Ok well this would be my second lizard in my life, but the 4 foot long, not includeing tail, iguana my dad had when I was a todlar. How am I supposed to know what the difference between pure calcium and calcium made for lizards with D3 in them is? I thought what was offered at my petshop for lixards was pure calcium. For all I know they could have sold me cocaine and I would not have known the difference. White power = pure calcium powder in my mind. I've wrote many articles about fishkeeping and I wouldn't write something like that and expect a newbie to know without asking questions. I am just trying to figure out why everyone jumps me when I ask a question on here, can't anwser it, and just refer me to a care sheet that I've read many times. I was told in previous threads of mine to ask more specific questions and they might be anwsered. Well I've done that and they still anwser the same. I wish everytime someone asked me a question abotu breeding fish I could just say refer to this page sir. Instead of explaining it to them like a normal human. Sorry for being so frustrated but don't think many people are helpfull here.

I think what you are finding might be some things work for some people and other things work for other people. We use a calcium dish (can be a jar lid) filled with (Rep-Cal) Calcium with D3 (that is what was in the reptile section). I have also been told that you can just crush up Calcium tablets (tumbs). I have a bottle but have been trying to use up the other stuff first. The Calcium tablets are a lot more cost efficient. Hope this helps and doesn't confuse you even more.

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Colleen

Hello,

Sorry you feel that way powerman. personally, I see 7 responses trying to help you. They may not be the answers you are wanting to hear, but they ARE trying to help.

I wrote the Leopard Gecko Caresheet. I will break it down to an answer I think you wish to see.

Leopard Geckos are one of the species that does well with high calcium intake. As such, it is highly advisable to keep a dish of calcium in the enclosure at all times. (This allows the Leopard gecko the ability to consume the calcium as needed.) If you don't leave a dish in their all the time, and the Leo begins seeking an alternative means (which is common) to compensate for the lack of calcium, they have been known to eat other things. (Particularly substrate material which can lead to an impaction.)

The reason that many people don't bother with vitamin D3 is because it is believed that many reptiles can not absorb it through their food intake. The reason I don't say "Don't use D3 with Leopard Geckos" in the caresheet is because it doesn't matter if your supplement has it.

Most species that can't absorb D3 through dietary intake are basking species that utilize UVB. Those species absorb the required D3 to help metabolize their dietary calcium and phosphorus via the rays they are basking under. (That's why basking species require such good UVB lighting in their captive enclosures. D3 is utilized in the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus. Without the appropriate lighting, their bodies can't absorb the needed calcium and phosphorus from the food they consume.) Leopard Geckos are nocturnal, so they don't have the high UVB exposure that the basking species do.

This is why you will see information about using it, and not using it. There is no clear line when dealing with Leopard Geckos.

If you can't get a supplement that doesn't contain D3, then use one that does. The goal however is to keep a dish in their at all times.

There are supplements out there that don't contain D3. I know this for fact because I use them. lol A great calcium supplement is the Rep-Cal with No D3 - No Phosphorus (Green Label). The Herptivite I also suggest is also manufactured by Rep-Cal.

Here is a link to their website: Rep-Cal

You can ask all the questions you like on this site pertaining to your Leo. People refer everyone to the caresheet because more than 98% of all questions asked about Leopard Geckos is covered in there.

I will try to find some time to update that caresheet seeing as you didn't find that section clear.

I hope this response has helped you.

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im not jumping on you colleen but you dont want d3 in your calcium as it is the active ingredient found in antacid tablets and can cause improper digestion for your little ones

__________________
0.0.1 Iguana Pickle
0-1-0 Bearded Dragon Honey
1-1-0 Red Tail Boa Libby&Dogma
1-0-0 Cat Rajha
0-0-1 Charcoal Corn Snake Strider
1-1-0 Chinese Water Dragons Isis & Osiris
1-1-0 Cockitiles Hawk&Ashley
1-0-0 Tangerine Leopard Gecko 9erz
0-1-0 Leopard gecko Jets
1-0-0 Mali Uromastyx Uri
0-0-2 Betas Holly & Go (kids fish)
0-0-1 Red Eared Slider Shelly
R.I.P hamster hamtaro
R.I.P Wolf Lab Cross Kenya

I wondered the same thing Powerman, I was told that I should use straight calcium 5 days a week, a multivitamin 1 time a week and calcium with D3 once a week as well. The pure calcium I use came from Petco. It is made by T-Rex and is called Bone Aid. Look at the ingredient list on the calcium prior to purchase, the only ingredient should be calcium carbonate. I keep a small dish of this in my enclosures and to dust all feeders but once a week I use Rep-cal which does contain d3.

I hope this answers your question.

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~Chris

It is better I think to reach for the stars than to sit flustered because you know you cannot reach them, at least he who reaches will get a good view, a good stretch and perhaps even a low hanging apple for the effort.
-R.A. Salvatore

Now see, the way you explained it there gave more reason as to why or why not to do something. Which I understand and trust more then just hearing someone say not to do something, without giving reason why.

Ok, well I already bought the cheapest D3 calcium from my LPS so I guess I will just use it on crickets and mealworms untill it runs out. I will run to a pharmacy and look for some pure calcium for the calcium dish. Is that alright? It doesn't matter if it is ground up already, or pills (that I have to crush myself). As long as it is "pure" calcium with calcium carbonate?

I think most of the stuff I need I already have, or will be getting. The only problem I have now is that the tank won't go above 70 degrees F. Like I said I have a lamp with two incandescent red bulbs. Then I have a human heating mat under half the tank. The ground above the heating pad is warm to the touch but not sure of the temp. I am going to get my temp gun I use for my nitro remote control trucks to get an accurate reading of what it is right at the top of the substrate, which is paper towls. Never thought of this but would a heat cable under the substrate, not under the tank, but the substrate be a good idea? I have the tank sitting on the floor (carpeted) untill I can buy/make a stand for the tank. The heating cable won't burn a gecko like a heating rock would, would it? Or the paper towl substrate catch fire?

Thanks, Powerman

The Rep Cal has the D3 and the Calcium Antacid Tablets only have Calcium carbonate. Can you just go to the store and get plain calcium tablets?

__________________
Colleen

Hello,

You can purchase Rep-Cal without D3. It is the Green Label Rep-Cal. It contains no D3 and no Phosphorus. I initially started using it years ago for iguanas and now its the only supplement I use.

Powerman, I would ditch the 2 red lights, or at least one of them, and use a Ceramic Heat Emitter or a Mega Heat Emitter. That will raise the temps. I would start with a low watt Ceramic Heat Emitter and then experiment. If it isn't strong enough in the lowest wattage, bring it back and get the next strongest.

The red light is ok for viewing still though if you want to do that.

The cable is a bad idea.

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yeah most pharmacys have pure calcium powder I paid 11 bucks for probably enough to last all my herps a full year

__________________
0.0.1 Iguana Pickle
0-1-0 Bearded Dragon Honey
1-1-0 Red Tail Boa Libby&Dogma
1-0-0 Cat Rajha
0-0-1 Charcoal Corn Snake Strider
1-1-0 Chinese Water Dragons Isis & Osiris
1-1-0 Cockitiles Hawk&Ashley
1-0-0 Tangerine Leopard Gecko 9erz
0-1-0 Leopard gecko Jets
1-0-0 Mali Uromastyx Uri
0-0-2 Betas Holly & Go (kids fish)
0-0-1 Red Eared Slider Shelly
R.I.P hamster hamtaro
R.I.P Wolf Lab Cross Kenya

Ok, well I always thought the red incadescent gave off heat, or at least that was what I was told. So when I get a cermic heater what would be a good size wattage bulb for a 10 gallon?

Also, may I ask why the cable is a bad idea, and even at that, could I put a heater pad inside the aquarium. I am just worried something is going to catch fire. (Mainly because the tnak sits on a floor at the moment, it may or may not stay there.)