Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am seeking out some answer for my friend's sister. Amyway, her dragon's back leg (only one) is dragging as he walks. I thought that it might be of an impaction or calcium deficient, but as far as what she tells me the dragon is under great care.

Temp: 90 on basking side
crickets are gut-loaded with food that have calcium dusted on it and a few are dusted with calcium prior to feeding
Age: dragon is about 10 months old
Substrate: Sand

Let me know what you guys have in mind. I know that a vet visit would be preferable, but we thought to seek suggestions from you guys first. She just noticed this a few days ago and the dragon just pooped this morning. The last time that he pooped was on Wednesday. Hopefully I provided some information that would be helpful. Thanks.

Have the vet check for partial impaction from the sand. Will require an x ray.
-----
www.moonstonedragons.com

Temps NEEDto be increased by 10-15 degrees for basking...low temps can impact calcium absorption cause cal.deficiency.Do so ASAP...uvb cal. d3

I'm sure it's not the sand or impaction. I has to be Calcium deficiency or injury. An x-ray should give you the correct answer. I had a dragon break one of her front legs this year, so it does happen.

It is hard to say what caused the bum leg. Could be broken, could be MBD. One thing I would suggest to your sisters friend is picking up a temp gun and get those temps right. Providing a bask of 120-130 will make a world of difference. Also, make sure the dragon is well hydrated (proper humidity). If the cause of the bad leg is due to MBD or impaction it is a result of poor husbandry. Untill husbandry improves there is little a vet will be able to do.

Proper basking temps. for an adult Bearded Dragon are 105-110.

No, widely agreed upon temps back in 1992 were 105F.

Modern lizard husbandry has come a LONG way since then, and MANY lizard keepers, and bearded specific keepers, use basking temps of 120-130F (surface temp at its hottest point, with an ambient temp in the low to mid 80s).

We all know you hate the progress on temps, but that doesn't make it wrong.
-----
robyn@proexotics.com

ShipYourReptiles.com
Pro Exotics Reptiles

Sorry. Check your facts and do some more research. 105-110 basking spot temps. are still the standard. High basking temps. are harmful in most setups. If the enclosure are excessively large then high temps. can be provided if normal basking temps. are also available. But, you will find with experience and observation that they will be rarely used.

We have been over this again and again, but I see lizards use those temps all the time. In captivity and in the wild.

It was 83F the other day here in Denver, Colorado, and I was able to pull outdoor surface temps of 140F .

It isn't about what sounds "really hot" to the human brain, but rather about understanding actual natural temperature ranges, and what the lizards can and do use.

Beardeds can and will make use of a very wide temperature gradient, from 70F to more than 160F. 130F is not extreme on that range at all.
-----
robyn@proexotics.com

ShipYourReptiles.com
Pro Exotics Reptiles

I agree we've been around this before. And as I said, I know those temps. exist but as even the zoologist from Australia noted Beardies hide when the temps. are that hot.

I have 28 Beardies. Each has a constant reading basking spot thermometer. My basking spots are closer to 105 than 110, sometimes even slightly below 105, and beardies still spend their time on outside of the hottest area, except for maybe 1st thing in the morning.

I have Beardies in my living room, family room, dining room and entrance way. I have spent untold hours for years observing their behavior. I have tried hotter temps. and they just don't use them and they would be dangerous for the novice of in a small enclosure without sufficient distance for cooler temps.

I don't see these hotter temps. providing any benefit at all. Only greater risks. Perhaps you have a Beardie that likes hotter temps. more than most. But I know you don't have as large a sample size as mine. Beardies live into their teens with 105 basking temps. with no digestion or other temp. related problems. So why buck the proven trend and take a risk?

I just want to thank everyone for their response and suggestions.

About the temp., I will look into that. As far as what it should be at, it is debatable depending. Of course, I think that that is self preferences as well as how well will the enclosure dissipate the heat.

Anyway, I just want some help and suggestions, not to generate disagreement or argument among us. Again I would like to thank everyone for their help for those are great insight as to what we should do and see what will happen next.