TUMS as Calcium?

I was just wondering if Tums are a safe alternative to the calcium supliment for Leos. It has only one active ingredient, Calcium Carbonate. The thing that makes me a little reserved is two of the inactive ingredients: Maltodextrin, andpolyethylene glycol. In other words, is sugar bad for Leos?

Ps. Please don't flame me, I have yet to give it a try and am waiting on more experienced people to give me their oppinion.

I've seen people make stuff to squirt in Bearded Dragons' mouths and they crushed TUMS in it to help with their stomachs or something like that. Honestly, I couldn't tell you if it is safe or not, but I've seen people use it with Beardies.

Why would you be feeding it in the first place? And I highly doubt the lizard would eat a TUMS if it doesn't look like something in its normal diet.

I have never heard of anyone giving their leo tums as a calcium substitute so I would not recommend it personally. I am also wondering why you would want to take the chance and give your leo a tums (be it crushed or whtever) when you can just buy a tub of calcium?

BTW: Welcome to BP.net :gj:

Sorry, I forgot to specify that I would crush them up into fine powder, not give her a Tums whole. Also i'm asking because Tums I have, a tub of calcium, however; I wouldn't even know where to begin looking for such things, I live in a fairly small city with no near Health Food stores. So unless somthing like Wal-mart or the like carries just powdered calcium I wouldn't know where to get some.

You could order some or get it from pet smart or pet co?

I second the notion as to why you would want to do such a thing? You can buy a good calcium powder at many shops and chain stores for around $5-7 dollars. Giving your gecko tums is a terrible idea that I truly hope you are not considering.

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This is completely wrong. Too much calcium with, or without D-3 acts as a binder and prevents the absorption of other nutrients. From Vitamin A, to just plain digesting the meal. Calcium is an ant-acid and too much of it just shuts down absorption in the gut by neutralizing stomach acid. One 500 mg tums is enough to reduce digestion in a 150 pound human... what do you think that does to the digestion of a 30 gram gecko. More than 2% calcium in a diet is detrimental imho, and a lot of people exceed this with their methods.

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That quote is from Allen Repashy. I would definitely not give your leo Tums after reading that...

http://geckoforums.net/showthread.ph...highlight=tums

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Originally Posted by Boanerges

That quote is from Allen Repashy. I would definitely not give your leo Tums after reading that...

http://geckoforums.net/showthread.ph...highlight=tums

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Yes, I've seen that, however; All calcium in powdered form acts in the same way be it Citrate, Carbonate, etc... It all acts as an acid absorber. The Geckos ingest enough calcium to support their needs. I am concerned about the amount of D3 found in the suppliments found at my Local Petstore, as well as the Nearest Petsmart. I cannot for the life of me find plain calcium powder near me via pet isles. I am more than open to suggestions on where I might acquire what I need to care for this poor Gecko.

I sort of rescued her from my friend whom I know never gave her calcium in the three years he owned her. My main problem is I was looking for somthing to give her imediately. I live in Utah, where most establishments are closed on Sunday. I will hold off if need be, and I have already considered buying Repashy's formula(which also contain Calcium carbonate). Mr. Repashy's statement was refering to an overdose of calcium in general, just FYI.

And by all means; if you could provide me with a brand of calcium powder that is easily found at most chain stores, that would be much appreciated.

Hmmmmm, if you do not want to go to pet smart or petco and use what most people use I am not sure I can help you :( Sorry I could not of been more help and good luck with your leo :gj:

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Originally Posted by Boanerges

Hmmmmm, if you do not want to go to pet smart or petco and use what most people use I am not sure I can help you :( Sorry I could not of been more help and good luck with your leo :gj:

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The problem is not that I do not want to go there. The problem is I have been there and they have no sole calcium powder. The only stuff they have all has D3 added to it. Which is what I do not want. If you could tell me the exact name of the Calcium powder w/o D3 that your petsmart has, I will be more than willing to ask them to order it for me.

I am positive you will find zoomed repti calcium without d3 or atleast tetra fauna reptocal. I frequent petsmart and 9 times out of 10 find what I need when other shops are closed.

That's a shame your area doesn't have a local shop

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=rep-c...c7546c9e19fcb7

:gj:

Amazon has it if your pet stores do not:
http://www.amazon.com/Rep-Cal-Calciu.../dp/B000N5PVZG

You can get a cuttlebone and crush it up. They are found in the bird aisle and can be used as an alternative.

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Originally Posted by granitestate

I am positive you will find zoomed repti calcium without d3 or atleast tetra fauna reptocal. I frequent petsmart and 9 times out of 10 find what I need when other shops are closed.

That's a shame your area doesn't have a local shop

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Unfortunately my localish Petsmart closes at 9pm(even on sat, they are closed now) And when I went there maybe 30min before I posted this, even with the help of 2 employees I could not procure D3less calcium. They do carry Rep-cal, and thanks to musicalkeyes I now know they do infact sell D3less Calcium which I plan to ask them to order for me. Thanks, for the advice and help, every one.

Seeing as your gecko hasn't had calcium in a significant amount of time, you should consider feeding phoenix worms. http://www.phoenixworm.com/servlet/StoreFront

Read more, my little guy loves them

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Originally Posted by granitestate

Seeing as your gecko hasn't had calcium in a significant amount of time, you should consider feeding phoenix worms. http://www.phoenixworm.com/servlet/StoreFront

Read more, my little guy loves them

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Thanks, I might give them a try. My friend said she wont eat mealworms though. So do you think she will take these guys?

Just remember that she does need D3 to process the calcium, so don't completely deprive her of it.

I also highly recommend Repashy Superfoods ICB for leopard geckos. You can use it pretty much every feeding. I've done so for nearly two years and all my animals are extremely healthy. I almost always see it at PetCo.

Why do you not want D3? It's important to calcium absorption.

Also, Repashy products are great. Don't mess around with something dumb like Tums. Do it right. People like Allen have put time, energy and money into developing something that not only sells, but raises healthy animals.

I don't want D3 for the dish inside the enclosure. I plan to use one containing D3 for dusting the crickets, D3 is a fatsoluble vit, hence to much is toxic.

If you have the proper lighting to give them that gives UVA and UVB as the sun would give them....then you don't want to use D3. In fact the reptile vet that I go to (highly respected and know internationally) prefers you use those bulbs as opposed to a D3 supplement. He states that it is way better for them.

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Originally Posted by boyyoyo

I don't want D3 for the dish inside the enclosure. I plan to use one containing D3 for dusting the crickets, D3 is a fatsoluble vit, hence to much is toxic.

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In that case... good planning. I thought you were trying to cut out D3 altogether.
Also I think that some of these toxicities are overstated, but that's another matter.

Elizabeth, of course natural production would be best, but unless you have outdoor enclosures, I'm of the opinion that some supplementation should be given.

The toxicities I'm reffering to are those from human research. It's farely common knowledge now that all fat soluble vits are toxic in high enough doses A,D,E, and K are all fat soluble. And make big problems for the liver and other organs. While I understand the anatomy of a human vs. an anphibeion are different what is toxic for one, is useually toxic for the other.

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Originally Posted by BPelizabeth

If you have the proper lighting to give them that gives UVA and UVB as the sun would give them....then you don't want to use D3. In fact the reptile vet that I go to (highly respected and know internationally) prefers you use those bulbs as opposed to a D3 supplement. He states that it is way better for them.

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I would be careful using UVA/UVB lamps with leopard geckos. They are nocturnal and have thin skin. I'm sure light doses would be fine, but you really have to be careful with not over exposing them to it or using a lamp that was really powerful.

D3 is indeed fat soluble but I am also in the boat that the toxicity has been overblown (in leopard geckos). I think she would be alright with D3 + calcium until you are able to obtain pure calcium. Are you able to order online? This would last you a while and is ultra fine. It's what I keep in my tubs.

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Originally Posted by coldblooded

I would be careful using UVA/UVB lamps with leopard geckos. They are nocturnal and have thin skin. I'm sure light doses would be fine, but you really have to be careful with not over exposing them to it or using a lamp that was really powerful.

D3 is indeed fat soluble but I am also in the boat that the toxicity has been overblown (in leopard geckos). I think she would be alright with D3 + calcium until you are able to obtain pure calcium. Are you able to order online? This would last you a while and is ultra fine. It's what I keep in my tubs.

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ahhh very good to know!! I do not have one hence I did not know that. Thank you!!

I use Sticky Tongue Farms "miner-all" for my geckos, and I'm pleased with the results. They make a formula with no D3, for animals that get natural sunlight.

You can order all of this stuff online, it's much easier than trying to get a local store to carry it.