Reptile & Amphibian Forums

my gragon it in a 120gl tank split with a uromastix lizzard on the otherside. the tank is divided in half in the tank it has reptasand in a corner and a regular beding (a type of sand which is spesificly for reptiles, I just dont know the name). he has a basking spot(100wt light bulb-and a UVB light) which he spends most of his time, he has a water dish and he is fed about 10 crickets daily and pelets everyonce and a while.he has plent of hiding spots (a fake rock with a hole on one side, and a piece of hut wood. could any of this cause the bump? is there anything more you need to know?

First off, how big is he? Second I here of no supplementation of vitamin and most importantly calcium!He most likely has MBD(metobolic bone deasise) so GET HIM TO A VET ASAP, they should be taken in for a vet vist 2 or more times a year

for vatamins, before I give him a meal of crickets I take the crickets put them in a plastic bag put some REPTIVITE (a white powery substance) and shake them up. it shows on this bottle that it consists of vatamins A-d3-E-C-B1-B2-B6-B12.... Folic Acid, Niacin, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid. and for minerals it contians. Calcium, Phosphorus, Iodine, Iron, Magnesium, Copper, Manganese, Sodium, Zinc, Potassium. are these ok? what else should I use to give him vitamins? obiously this hasnt given him enough.

Reptivite should only be given a couple times a week at most. You should be using pure calcium on a daily basis with the reptivite once-twice a week. You beardie most likely has calcium deficiency and in addition to that he probably has high levels of other vitamins that can cause health problems.

It's good you have come here or he would eventually have died. Take him to a vet with all of the info you have provided us and make sure you are using calcium powder just like you currently are with the reptivite but instead of. Use the reptivite only once or twice a week!!

It sounds like you had a good start but then things got mixed up.

Good luck!!
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Rob Talkington

Yeah Vit. A can slow or stop absorbstion of the calcium

hes about 6months old and to add to this I know he hasnt been growing that big. I know he should be alot bigger. does this add to my problem of this desiase? hes about 7.5 inches big... I forgot to write that in my last entry. from nose to tail he is about 7 and a half inches long, from nose to begining of tain he is about 3 and a half or 4inches long.

I noticed you sad he ate 10 crickets a day. IS that all he will eat or all you offer? It seems a little low for a 6 month old dragon and he does seem a little small. My 5 month old is 13" and 123 grams. He eats silkworms now, but when he eats crickets ( I get the 1/2" ones) he would eat about 30 of them at a time. The general rule of thumb is to feed your baby all he will eat in about 10 minutes, plus offer salad everyday (even though babies generally don't eat their salad too well when fed live feeders) My five month old is just now starting to eat his salads, but only with silkworms mixed in.

I, too am worried about an MBD related fracture. Metabolic Bone disease causes aweakness in the bones due to lack of calcium and they can break much easier. He is in a large enclosure and he could have fell and injured himself. I would rec. a vet visit, xrays and possibly bloodwork to get to the bottom of the problem. Reptile Rooms has some great care sheets and set up ideas. Take a look. Good luck with your baby. Keep us posted
Link for Reptile Rooms (Click on care sheets)

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Stacey

I am deffenitly going to take my BD to the vet. and if he does have MBD can anyone give me advise on whats best to do for him? and (stacy, what kind of greens do I feed him?) Ok. I plan on feeding him greens and try to start feeding him new things such as wax worms and mealworms.(any objections?/ sujestions?) The themp of my bearded dragons cage is about 80 and basking spot about 95. I leave crickets in the cage and he eats about 10 twice a day, plus some of the left ones in the cage. If you have any bojections as to what I am doing or and sugestions on how to make this better, and or tell me what to do because obviosly I am not very good at this. But I love my Dragan and I want whats best for it. thanks...... ~ Sarah ~

First, I commend you on actually making the effort to make things right and not being worried about admitting you may have made some mistakes. By coming here you are probably helping a lot of other dragons in addition to your own. Just my opinion.

Your basking spot could be a little warmer, about 105-110 would be better. Try to stay away from both waxworms and mealworms as both are not the best for your beardie. Crickets are fine except don't leave them in the tank overnight or they may get hungry and actually feed on your beardie when he's sleeping. Yes, it does actually happen!

Your vet should help you on what you need to do with the MBD problem. Beautiful Dragons has good info on MBD as well as other information you will want to read up on. When there go to the Health section and you can read up on MBD.

Good luck Sarah!!
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Rob Talkington

N/P