Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I purchased two juvenile BDs about 4 weeks ago, each from a different store. One of the two – the smaller one – recently started having what looks like a mild seizure. He or she will stretch out and one leg will go stiff as a board. Or, it’s back legs will both twitch and shiver for a few minutes. The seizure only last a few seconds and he/she seems to be fine after that, running after food with vigor. This has only happened twice. Also, it happened after we started feeding them meal worms. One last piece of information. A friend of mine purchase two dragons from the same two stores I did, and one of his (probably the sibling to my little one) is also exhibiting these same episodes. My friend is also feeding his BDs meal worms.

Could it be the worms? MBD? Genetics?

I have a 65 watt UV, and a separate basking light… the temperature is fine… feeding small crickets and veggies 3 time daily… have and under tank heater for the sand. Both live together in a 20 long w/ screen top.

Any thoughts?

Thanks for the help,
Avery

Sounds like either MBD or impaction due to the mealworms and/or sand. Is he pooping regularly? Try soaking in warm water to see if he poos fine. If pooing regularly, then it could be MBD or a vitamine/mineral deficiency. Is the UV bulb you have actually a UVB bulb?

What are the actual basking temps and what sort of thermometer are you using? Proper basking temps should range arund 100-115F for young dragons directly on the basking spot, as measured by a digital thermometer with probe or temp gun. Are you dusting the crickets once a day or once every other day with a multi-vitamin and calciumm with D3?

If the seizures persist or there is any deterioration in the dragon's health, it may be best if you take them to a vet. Also, keep in mind that having the two dragons in the same enclosure could be causing problems as well, as the other dragon may be eating all the food or keeping the other from basking properly.

Chances are it is the mealworms, not only do the babies have a hard time digesting the chitin shelling (more on this below) but also it was Mickey Hinkle "the Lizard King" who use to post on here a lot that first told me small dragons will often get leg tremors when eating worms, even when digesting them fine. He felt there was something in them that effected.. If i remember correctly it was some type of acids/emzyne.

Chitin is the stuff that makes up the casing of the worms. If you look at an x-ray of a bearded dragons, the stomach empties out right along the mid spine and the chitin is not digestable. It will break down into smaller peices and pass through most animals. In bearded dragons, if it is having problems passing through, it lays right on the spine with other food building up around it.

A badly impacted dragon will actually get a bump right there on the spine as they do not have discs like other animals to protect the spine, so the least impaction will cause pressure on the spine and swelling....... which in turns make them more prone to impaction, and stomach pains as the try to pass it through.

The leg stretching out you saw is a good indicator the baby was in pain and trying to relieve it.

X-Ray of bearded dragon, the lighter area is the stomach, right on the spine

Impacted baby and the bump on the spine where the food pools, this baby was unable to move either back leg for several weeks.

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www.reptilerooms.com

Well I am sure it is not the mealworms since I have only fed mealies to them once and they were very small. As far as the tremors are concerned they began long before they (mine) ever ate the mealworms. My two show no signs of impaction which I can tell by the amount of poo I have to clean. More than likely it is something else. Maybe the MBD or some genetic defect. I will be purchasing the vapor bulb tomorrow.

Thanks,
Miller
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Miller
0.1 Florida King
1.0 Chow Chow
0.2 Cats
1.1 Eastern Kings

The crickets they are fed are gut loaded with cricket food and flukers calcuim gel. The crickets are also dusted with calcium powder.

Thanks,
Miller
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Miller
0.1 Florida King
1.0 Chow Chow
0.2 Cats
1.1 Eastern Kings