MBD in leopard gecko, how to explain to a 10 yr old

[bugmankeith]

A 10 year old contacted me that his leopard gecko has MBD, and he doesnt know what to do. What should I tell him, he had his gecko on sand and is feeding crickets and waxworms, but his gecko is sorta skinny and it's legs look weak, but with proper care they could heal. The question is how is a 10 year old going to care for one, his parents know nothing about leopard geckos, so whether he buys whats right for a leo or not, without a professional I dont know if he will understand how to Properly care for it. His parents dont know if he is caring for it properly or not so that's no help.

 

[KennyGee]

Okay , first off you need to get it off sand NOW! now it might not be MBD its probly impaction from the leo eating the sand. Tell him to take it to the vet to get an xray, it will determine if its impaction or not. The leo would do fine on this stuff called repticarpet. Also is he dusting crix with any calcium supplement?

 

[bugmankeith]

I forgot to say that it's on repticarpet now. He brought it to the vet and it was diagnosed with MBD, i saw a picture of it and the legs looks slender and, well they dont look right. He said he put calcium on the crickets, but I dont know if the crickets are alive, and who knows if he put on too much or too little calcium, he's only 10! It doubt it will get an x-ray, remember his parents would have to pay, and I doubt they would for a lizard. Do leo's need any special light or humidity?

 

[KennyGee]

Humidity has to be really low and it need a uvb bulb, tell them to get a uvb bulb from LLLreptile.com there alot cheaper than buying them at a petstore.

 

[Mushroom Spore]

Humidity has to be really low

Well, not entirely true. They DO need a little hide box full of sphagnum moss or something, that's misted on a regular basis. If they can't get humidity while shedding, their toes can wither and fall off from old skin cutting off the circulation.

 

[Stylopidae]

since they're nocturnal a UVB isn't really required. calcidust and it should bump back.

 

[Mushroom Spore]

since they're nocturnal a UVB isn't really required. calcidust and it should bump back.

I totally missed the UVB comment. Yeah, you do NOT need UVB for these guys.

 

[The Snark]

Just some thoughts.
First aspect: If it has consumed sand, if it can pass it. Geck's, in the wild, have pretty resilient digestive systems. Sounds like wait and see is in order.
Second: Is it's food healthy? Change it's diet is an idea. Gecks seldom eat anything in the wild unless it is very active which means healthy. They will not eat, as a rule, ailing insects which have fallen to the floor, even if they are still moving.