Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Another thing I noticed with on of our two new females is that her left rear leg twitches a lot. Is this common or a sign of some problem? Thanks.

It is one of the symptoms of calcium deficiency or metabolic bone desease (MBD) as some call it.

You need to be supplementing every live meal except one with Calcium with D3 and no Phosphorus. One live meal a week should be supplemented with a multivitamin. I would recommend Rep-Cal for both products.

She also needs access to UVB. Are you suppling UVB? If so what are you using and what is the distance to the dragons basking spot?

Thanks for replying. They are under a 150W Exo Terra Daylight spot. It's on the screen top, about 12" from their favorite basking area. And I'm dusting food with Jurassi Vite and Jurassi Cal. You're saying I should use the Calcium all the time and the vitamin only once a week?

I haven't noticed her leg trembling today at all. Yesterday was the first full day they'd been at my house with the light on. Is this something that can be reversed if addressed quickly or should I be contacting the breeder about it?

One note: In reading the box that my bulb came in, it says that it's UVA light. Should I buy a different one that's UVB for these girls? This is a lamp I had prior to getting beardies, so I haven't purchased one specifically with them in mind. Thanks again for your help.

You will need a separate UVB bulb for your dragons. MBD can be reversed if addressed quickly. Long term suffering of MBD can result in deformed bones such as the jaw, long bones of the legs etc. and if not treated fast can result in death. Trembling is just one of the signs of MBD.

Calcium every day and vitamins once a week is fine for baby bearded dragons. Once they are adults (roughly 14 months) calcium dusting once or twice a week and vitamins a couple times a month is fine, as long as they are getting a well balanced diet daily.
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PHLdyPayne

OK, they have a dedicated UVB bulb that's on them 12 hours a day or so, I just wanted to make sure that there wasn't some major distinction between UVA and UVB and me not having the right thing. They've got a 100-degree basking spot and about 80 degree cool side, plus hides and stuff to climb on. This should be good, right, or do I need UVA specifically?

There is a big difference between UVA and UVB rays...UVA is produced by just about every bulb out there... and all UVB bulbs produce UVA as well. UVA requirements are not really understood..but since its already present in UVB and normal light bulbs, worrying about having a special bulb just for UVA is redundant. Concentrate on a heat producing light source and UVB producing light source.
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PHLdyPayne

The Exo Terra Daylight Spot is not a UVB bulb. It is designed to give heat and as LdyPayne mentioned all bulbs supply UVA. I would go get a Zoo Med Reptisun 10.0 long flourescent tube and fixture. It should be the length of their enclosure.