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  1. #4
    BPnet Veteran Malum Argenteum's Avatar
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    "I'd switch the gecko from calcium with D3 to without it so she doesn't get too much."

    I'd strongly recommend against this. The D3 synthesis from UV exposure is self-regulating; excess plasma levels of Vitamin D get degraded by UV light. This is to say, excess D3 cannot follow from exposure from reptile UVB florescent lamps. Additionally: to my knowledge, and according to a Google Scholar search I just now did, there is no evidence that leopard geckos self-regulate UV exposure, and so cannot be expected to get sufficient exposure to synthesize adequate D3. Further, hypervitaminosis D is extremely rare in captive herps generally and leos specifically, while hypovitaminosis D is one of the most common causes of morbidity.

    In any event, it isn't empirically established that leos benefit from UVB. Here is a recent study (coauthored by Baines, no less) that shows an increase in plasma previtamin D (Calcifediol), but no increase in actual D3 (Calcitriol) levels -- this means that dietary supplementation is 100% sufficient to provide ideal levels of D3 in leos. Further, other study metrics (growth, weight gain) were unaffected by UVB exposure. If there are more newer studies that show benefit, I'd love a link to them.

    More advice if you do decide to go ahead with UVB: buy and use a Solarmeter 6.5r. I got one and found that I was overexposing animals to UVB; correcting the levels improved behavioral problems I was attributing to other causes. Providing UVB without metering it is, in my opinion, the same as or worse than providing supplementary heat without using a thermometer to measure it (at least with heat you can feel it with your hand).

  2. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Malum Argenteum For This Useful Post:

    Bogertophis (07-15-2022),Erie_herps (08-16-2022)

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