Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i have a columbian black and white tegu, just today i saw him just siting on his rock and all his toes were shaking, him mucelse were twiching and his leg didnt seem to work well, hes not acting like himself isnt moveing much,will not eat, keeps shuting his eyes, now hes walking with his front legs an draging his back legs, I NEED TO KNOW WHATS WRONG, PLEASE HELP ME OUT

My first thought is metabolic bone disease, but whatever the cause of this, your lizard needs to see the vet ASAP. If it is MBD, depending on how bad it is, the vet can give injectable, soluble calcium and vitamin D3. A few questions: How old/large is your tegu? Have you been suplimenting with calcium, vitamin D3, other vitamins? Do you have UVB lighting? How long have you had the tegu, what are you feeding?

Any known falls, or anything the tegu could have fallen from? The twitching and leg dragging could be symptoms of spinal injury. Because tegus are terrestrial, they don't handle falls like the arborial species do.

These are just a few thoughts from the research I've done and my experience with other types of lizard. No matter what, take your tegu to a reptile vet as soon as possible. The symptoms you describe don't seem to me to be something simple that you could try and treat with advice from me or anyone else. Keep in touch; I ain't no vet, but I'm good at moral support.

Good luck,
Leslie

my tegu is 16 inches, no falls i no of, 1 tme a week supplement food with jurassic-cal, and repto-life, feed him mice crickts and mealworms, and i've had him for 3 1/2 months

Deffently soumds like MBD. Take him to a vet .Buy a mercury vaper also this will greatlly help his Recovery, and supplement his insects every feeding .Good luck Russ

Sounds like your little one needs some good UV lighting and calcium with D3. Dust his prey items (crickets, worms) with a good calcium, I suggest Sicky Tounge Farms MinerAll Indoor formula. It sticks to the insects best. Also, as Russ suggested a good Mercury Vapor bulb goes a long way to help recovery of MBD. Make sure the UV that you provide is within the suggested distance to the animal as well. Usually they have to be no more than 12" away to be effective. MBD is basically Calcium dificiency. Because Tegus grow so fast their bones require natural sunlight or other means of processing D3. Typically hobbyists use UV lighting to replace the natural sunlight. UV tubes work well too but I think in the recovery of an animal with MBD a Mercury Vapor will do far more to help, they are stronger. Best of luck, please do consult a vet and be sure to let us all know how it goes! also; Big Apple Herp and LLLReptile have descent prices on Mercury Vapor bulbs. I know they are a bit pricey but well worth it especially in this case Again, best of luck to you and your little Tegu friend!
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Peace!
KofSeattle
Reptile-Like
Here lizard lizard.........

thanks for all your help, i've taken him to the vet today there going to give him calcium shots, x-ray, fluids, and take home medicine, and i will get all the stuff(like the murcury bulb) and i will stat posting pics. THANKS AGAIN

That's great! You should see rapid improvement. Keep us posted.
Leslie

ONCE AGAIN I THANKS AGAIN BUT HE APERENTLY STARTED TO SHOW SYSMPTOMS TO LATE WITH THE VETS HELP WAS NOT ENOUGH MY LITTLE GUY DIED LAST NIGHT.

I'm so sorry to hear that your little one did not make it. Sometimes nothing you do can help. I know how you must be feeling; I just lost my dwarf tegu. It's always heartbreaking.
My sympathy,
Leslie