Leopard Geko

Question
My Leopard geko's arms are swollen and I don't know why? First it was one arm and then now I noticed that the other is swelling too. We went to the pet store and they said we needed a light that provided UVA and UVB light so my husband got that one. ( very expensive) but that hasn't fixed the problem, what do you think we can do?

Thank you kindly,
Eva

Answer
Hi, Eva,
First, you should never take advice from pet store personnel, when it comes to animal care--especially reptile care.  If you have questions, consult with a breeder for that species, or with a specialist veterinarian.  (Dog and cat vets will sometimes try to treat reptiles, but can do more harm than good, so finding a good reptile vet is important).

The pet store person was trying to be helpful, and made an assumption that what is wrong with your gecko is hypocalcemia.  The crickets and mealworms fed to captive reptiles are very high in phosphorus, and phosphorus needs to be balanced with calcium (there should be twice as much calcium as there is phosphorus, for the body to absorb it properly).  In addition, vitamin D is necessary for proper calcium metabolism.

Vitamin D is created in the skin when we (or a reptile) is exposed to natural sunlight--or a UVB light.  It can also be supplemented.  Some reptiles can't use dietary supplements of vitamin D very efficiently, which is why UVB reptile lights have revolutionized reptile care.  But, the species that have trouble with dietary supplements are all diurnal species (awake during the day), and leopard geckos are nocturnal.

So, it is not usually necessary to provide a leopard gecko with a UVB light, so long as they are properly supplemented.  All insects fed to them should be dusted with a calcium powder containing vitamin D3.

If you have already been supplementing his insects correctly, then it is much less likely that hypocalcemia is the cause of the problem.

With the edema you are describing, this condition has progressed to the point where dangerous symptoms are present, so your gecko NEEDS to see a veterinarian, promptly.  The vet will diagnose whether hypocalcemia actually is the cause of the swelling, or there is some other issue, and will provide appropriate treatment.  Prompt treatment is important, as delays in care may cause the death of the animal, in addition to costing more money.  The faster treatment is provided, the better the outcome.

If you have trouble finding a good local reptile vet, ARAV.org may help.