Checking calcium sacs only matters for adult females, and only when you have a reason to look.
Video · 5 min watchWritten by Brian
Calcium sacs are only a concern in adult female geckos. If you suspect a calcium problem in a male or a younger animal, such as metabolic bone disease, a wavy tail or a deformed jaw, the best thing you can do is take it to a vet.
Females store calcium in two sacs on the roof of the mouth, one on each side at the back. They use that reserve mostly to make eggs. A female with full sacs lays healthy, pearly white eggs.
When to check
Most healthy females never need checking. If she has a thick tail with no kinks or waves and good body structure, she generally has enough calcium. Check only when you are unsure: she might be too young, or she has a slightly wavy tail. Handling her this way can be stressful, so do not do it on a whim. It looks rougher than it is. As long as you are gentle, it does her no harm.
How to hold her
- Hold her just behind the ears and in front of the front legs.
- Gently pin her front legs back against her body, with a finger or thumb on either side of her head.
- Use a firm but gentle grip. Do not squeeze. She will wriggle a little, but she cannot twist and hurt herself.
Getting her to open her mouth
A stressed or active female will often open her mouth as soon as you hold her like this. If she keeps it shut, gently stroke along the side of her lower jaw, just below the mouth. That usually makes her open up.
Reading what you see
Look at the back of the roof of her mouth, one sac on each side.
- Two tiny white spots, or nothing visible: very low reserves. Do not breed her.
- Large white areas: good reserves.
- Very large reserves: they look like two white beads, sometimes big enough to almost touch in the middle.
As long as there is a good, clearly visible amount of white on both sides, she is ready to breed.