Hi, Nocturnal geckos still need D3, its necessary for proper uptake of calcium. It is a vitamin that, like most others, can be overdosed though. I dont know if the recommended supplementation would be the same for all nocturnal geckos, but I supplement with calcium-only for about three quarters of my leos feeds, and the other quarter they get a multivitamin supplement which includes calcium and D3 among other things.
Another thing which would have to be considered would be the quality of the gut load of the insects, I use what I would consider a very high quality gut load, so a lot of vits could be derived from the crickets, but if I wasnt using such a good gut load, I may increase the frequency of meals supplemented with multivitamins. Nocturnal geckos get their D3 from diet, rather than synthesizing it through exposure of their skin to the sun... However, my vet told me that a study had shown that nocturnal geckos are actually capable of producing their own D3, and much more efficiently that diurnal gecko species. Since they can synthesize it more efficiently than the diurnal species, this means that they dont have to spend their day times basking and being vulnerable to attack by predators. Instead they can bask for a short time at sunset and sunrise, when the sun is at its weakest and still derive all the D3 they require, and thus they are able to be nocturnal (coming out at night, when there is less predation risk, to hunt). Unfortunately my vet was unable to guide me to the exact publication, so if anyone has details I'd be interested to read it... In agreement with what the vet told me, I have seen many of my leos (but not all) basking at their sunset/sunrise (i.e. just as the lights come on with the timer, and just before they go off with the timer). Best wishes, Pauline http://www.thegeckospot.co.uk >>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 07/09/02 05:12pm >>> Hi all, Do nocturnal species need suplemetation with D3 or without? Thanks in advance Pablo Reyes Mexico City MEXICO __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Sign up for SBC Yahoo! Dial - First Month Free http://sbc.yahoo.com ########################################################################### THE GLOBAL GECKO ASSOCIATION LISTSERV WebSite: www.gekkota.com Archive: [EMAIL PROTECTED]/ The GGA takes no responsibility for the contents of these postings. ########################################################################### ********************************************************************** Institute of Physics Registered charity No. 293851 76 Portland Place, London, W1B 1NT, England IOP Publishing Limited Registered in England under Registration No 467514. Registered Office: Dirac House, Temple Back, Bristol BS1 6BE England This e-mail message has been checked by MIMEsweeper using F-Secure Anti-Virus for the presence of computer viruses. **********************************************************************
