Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I'm new to eastern lizard care since 8 months now and I'm really concerned by the strange behaviour 1 year old "Sara" have.

She is shaking fingers (both hands and feet) like a jazz pianist !

That doesnt seem to disturb her but I do ...
It's like she is very stressed for no apparent reason ...

I had tried nothing special yet to cure her but if somebody can tell me it will be very appreciated !

Some ideas ?
Excessive heat ?
Lack of vitamins ?
Disease of parkinson ?

Alex

i,ve had my fair share of MBD stricken geckos and they all displayed the same "jitters" like they had a trapped nerve or something.Anyway last year my CB female started to get "jiggy" apparently without her realising she was doing it.Her whole leg would shake or sometimes just her toes.After asking around 1 person hit upon my uvb bulb,maybe it wasnt producing anymore?My thoughts were that this did start not long after laying eggs and my bulb was 12months or so old.I replaced teh bulb and upped her intake of V&M's and sure enough the "shakes" went away never to returnI think its an early indication of MBD and that if caught quickly the effects could reversed.But and this is a big but,i'm no expert on ailments or ilness's so i can only tell you what i've experienced.It might just be he's got a twitch!!!
Hope you understand this as i'm not the best at explaining what i mean

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see yah laterz people
jason

Yes, I rapidly found the "search" function; asked about shaking;
I found about MBD...

But your remark about the UV light is awesome ! In fact, it's now near about a year a bought it ... Happy to have catched your attention with it's age

How about new spiral UV globes ?
Since it's a new design, will it last longer? I assume it to.

Hi there,

Jason is correct. Muscle tremors are usually an indication of Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD). MBD is perhaps one of the most common deficiencies in reptiles; fortunately, as Jason said, if identified and treated at an early stage, it can be correctable, and even reversed.

Here are the players:

-Calcium (either in supplement form, or contained in the food)
-UVB Radiation (either natural exposure to sun, or artificial lighting)
-Vitamin D3 (Obtained from UVB or supplements)
-Phosphorus (Occur naturally in insects)

Although the cause of the tremors can be a result of any calcium imbalance in the system (hypocalcemia: too little calcium, or hypercalcemia: too much calcium), it is probably the former. You may have supplemented calcium in the form of powder all this time, but there are other factors that affect calcium absoption.
This is how it works; at least in simple form. The lizard (and us) needs calcium in order for bones to develop properly, but calcium is used by the body for other similarly-vital processes. Calcium, for example, plays a very important role in muscle movement, and an imbalance, usually lack of calcium, can produce those tremors, which can manifest themselves on the fingers or legs. If the animal is frightened, and the levels of calcium are dangerously low, the legs may become temporarily paralized, and in worse cases, the heart can stop. Calcium, vitamin D3 and phosphorus work side by side to biult bones, move muscles, and pump the heart. Phosphorus occurs naturally in insects (crickets are full of it), thus supplementing crickets with a calcium powder that contains phosphorus can prove detrimental. So check this:

1. Make sure to change the bulb immediately and do this at least every 6 months. If possible, allow the lizard to receive natural, UNFILTERED exposure to sunlight. Make sure NOT to scare the animal, as it may produce what I described above.

2. Read the label of your supplements. Make sure that if you are feeding crickets, you are not using a supplement containing phosphorus.

3. Begin dusting your crickets heavily with a good calcium supplement daily.

NOTE: If the lizard is at a critical level of the disease, and it is no longer eating, a visit to your vet is a must. The vet will determine the gravity the condition, and will administer a liquid calcium solution (this is dangerous, you can overdose, do not administed liquid calcium yourself).

Please remember that this only applies if the lizard is in fact hypocalcemic (this is my opinion). If the animal is hypercalcemic, then giving it more calcium might kill it. Review your husbandry parameters, and if your bulb is old and your calcium supplementation was not regular, then the cause of this is more than likely hypocalcemia.

A way to know for sure is if the limbs are extremely inflamed or swollen, or if the jaw-bone is soft. If this is the case, follow the instructions above.

I hope this is not too confusing, as I tried to present it as quickly as possible. Let us know of your developments.

Truly,

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Fabián Aguirre
Zookeeper/ Freshwater Aquarist
Department of Herpetology and Freshwater Biology
The Dallas World Aquarium
(214) 720-2224
fabian@dwazoo.com
www.dwazoo.com

I like the term "husbandly" ...
This is clearly hypo to me! Thanks for the explanation !
Lack of natural sun could is probably a part of it too I must say.

How good are spiral UV ?

Husbandry and husbandly... definitely and fortunately, not the same

If you are certain that it is hypocalcemia, then supplement daily and give it LOTS of UVB. There are Vit D3 supplements out there, but I wouldn't use them, you may overdose.

If you are referring to the fluorescent Spiral UV bulbs (Spiralux), then I have never used them. We have had very good results by using Mercury Vapor bulbs. They are a bit expensive, but they produce heat and UVB. If you want to use fluorescent, I would suggest Reptisun 5.0.

http://www.bigappleherp.com/Reptile_Supplies/Catalog/UVAUVB_Fluorescents_38.html

Make sure to go back to a normal schedule of supplementation after the animal recuperates. I supplement my lizards once a week only (unless they are young or gravid). Keep in mind that my crickets get fed very well, that's why I only supplement once a week.

Take care!
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Fabián Aguirre
Zookeeper/ Freshwater Aquarist
Department of Herpetology and Freshwater Biology
The Dallas World Aquarium
(214) 720-2224
fabian@dwazoo.com
www.dwazoo.com

I have learned that the spiral bulbs are not used best with reptiles. These are mainly used to promote plant growth and used by many farmers. I asked the same question about six months ago at a reptile shop.

I have
-Trex 160watt flood uv/heat bulb
-100watt red light for night to keep comfortable temps
-Uv bulb for extra quality

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Collaredkeeper

Hi, one day past and temporary paralysis happened.
Whole body is shaking but she is still eating larveas...
Its really a chance, I dont what to go to the only lizard vet in my town.

I bought a new kind of vitamins(calcium D3) as well as a reptiglo-8.0 for desert lizards.

I really hope to see signs of healing soon...
May I expect it fast ?

Is this something thats been happening over time? Reason I ask is,

If it just all of a sudden hit, maybe its Impaction, they can be paralized and shaking with that also.

And it happens quick ! What substate are you using?
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Eve

I'm using carpet for substrate. I think she just wish sand because she often try to dig the carpet.

For the information, she "shake" for 2 weeks now. Being worse in the last week... I wish I had saw that forum first ! There is tons of information here, much more than in "care sheets"

Today, I missed an half day at work to get her at FULL sun like All2Human suggested. telling little neighbords to shut up
I thinks this just WORKED!!!! She is now more calm than 2 hours ago ...

I'm french speaking...
I saw like 12 mistakes in my last posts so be careful.

that she has had the shakes, the calcuim and light should help fast.

I was just wondering after your last past if this was just happening real recently!

I sure hope she will be okay soon, sad when they are sick!
Let us know, sounds like you are doing a great Job!

Taking off work and everything, to get what she needs, Your a Good collared Parent !

Hey as far as spelling and mistakes I'm one of the worst!
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Eve