Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Yesterday I couldn't leave Sobek, my Arg B&W tegu(about 10" STV) at home for a few reasons so he came to home depot with me to visit my boyfriend for about 3 hours. While we were there, we was fine, he just sat on my shoulders for most of the time. Then he had to go to a friend's house for about 2 hours and he sat in his cardboard box the whole time. Well I noticed that ever since I got him home last night he's been kind of "shivering" in a sense, it looks like all of his muscles are uncontrollably twitching! Aside from that his attitude is normal as is everything else. Any ideas what might be going on!?

Thanks so much,
Caietaro

Please realize that my tone is intended to be helpful. Sometimes these post can come across very condescendingly. Not is not my aim.

We shiver to prduce heat when we are cold. Reptiles being ectothermic can not do this. Therefore the shivering must have another explanation.

Lizard with low calcium (Ca) levels can suffer from several problems lumped together as metabolic bone disease (MBD). It may manifest with limited movement or disuse of a limb as if it were injured or even difformities. Since Ca is required for muscle control and movement (in us too and all vertebratres I believe)lizarsd with low Ca levels may develope tremors or convulsions. They get worse as the Ca levels drop finally reaching fatal levels.

Young, growing tegus require LOTS of Ca. It is best to feed whole vertebrate animals. Their skeletons provide lots of Ca. If you can rule out MBD by the diet you feed find a good REPTILE vet and make an opiontment soon.

Best of luck,

Brian

I know that reptiles, being poikilothermic can't shiver, but it was the best description I could think of. I'm not really sure how to up his Ca intake? I use a calcium suplement on his food daily. He doesn't seem quite big enough yet to eat whole vertebrate animals. He can eat pinkie mice but I was under the impression that they don't have much of a nutritional value due to the bones not being very developed. He can just barely eat whole fuzzy mice, depending on the size.

Does he have a source of UVB light? There is a lot of debate over whether Tegus require UVB or not. I'm a believer that hatchlings and juvies benefit from UVB exposure and I've seen the tremors of MBD in young Tegus disappear after exposure to UVB.

I agree 100% with jiffypop.

I have not personally seen MBD in tegus, but I have heard several reports and I know jiffypop has alot of experiance with herps. I have also personally seen it in Iguanas and Bearded Dragons. Your description fits early stages of MBD exactly. Pick up a UVB light source. Place it within a foot of the tegu and I am sure the twitching will cease after several days. If it persists please check herpvetconnection to find a reliable herp vet in your area.

Rick
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The Tegu Community - theTegu.com

Thanks for the help guys(and gals)! I did have a powersun MVB for him not too too long ago but the bulb blew so I've had to settle for just a basking bulb until I can get another powersun. The twitching has gone away though, he hasn't done it for the past 2 days, and I've added a touch more Ca powder to his food until I can get the MVB bulb again.

I also agree. I have had first hand experience with MBD, and so has my tegu unfortunatly. A good calcium supplement like Miner All I and a good light, even an Exo-Terra Day Glo works well, will stop his twitching, but it does take some time. If it is caught early enough they can make a full recovery.
-Beth