Chrissy: Phelsuma kept under artificial fluorescent UV lights have a great tendency to develop large calcium sacs, and they can be diseased, lumpy and/or malformed. They tend to be unsightly, but as Julie mentioned, they usually are not a problem.
I do not keep my Phelsuma under UV lighting, instead I provide additional vitamin D3. Because of this, only females develop calcium sacs, small ones, and only during the breeding season. The sacs recede during the winter rest. I have had only a few cases of females retaining large calcium sacs year around. For a hilarious photo by Magnus featuring some rather large calcium sacs, follow this link: http://gallery.phelsumaweb.com/displayimage.php?album=45&pos=1 [sorry about double posts - my old web/e-mail company keeps sending out mail as well as my new company] Leann ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chrissy Pearson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2004 9:28 AM Subject: Re: [gecko]lumpy calcium sack on p.laticauda > Oh, thanks, Julie, that is a relief. I was worried about him. > > I dust with a 50 - 50 mix of Rep Cal calcium w vit D and multivitamins. > Sometimes I just feed a "naked" cricket or two also, or some fruit flies or > baby food without anything mixed in. > > My lighting is... gosh, I'm not at home so I can't double check but I > believe it is a UVB bulb, Zoo Med ReptiSun I think, 20 watts. It's probably > time for me to change it out, actually, I need to place an order. > > Does that sound about right? Do I need to do anything differently? This > little guy is an escape artist and has wandered all over my house at one > time or another. Last time I found him in the bathroom window and honestly > thought about leaving him there, he looked so happy. (not really, but the > thought crossed my mind) I hate that he is so skittish, but I suspect it's > due to me having to hunt him down and catch him from time to time. > > Thank you so much for the reassurance. > Chrissy > > > >From: Julie Bergman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >Subject: Re: [gecko]lumpy calcium sack on p.laticauda > >Date: Wed, 08 Sep 2004 16:50:51 -0700 > > > >Hi Chrissy, > > > >This is not to worry. Happens all the time in captivity due to the vitamin > >supplementation and lighting we give them. Try as we may, we are not mother > >nature! ;) What is your lighting and supplementation BTW? Be specific. > >Phelsuma are very supplement sensitive. I have a lot of Phelsuma with these > >uneven sacs, does not seem to effect them negatively as long as the sacs > >are not too large. > > > >Julie Bergman > >www.geckoranch.com > >GGA lifetime member > > > > > >Chrissy Pearson wrote: > > > >>Hello from a lurker with a question, > >> > >>One of my p.laticaudas has developed a strangely lumpy calcium sack. There > >>is no way to describe it other than to say it is lumpy, very different > >>from the other gecko, which has softly swollen sacks on either side of his > >>neck. This one has sacks that are larger and have lumps visible within (2 > >>or 3 lumps). > >> > >>He still eats and poops regularly, is colorful and active, though he is > >>much more shy than the other gecko (they are in different tanks) and will > >>hide at any sight of me. The other one will take crickets from my fingers; > >>this one runs the other way. > >> > >>Here are his habitat specs: 15 gallon tank, planted with plenty of hiding > >>spots. Misted daily, ceramic heat source, UV light. Fed primarily crickets > >>once or twice a week dusted in calcium and vitamin powder. > >> > >>Like I said, other than the calcium sack and being very skittish, he seems > >>fine. I would post a picture but he hides so well and so immediately I > >>can't get a good one. > >> > >>Anyone have any ideas what this could be? > >>Thank you, > >>Chrissy > >> > >>_________________________________________________________________ > >>Get ready for school! Find articles, homework help and more in the Back to > >>School Guide! http://special.msn.com/network/04backtoschool.armx > >> > >>_______________________________________________ > >>Global Gecko Association > >>http://www.gekkota.com > >>Classifieds > >>http://www.gekkota.com/cgi-gekkota/classifieds.cgi > >>gecko mailing list > >>[EMAIL PROTECTED] > >>http://lists.gekkota.com/mailman/listinfo/gecko > >> > >> > > > > > >_______________________________________________ > >Global Gecko Association > >http://www.gekkota.com > >Classifieds > >http://www.gekkota.com/cgi-gekkota/classifieds.cgi > >gecko mailing list > >[EMAIL PROTECTED] > >http://lists.gekkota.com/mailman/listinfo/gecko > > _________________________________________________________________ > Don't just search. Find. Check out the new MSN Search! > http://search.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200636ave/direct/01/ > > _______________________________________________ > Global Gecko Association > http://www.gekkota.com > Classifieds > http://www.gekkota.com/cgi-gekkota/classifieds.cgi > gecko mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://lists.gekkota.com/mailman/listinfo/gecko _______________________________________________ Global Gecko Association http://www.gekkota.com Classifieds http://www.gekkota.com/cgi-gekkota/classifieds.cgi gecko mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.gekkota.com/mailman/listinfo/gecko
