Leopard geckos need calcium powder dusted onto their insects, because crickets, roaches and worms are low in calcium and high in phosphorus. Use two powders: a phosphorus-free calcium with vitamin D3 and a plain calcium without D3, plus a reptile multivitamin about once a week. Babies and juveniles get calcium at every feeding. Adults get calcium with D3 about twice a week and plain calcium at the other feedings. If your tank has a UVB light, cut the D3 powder to about once a week. Zoo Med Repti Calcium (with and without D3) is the easiest pair to buy, and Repashy Calcium Plus is the best all-in-one.
Below are the calcium powders we recommend, a dusting schedule by age, how to dust insects, whether to leave a calcium dish in the tank, and the signs of too little calcium.
Best calcium powder for leopard geckos
| Pick | Why we like it | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|
| Best calcium with D3: Zoo Med Repti Calcium with D3 | Phosphorus-free, very fine so it sticks to insects well, and cheap for the amount you get | Check price on Amazon |
| Best plain calcium: Zoo Med Repti Calcium without D3 | The same powder without vitamin D3, so it is safe for most feedings and for a dish in the tank | Check price on Amazon |
| Best all-in-one: Repashy Calcium Plus | Calcium, D3 and a full set of vitamins in one tub, so you only need one powder | Check price on Amazon |
| Best all-in-one with UVB: Repashy Calcium Plus LoD | A lower-D3 version of Calcium Plus for tanks with a UVB light, where your gecko makes some D3 itself | Check price on Amazon |
| Best multivitamin: Rep-Cal Herptivite | A long-standing reptile multivitamin with beta carotene, used once a week alongside plain calcium powders | Check price on Amazon |
Whichever brand you choose, check the label says phosphorus-free and that the powder is made for reptiles. Calcium sold for people or birds often has the wrong balance of D3 or added phosphorus.
Calcium with D3 or without D3?
You need both. Vitamin D3 lets your gecko absorb calcium from its food. In the wild, leopard geckos get some D3 from the low levels of sunlight they see at dawn and dusk. In a tank without UVB, the D3 has to come from the powder. Too much D3 can build up in the body, though, so it is not used at every adult feeding.
| Powder | What it does | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Calcium with D3 | Gives calcium and the vitamin your gecko needs to absorb it | Every feeding for babies and juveniles without UVB, about twice a week for adults. Never in a dish left in the tank |
| Calcium without D3 | Gives calcium only, with no risk of a D3 overdose | The other feedings, and in a small dish in the tank if you want one |
| Multivitamin | Gives vitamin A and other vitamins insects lack | Once a week for young geckos, every one to two weeks for adults |
| All-in-one (calcium, D3 and vitamins) | Replaces all three with one powder | Most feedings for young geckos, about twice a week for adults |
Leopard gecko calcium dusting schedule
This schedule uses two plain powders and a multivitamin. If you use an all-in-one powder like Repashy Calcium Plus, follow the "calcium with D3" column and skip the multivitamin.
| Gecko | Calcium with D3 | Calcium without D3 | Multivitamin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby or juvenile (under 12 months), no UVB | Every feeding | Not needed | Once a week, instead of the calcium at that feeding |
| Baby or juvenile (under 12 months), with UVB | Once or twice a week | All other feedings | Once a week |
| Adult, no UVB | Twice a week | All other feedings | Every one to two weeks |
| Adult, with UVB | Once a week | All other feedings | Every one to two weeks |
| Breeding female | Two or three times a week | Every other feeding, plus a dish in the tank | Once a week |
How often your gecko eats depends on its age: babies every day, juveniles every other day and adults two or three times a week. Our leopard gecko food guide has the full feeding chart and how many insects to give.
How to dust insects with calcium
- Put the insects in a bag or tub. A clean plastic bag, a deli cup or a dusting cup all work. Only dust the insects your gecko will eat in one sitting.
- Add a small pinch of powder. About a quarter teaspoon is plenty for a dozen crickets.
- Shake gently. Stop when the insects look lightly frosted. Thick white clumps put many geckos off their food.
- Feed straight away. Crickets clean the powder off within a few minutes, and powder falls off worms quickly. For mealworms, a feeding dish lets the powder stay in the bowl rather than on the floor.
A cricket dusting cup makes this quicker and stops crickets escaping while you shake. Gut loading the insects for a day before feeding adds even more calcium and vitamins, which the food guide covers.
Should you leave a calcium dish in the tank?
You can, but only with plain calcium without D3. Many keepers put a bottle cap or a small reptile dish of plain calcium in the cool end, and some geckos lick it, especially females getting ready to lay eggs. Change it every week or when it gets damp, droppings or loose substrate in it.
A dish is a back-up, not a replacement for dusting. Many geckos never touch it, and you can't tell how much they take. Never fill the dish with calcium with D3, as a gecko that licks a lot of it can overdose on the vitamin.
Signs your leopard gecko needs more calcium
Too little calcium leads to metabolic bone disease (MBD). The body takes calcium from the bones, which become soft and bend. It is one of the most common health problems in pet leopard geckos, and almost always comes from missed dusting or no D3.
| Sign | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Wobbly walking | Your gecko sways, drags its belly or struggles to lift itself |
| Bent or swollen legs | Legs look bowed, lumpy or thicker than normal |
| Soft or rubbery jaw | The lower jaw looks short, droops, or bends when your gecko bites |
| Twitching or tremors | Toes or legs twitch, or your gecko shakes when it moves |
| Kinked spine or tail | New bends appear along the back or tail |
| Weak appetite | Your gecko misses insects or gives up chasing them |
If you see any of these, take your gecko to a reptile vet. Early MBD can often be treated with liquid calcium, D3 and UVB, but bent bones don't fully straighten. Don't try to fix it by adding extra D3 at home, as the vet will want to set the dose.
Too much calcium is much rarer. Plain calcium without D3 is very hard to overdose. The real risk is too much vitamin D3 or vitamin A, from using calcium with D3 or a multivitamin at every adult feeding for months. Sticking to the schedule above avoids both.
Common calcium mistakes
| Mistake | Why it's a problem | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Only using calcium without D3, with no UVB | Your gecko can't absorb the calcium, so it still gets MBD | Use calcium with D3 on the schedule above, or add UVB |
| Using calcium with D3 at every adult feeding | D3 can build up to harmful levels over time | Twice a week for adults, once a week with UVB |
| Calcium with D3 in the tank dish | Your gecko can eat as much as it likes, including too much D3 | Only put plain calcium in a dish |
| Coating insects too thickly | Many geckos refuse heavily dusted food | A light frosting is enough |
| Old or damp powder | Vitamins break down after opening, and damp powder clumps | Keep the lid closed, store it dry and replace tubs about every six months |
Leopard gecko calcium FAQ
Do leopard geckos need calcium with D3?
Yes, unless they have a UVB light, and even then a little is useful. D3 lets your gecko absorb calcium. Without it, the calcium passes through and your gecko can still get metabolic bone disease.
How often should I dust my leopard gecko's food with calcium?
Babies and juveniles: at every feeding. Adults: calcium with D3 about twice a week and plain calcium at the other feedings. With UVB, use calcium with D3 about once a week.
Can I leave calcium in my leopard gecko's tank?
Yes, but only plain calcium without D3, in a small shallow dish that you change every week. Never leave calcium with D3 in the tank.
What is the best calcium powder for leopard geckos?
Zoo Med Repti Calcium with D3 and without D3 is the easiest pair to use. If you'd rather use one powder, Repashy Calcium Plus combines calcium, D3 and vitamins.
Can a leopard gecko have too much calcium?
Too much plain calcium is rare. The bigger risk is too much vitamin D3 or vitamin A from using calcium with D3 or a multivitamin at every adult feeding, so follow a schedule.
Do I need calcium if I have a UVB light?
Yes. UVB helps your gecko make its own D3, but insects still lack calcium. Keep dusting with plain calcium at most feedings and use calcium with D3 about once a week.
Setting up lighting? Our leopard gecko heat lamp and UVB guide covers which UVB tube to use. For everything else your gecko needs, see the leopard gecko starter kit checklist.