| Leopard geckos have a few needs that are totally | | | | Vitamin D3 |
| non-negotiable: they need a properly | | | | Leopard geckos in the wild, for obvious reasons, get |
| temperature-regulated environment with both a | | | | all the sun (and hence all the vitamin D3) they need. |
| warm and a cooler area; they need appropriate food, | | | | Kept indoors as a pet however, they don't get any |
| and they need the right supplements specifically for | | | | sun at all, and that's why a vitamin D3 supplement is |
| leopard geckos. All three are critical to the health, | | | | needed. A vitamin D3 supplement can be given as |
| happiness and longevity of your leopard, but in this | | | | part of a multivitamin supplement (see below for |
| article it is the latter of the three - supplements - | | | | how to administer this). |
| that is up for discussion. | | | | Vitamin A |
| So what are the important supplements for leopard | | | | Vitamin A is another dietary essential for these |
| geckos in captivity? Here is what they need: | | | | geckos, and again yours won't get enough of it |
| Calcium | | | | unless you specifically take steps to ensure that it |
| Leopard geckos in the wild eat a varied diet of | | | | gets a supplement. An insufficiency of vitamin A can |
| insects and rodents, and those insects and rodents | | | | cause serious eye problems, so it's definitely not one |
| will themselves have eaten a varied diet up until they | | | | to skip. |
| are caught and eaten. That adds up to a pretty | | | | It's possible to supplement a leopard gecko's diet |
| nutritious diet for the wild leo, and one of its key | | | | with vitamin A directly but a better alternative is to |
| features is a good ratio of calcium to phosphorus. | | | | supplement it with beta carotene, which it can |
| That's very important, as a diet with a ratio of | | | | metabolize into vitamin A. |
| calcium to phosphorus that is weighted in favor of | | | | You won't find it difficult to find a specially formulated |
| phosphorus will result in not enough calcium being | | | | reptile multivitamin powder containing both beta |
| absorbed. This puts them at risk of metabolic bone | | | | carotene and vitamin D3. While a calcium supplement |
| disease. Unfortunately, most common feeder insects | | | | should be given to your leo via gut loading each and |
| fed to captive leos have a bad ratio of calcium to | | | | every mealtime, the multivitamin should be given only |
| phosphorus, and that's why a supplement is required. | | | | about once every two weeks. The easiest way to |
| The best way to feed your leopard a calcium | | | | give it is to dust it onto feeder insects by putting |
| supplement is to gut load its feeder insects with a | | | | them in a plastic bag with the powder and giving the |
| high-calcium diet. Blend together a sauce made from | | | | bag a shake. |
| any of: dandelion greens; watercress; collard greens; | | | | Knowing the right supplements for leopard geckos |
| mustard greens, and/or endive. Be sure to include | | | | and giving them the appropriate food and correct |
| both the juice and the pulp. Feed this to the feeder | | | | temperature will mean healthy and happy leopards to |
| insects during the period 24-48 hours prior to feeding | | | | care for. |
| them to your leopard. | | | | |