Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have four other beardies and never had a problem like this before. I bought a 3 month old beardie (female) about 3 weeks ago. I went in today to clean and feed everyone and I noticed she was shaking a little bit not bad but I was able to notice. Any ideas what would cause this?
-----
Tom
1.2.0 Leopard Gecko (dot, spot, leo)
0.0.1 California King Snake (booboo)
0.1.0 Sulcata Tortoise (tank)
0.0.2 Russian Tortoise (tito and lulu)
0.0.2 Red Ear Sliders (bernie and ernie)
0.0.3 Painted Turtles (larry, curly and moe)
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon (marshmellow)
0.0.1 Savannah Monitor (beef)
1.0.0 Peachfront Conure (kermit)
0.1.0 Australian Shepheard (layla)
2.1.0 Crazy Cats (babe, sabastian, tinkerbell)
0.1.0 Lion Head Rabbit (daisy)
0.1.0 Ferret (jordan)
0.2.0 Guinea Pigs (lilly and petunia)
0.0.1 White Tree Frog (dumpy jr.)
0.0.2 Fire Belly Newts (spork and blaze)
0.0.1 Fire Belly Toad (ferdinan)
0.0.1 Red Spotted Newt ( red)
0.0.2 Bull Frogs (goliath and tubby)
0.0.1 Rainbow Ameive (jack)
0.0.1 Spectacled caiman (wilbert)
0.0.3 Green Anoles
1.0.0 Bahama Anole
0.0.1 Long Tail Grass Lizard
Lots Of Fish

Now she has stopped using her limbs in a matter or 20 minutes whats going on I am so confused?
-----
Tom
1.2.0 Leopard Gecko (dot, spot, leo)
0.0.1 California King Snake (booboo)
0.1.0 Sulcata Tortoise (tank)
0.0.2 Russian Tortoise (tito and lulu)
0.0.2 Red Ear Sliders (bernie and ernie)
0.0.3 Painted Turtles (larry, curly and moe)
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon (marshmellow)
0.0.1 Savannah Monitor (beef)
1.0.0 Peachfront Conure (kermit)
0.1.0 Australian Shepheard (layla)
2.1.0 Crazy Cats (babe, sabastian, tinkerbell)
0.1.0 Lion Head Rabbit (daisy)
0.1.0 Ferret (jordan)
0.2.0 Guinea Pigs (lilly and petunia)
0.0.1 White Tree Frog (dumpy jr.)
0.0.2 Fire Belly Newts (spork and blaze)
0.0.1 Fire Belly Toad (ferdinan)
0.0.1 Red Spotted Newt ( red)
0.0.2 Bull Frogs (goliath and tubby)
0.0.1 Rainbow Ameive (jack)
0.0.1 Spectacled caiman (wilbert)
0.0.3 Green Anoles
1.0.0 Bahama Anole
0.0.1 Long Tail Grass Lizard
Lots Of Fish

I had purchased a female juvenile a while back and she had the same thing for 2 days after shipping. I couldn't figure it out. Temps were good and plenty of UVB in the cage. She was healthy in size and from a reputable breeder that takes great care of their herps.

I was initially concerned with MBD because from all cases I've heard twitching and or shaking is evidence. Could also be a calcium defiency too.

Eventually she came around. She started showing less and less twitching in her legs and over the course of a few days it was gone.

Turns out it was probably stress from shipping but this was the only time it ever happened to one of my dragons so it was definately alarming.

I suggest to give a warm bath for 15-20 minutes today. Give her a 1-2 days to show some signs.

-Kevin

Tom, quickly what was the last meal she was given?

salad and crickets... I am now given her some water with calcium mixed in with a dropper so she doesnt dehydrate... y?
-----
Tom
1.2.0 Leopard Gecko (dot, spot, leo)
0.0.1 California King Snake (booboo)
0.1.0 Sulcata Tortoise (tank)
0.0.2 Russian Tortoise (tito and lulu)
0.0.2 Red Ear Sliders (bernie and ernie)
0.0.3 Painted Turtles (larry, curly and moe)
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon (marshmellow)
0.0.1 Savannah Monitor (beef)
1.0.0 Peachfront Conure (kermit)
0.1.0 Australian Shepheard (layla)
2.1.0 Crazy Cats (babe, sabastian, tinkerbell)
0.1.0 Lion Head Rabbit (daisy)
0.1.0 Ferret (jordan)
0.2.0 Guinea Pigs (lilly and petunia)
0.0.1 White Tree Frog (dumpy jr.)
0.0.2 Fire Belly Newts (spork and blaze)
0.0.1 Fire Belly Toad (ferdinan)
0.0.1 Red Spotted Newt ( red)
0.0.2 Bull Frogs (goliath and tubby)
0.0.1 Rainbow Ameive (jack)
0.0.1 Spectacled caiman (wilbert)
0.0.3 Green Anoles
1.0.0 Bahama Anole
0.0.1 Long Tail Grass Lizard
Lots Of Fish

How long have you had this beardie? Do you know anything about the care prior to her arrival with you? Has she been defecating since you got her?

Could you give a complete rundown of her set up...

1. Is she housed alone?
2. What size tank?
3. What are the basking spot temps? How are they measured? How is the tank heated - with a red/black bulb? white bulb? etc?
4. What brand of UVB bulb do you have? How far away is it from the beardies basking spot? How old is the bulb?
5. What substrate are you using?
6. What have you been feeding?
7. What are you supplementing with and how often?
8. How is the beardie behaving overall? Still active? Basking? Eating well?

It could be impaction, or metabolic bone disease...those are the two things that spring to mind when symptoms of shaking and limb paralysis come up.
-----
1.1 Bearded Dragons
2.2 Leopard Geckos
1.0 Uromastyx (Mali)
1.1 Corn snakes
0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake
1.0 Rosy Boa
1.1 Green Anoles
1.1 House Geckos
0.0.2 Flying Geckos
0.0.1 Red Eye Tree Frog

good news I read more and more and it seemed like impaction so I kept soaking her and gaver lots of fluids including some olive oil and she finally pooped last night and seems to be doing better.
-----
Tom
1.2.0 Leopard Gecko (dot, spot, leo)
0.0.1 California King Snake (booboo)
0.1.0 Sulcata Tortoise (tank)
0.0.2 Russian Tortoise (tito and lulu)
0.0.2 Red Ear Sliders (bernie and ernie)
0.0.3 Painted Turtles (larry, curly and moe)
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon (marshmellow)
0.0.1 Savannah Monitor (beef)
1.0.0 Peachfront Conure (kermit)
0.1.0 Australian Shepheard (layla)
2.1.0 Crazy Cats (babe, sabastian, tinkerbell)
0.1.0 Lion Head Rabbit (daisy)
0.1.0 Ferret (jordan)
0.2.0 Guinea Pigs (lilly and petunia)
0.0.1 White Tree Frog (dumpy jr.)
0.0.2 Fire Belly Newts (spork and blaze)
0.0.1 Fire Belly Toad (ferdinan)
0.0.1 Red Spotted Newt ( red)
0.0.2 Bull Frogs (goliath and tubby)
0.0.1 Rainbow Ameive (jack)
0.0.1 Spectacled caiman (wilbert)
0.0.3 Green Anoles
1.0.0 Bahama Anole
0.0.1 Long Tail Grass Lizard
Lots Of Fish

Im glad she defecated and is feeling better.

However - what is important now is figuring out what caused the impaction so it doesnt happen again. Impaction is not normal, and only happens when there is somthing else going on.

What substrate do you use?
What are the basking temps? How are they lit? How are the temps measured?
What brand UVB bulb do you have?
How often are you supplementing the diet, and with what?
How big are the crickets she is eating?

Impaction can be prompted by improper supplementation, heat, dangerous substrates, or underlying systemic disease...
-----
1.1 Bearded Dragons
2.2 Leopard Geckos
1.0 Uromastyx (Mali)
1.1 Corn snakes
0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake
1.0 Rosy Boa
1.1 Green Anoles
1.1 House Geckos
0.0.2 Flying Geckos
0.0.1 Red Eye Tree Frog

She stayed over with a family member for the past week and a half who has another bearded and some other herps I am wondering if she just didnt get a cricket that was to large that is my guess....
-----
Tom
1.2.0 Leopard Gecko (dot, spot, leo)
0.0.1 California King Snake (booboo)
0.1.0 Sulcata Tortoise (tank)
0.0.2 Russian Tortoise (tito and lulu)
0.0.2 Red Ear Sliders (bernie and ernie)
0.0.3 Painted Turtles (larry, curly and moe)
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon (marshmellow)
0.0.1 Savannah Monitor (beef)
1.0.0 Peachfront Conure (kermit)
0.1.0 Australian Shepheard (layla)
2.1.0 Crazy Cats (babe, sabastian, tinkerbell)
0.1.0 Lion Head Rabbit (daisy)
0.1.0 Ferret (jordan)
0.2.0 Guinea Pigs (lilly and petunia)
0.0.1 White Tree Frog (dumpy jr.)
0.0.2 Fire Belly Newts (spork and blaze)
0.0.1 Fire Belly Toad (ferdinan)
0.0.1 Red Spotted Newt ( red)
0.0.2 Bull Frogs (goliath and tubby)
0.0.1 Rainbow Ameive (jack)
0.0.1 Spectacled caiman (wilbert)
0.0.3 Green Anoles
1.0.0 Bahama Anole
0.0.1 Long Tail Grass Lizard
Lots Of Fish

That may be - just keep in mind that a healthy, well maintained beardie generally should not become impacted by just eating a couple big crickets. Go over all your basic husbandry and double check everything looks ok.

I hope there are no more issues and he grows and thrives from here on!
-----
1.1 Bearded Dragons
2.2 Leopard Geckos
1.0 Uromastyx (Mali)
1.1 Corn snakes
0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake
1.0 Rosy Boa
1.1 Green Anoles
1.1 House Geckos
0.0.2 Flying Geckos
0.0.1 Red Eye Tree Frog

I know you already solved this, but if I can add my 2 cents. My baby was shaking lots too (and still pooping, so it wasn't that)...I was so worried until I remembered someone saying shaking can be caused by calcium deficiency. So I got a little cup of water, put LOTS of calcium in it so it was like a runny shake, and let her drink and drink. Then I sat outside with her in the sun for an hour. Within 3 hours, her shaking completely stopped.

Like I said, just my 2 cents.

>>I have four other beardies and never had a problem like this before. I bought a 3 month old beardie (female) about 3 weeks ago. I went in today to clean and feed everyone and I noticed she was shaking a little bit not bad but I was able to notice. Any ideas what would cause this?
>>-----
>>Tom
>>1.2.0 Leopard Gecko (dot, spot, leo)
>>0.0.1 California King Snake (booboo)
>>0.1.0 Sulcata Tortoise (tank)
>>0.0.2 Russian Tortoise (tito and lulu)
>>0.0.2 Red Ear Sliders (bernie and ernie)
>>0.0.3 Painted Turtles (larry, curly and moe)
>>1.0.0 Bearded Dragon (marshmellow)
>>0.0.1 Savannah Monitor (beef)
>>1.0.0 Peachfront Conure (kermit)
>>0.1.0 Australian Shepheard (layla)
>>2.1.0 Crazy Cats (babe, sabastian, tinkerbell)
>>0.1.0 Lion Head Rabbit (daisy)
>>0.1.0 Ferret (jordan)
>>0.2.0 Guinea Pigs (lilly and petunia)
>>0.0.1 White Tree Frog (dumpy jr.)
>>0.0.2 Fire Belly Newts (spork and blaze)
>>0.0.1 Fire Belly Toad (ferdinan)
>>0.0.1 Red Spotted Newt ( red)
>>0.0.2 Bull Frogs (goliath and tubby)
>>0.0.1 Rainbow Ameive (jack)
>>0.0.1 Spectacled caiman (wilbert)
>>0.0.3 Green Anoles
>>1.0.0 Bahama Anole
>>0.0.1 Long Tail Grass Lizard
>>Lots Of Fish
-----
1.2.1 Beardies: Albus, Minerva, Bindy,& baby Abby or Gibbs!
0.1.0 Furball (aka a cat): Smudge
1.0.0 Hubby: Travis
2.0.0 Rugrats Kyler, 8 and Collin, 5