lodi, California stocks Zoo Med's ReptiVite multivitamins withOUT D3.

• Monday > > crickets or dubia lightly dusted with Zoo Med's Repti Calcium with D3
• Thursday > > crickets or dubia lightly dusted with Zoo Med's ReptiVite multivitamins withOUT D3
• Saturday > > Optional: mealworms, superworms, or black soldier fly larvae (Phoenix worms) > > no dusting

For link 126 click: Weekly Feeding & Supplement Schedule 126 for leopard geckos 18 months old +

 

[Atrocity]

Thanks for the second video.

How about joining Facebook's excellent Reptile Lighting group for their UVB recs in your situation? Admin Dr. Fran Baines has all the tools for measuring UV Index including a Solarmeter 6.5R. She takes each lizard under her wings. There are many variables that include enclosure height and whether your UVB tube needs a reflector or not in the fixture.

It would be quite helpful if you let us know what Dr. Baines says.

Even when using appropriate UVB, Dr. Baines recommends using a D3 calcium supplement 1-2x per month.

My 15 gallons measure 24" long x 12.75" wide x 12.75" tall.

Here's an excellent feeding and supplementing schedule for an 18 month old leo.

Thank you so much for all of your help, I'll surely join the group! I really just want what's best for my little girl, no matter the cost. I wasn't sure if I seemed like an overly concerned mom for thinking she has MBD but I just wanted to catch it early in case she did. I'll keep you updated!

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Thank you so much for all of your help, I'll surely join the group! I really just want what's best for my little girl, no matter the cost. I wasn't sure if I seemed like an overly concerned mom for thinking she has MBD but I just wanted to catch it early in case she did. I'll keep you updated!

You're very welcome.

All the plain calcium Tenga is getting (2x per week + a bowl in her enclosure) could certainly be contributing to any beginning MBD we suspect.