Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi
This is my first handicapped baby I've ever had, and shes alright in most regards. She can run alright, and climb to a dgree, and eats as much or more than all the rest, but is, special. In case the pics didn't load, Her arms are deformed (I named her Flipper), and she walks on her wrists.
The other thing is, she isn't growing! I took these pics tonight, and believe it or not, she hatched out in June 2009!
Shes little.
Do you think she'll ever grow? Or is this part of her deformity?

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Christina

1.1.0 Bearded Dragons (Bacardi & Tequila Rose)
0.0.7 baby beardies (no names yet)
0.0.3 Hermit Crabs (Malibu, Merlot, and Corona)
1.1.0 German Shepherds (Indy & Kiya)
1.0.0 Corn Snake (Sambuca - RIP)
1.0 Lop bunny (Cosmo)
1.0 Beta (Daquari)

...seeing if this will work!
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Christina

1.1.0 Bearded Dragons (Bacardi & Tequila Rose)
0.0.7 baby beardies (no names yet)
0.0.3 Hermit Crabs (Malibu, Merlot, and Corona)
1.1.0 German Shepherds (Indy & Kiya)
1.0.0 Corn Snake (Sambuca - RIP)
1.0 Lop bunny (Cosmo)
1.0 Beta (Daquari)

she is very underweight, I would keep her housed separately and feed her more often to ensure she's eating enough food to grow. If she's not eating on her own its possible she may have other issues inside that are preventing her from eating properly, besides the deformed foreleg.

Make sure she has easy access to a basking spot (even if just a slab of wood or rock with little to no incline) which falls within the best temperature range (100-120F), and is exposed to a UVB producing bulb. Use papertowel as a substrate.
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PHLdyPayne

Hi
She does eat fine, and is in a tank only with my runt of the clutch, and she is definately getting plenty of food. She just doesn't grow, even though she'll eat between 8-15 1/2 inch crickets a day, pellets, and LOTS of greens (sometimes I think she is a vegetarian). She has a UV light, and a pretty good basking spot (its a flat rock right under the light, and reaches about 115F.
All the other babies from her clutch are huge and long gone by now, I guess she is just special.

Its too bad though, I had hoped to keep her as a companion for her mother, but as she isn't growing, that won't happen.
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Christina

1.1.0 Bearded Dragons (Bacardi & Tequila Rose)
0.0.7 baby beardies (no names yet)
0.0.3 Hermit Crabs (Malibu, Merlot, and Corona)
1.1.0 German Shepherds (Indy & Kiya)
1.0.0 Corn Snake (Sambuca - RIP)
1.0 Lop bunny (Cosmo)
1.0 Beta (Daquari)

I still recommend housing him separately. Also 12 crickets a day for a growing baby is not much. Feed 2-3 times a day all the crickets he will eat in a 10 minute period. Also, once separated, take a fresh poop sample to your vet for a fecal. A high parasite load can definitely affect the amount of nutrients a dragon is absorbing.

If after a month of the increased feeding, and clean fecal, he still isn't growing...could be other defects in the dragon, perhaps something that is blocking or preventing the release of growth hormones.
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PHLdyPayne

Thanks for the advice.
I think she just isn't a big eater, as I offer her food all through the day, and she eats and seems enthusiastic about it, though she seems a lot more excited about greens.
I will definately get a sample off to the vet though, thats a great idea, I never even thought of parasites. If thats the case, are my other beardies at risk?
I'd love for her to grow, but if she stays small, I will definately keep her. Shes my special little girl.

Thanks again
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Christina

1.1.0 Bearded Dragons (Bacardi & Tequila Rose)
0.0.7 baby beardies (no names yet)
0.0.3 Hermit Crabs (Malibu, Merlot, and Corona)
1.1.0 German Shepherds (Indy & Kiya)
1.0.0 Corn Snake (Sambuca - RIP)
1.0 Lop bunny (Cosmo)
1.0 Beta (Daquari)

If she does have parasites, then there is a good chance all the bearded dragons she was housed with will have them too.
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PHLdyPayne

It's very hard to answer your question. You just never know.

I had a deformed dragon hatch in Aug. '07. One entire side of his body the bones are all deformed. Every bone, including his ribs, skull, etc. He has no knee or elbow on that side and only a little use of that side limbs. But, he gets around pretty well and now weighs in the mid 600's and is one of the sweetest dragons I have. His name is Kaden.

I have a rescue I named Dancer. He came in Dec. '07 at about 7 months old and 27 grams. He has feeling and can move his arms and legs but cannot control them. He "dances" by arching his back to move around and can thermoregulate. He grows and gains weight very slowwwwly. He is now 120 grams at 2 1/2 years old. I've had him x-rayed and the consensus is that his condition is a birth defect and not an injury.

Do the best you can for him. It's rewarding. Any life is better than no life at all.