Reptile & Amphibian Forums

ok... well it is not me.
I had a lady ask me why her Bearded Dragon baby (about 6-7 inches) is haveing convoltions (sorry bout spellin).
All I knew to tell her was that it can be caused by a food item that is too big and has gotten loged in it's neck: (she feeds meal worms and some veggies). I told her she needed to get him crickets instead of meal worms for the main diet. Also she said she does not think it is getting enough calsium (bad spellin again I know). Also she said it's back legs seem to lock up when it has it's spells.
It does have a UVB/UVA bulb, it has both heat matt and a heat light.

She is bringing the Bearded Dragon tomorrow so I can have a look at it. But I was woundering if there is any other thing that can cause her Bearded Dragon to do this?

I have a friend that had a bearded dragon that did that for about a month and then it stoped and has never done that again.

Rear leg paralysis and convulsions is more likely to be a calcium deficiency than simply impaction. To large food items or an impaction alone certainly can cause rear leg paralysis but as it is giving convulsions it sounds more like MBD or other nutrient deficiency.

I suggest you tell her to take her dragon to a qualified reptile vet (unless you are one yourself) instead of bringing it to you. A vet can do blood work and administer liquid calcium injections or other nutrient injections to quickly work to resolve the problem.

Definitely need to find out the lady's husbandry conditions. Though she may have UVB light, if it isn't the correct type (make sure it is indeed a UVB light and not full spectrum used for plants. These do put out UVB but at such a small amount it is useless for reptiles) and that the bulb is close enough to the dragon and isn't old. If she dusting insect meals with suppliments at all and if she is, how often? Basking temps etc are also important to know.

If you see the dragon you definitely will have a better ideal what is wrong or what other things need to be addressed. However, I still suggest it would have been better to have her go straight to a vet. It being Friday today, it may be difficult to see a vet over the weekend.
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PHLdyPayne

my sickly one did that right at first and he had mbd...and required alot of care and a vet. So more than likely she will need to get that guy to a vet asap! when he was doing that they gave him a 50/50 % chance of survival so the sooner the better. Good luck!

Above I posted about a problem with my dragon I had a few months ago. He was having a problem with the Thiamine's byproduct from feeding frozen greens. His problems were back legs twitching and he wouldn't walk or move unless we really bugged him. I put him on a vitamine suppliment and he came out if it in a matter of days. He never had convulsions though... I thought though I could throw in the idea of the overdose of that Thaimine by-product from frozen veggies.... I was sure we would lose my guy but he's doing great now.

Sara