Twitchy Toes on Crested Gecko

Question
QUESTION: I read a thread of yours from last August about a concerned individual whose crested had twitchy toes.  I beileve my crested is now experiencing the same problem.  Strange, though.  Her eating habits are great.  Loves the baby food, gut loaded and dusted crickets, mealworms occasionally.  Very active girl, and has absolutely no issues going to the bathroom!  The only concern I do have is that she's layed 6 eggs over the past 2 months or so.  I did read that since she's laying eggs, her calcium levels are going to drop and need to be maintained more strictly.  I thought everything was OK, but like I mentioned, I just noticed the twitchy toes.  I also believe she has 2 more eggs in her ready to come out soon.  She's "showing"!!!  Any advice would be great.  Thank you!

ANSWER: Hello Brian,

Yes you are correct, she does need extra calcium no doubt with laying all of those eggs.  They are zapping her calcium stores quickly.
How much calcium are you giving currently?  Do you use a UVB light at all, & if so, what type & brand are you using?  A good UVB will help her absorb her calcium more effectively.
Good that you have noticed the twitching toes though, that is an early indicator of low calcium problems beginning to develop.
I would increase her calcium immediately to 5 times per week, for sure.

Tracie


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Tracie,
Thank you for the quick reply. Currently, I have a Zilla Tropical Series UVB bulb, 18", 15 watt.  Used to use ReptiSun's 5.0, but I changed after 12 months.  I will admit, though, that I haven't been using the UVB as much, b/c I've read elsewhere that it wasn't too necessary as they are hearty reptiles, plus the tank is near a window where a half day's worth of natural sunlight comes through (but doesn't blast the tank with heat).
As for calcium, as I mentioned, when she does eat crickets, they are gutloaded (Fluker's high calcium diet) and also lightly dusted with a Repashy calcium plus powder.  She also loves Gerber baby food, mainly bananas, sweet potatoes and mangoes (guessing for the sweetness).  In terms of the CGD, neither she or the male in the tank care too much for it, though they do feed from that dish lightly when placed in the tank.
I'll try offering it more often.
Since yesterday, she seems to have taken a turn for the worse. She only wants to hide on the ground level (but she IS able to climb still, as I've caught her a foot off the ground last night). Right now, she just lays down, with her head slightly cocked to the side.  Last night, 7 crickets were placed in the tank for the two of them.  Neither gecko ate in front of me, but all the crickets are gone (and I know the male is not able to consume that many, so I'm thinking she ate a few).  CGD does not appear to have been touched.
Getting worried =(
~Brian

Answer
Hello Brian,

Oh I hope she is not egg bound.  Do you think she has any more eggs to lay, or can you tell right now?
If she is starting to go downhill, you need to act quickly.  Since it is hard to tell whether or not she is eating, you should probably go ahead & start assist feeding her.  Try getting some chicken, turkey or beef baby food & syringe feed her.  Don't forget to add extra powdered calcium in the food for her, as well.
You might think about getting some liquid calcium for her since she has twitchy toes & already appears to have some calcium issues going on.
I do sell liquid calcium if you decide to look for some.  Here is my site:
http://www.bug-de-lite.com/

Let me know how she is doing.  Don't hesitate to get her to the vet if she starts to crash.  There is only a small window of opportunity with reptiles, once they start going downhill you don't have very long to save them.

Tracie