bearded dragon lump in stomach

[tomkz1]

I've noticed a lump at the top of my bearded dragons stomach on his right side it is mostly circular and smooth but one side is a little lumpy it feels about the size of a peanut maybe a bit smaller it's not visible from the outside and can only be felt when massaging it I can also move it around his belly but it seems to always settle back on his right side he is quite an old boy at about 10.5 years old it doesn't seem to bother him and I have managed to get him to poo I've noticed that he's also a little clumsy when walking he is eating but not as much as usual because it's winter and he's brumating I took him to my vet who's not a specialist but knows a good amount about reptiles and he said he's lost a bit of weight and to try fatten him up a bit just wondering what everyones advise is ?

[Drache613]

Hello,

Could the small lump possibly be his kidney? Is there a small lump uniformly found on the
other side, which would be the other kidney. However, the kidneys are relatively low, more
near the hipbone areas.
Is he going to the bathroom regularly? What foods has he been eating?
Based on your description, it sounds like his balance is off a little bit. Is he getting adequate
calcium & are you using a good UVB light for him? He has had a great long life, that is so
wonderful!
If you can, please post some pictures of him, along with his tank setup for us too so we can
see his physical condition & setup.

Tracie

[tomkz1]

He has a 10.0 reptisun uvb tube which is on between 7am and 8:30pm his temps are around 38c-39c in the hot spot during the day and I drop them down to about 20c-24c at night his diet is mostly spring greens and some shredded carrot to add a bit of colour he used to eat locusts but in the past 3-4 years will only eat morio worms because the locusts are a bit fast for him he has about 2-3 morio worms a day dusted with calcium 5 days a week and nutribol 2 days a week at the moment I've also been giving some baby food recently for a bit of a boost.

[Drache613]

Hello,

Your lighting sounds good, the Reptisun 10 tube is perfectly fine. How close is it to him & is
it on top of the screen or underneath of it?
How is he doing today, is the lump still able to be felt today in his stomach?
Are his urates hard or soft? At his age, you could probably back down some on the calcium
to 3 times per week since you are also using nutrabol. That supplement has calcium in it,
correct?
Pictures are helpful too when you can post them.
The baby food is good, that should help with some nutrition for him if he isn't eating enough
right now.

Let us know how he is doing.
Tracie

[tomkz1]

[Click image to enlarge]
[Click image to enlarge]
the Camera on my phone is not great also at the moment I'm redecorating his viv so it's a bit simple until I get the new parts in he weighs about 285 gram which is a bit low but not technically underweight the fat pads on his head also seem all right but I am trying to fatten him up a bit with the baby food

[KarrieRee]

I would recommending getting a reflector on the UVB and getting it directly over head -- distance plays a role in bulbs what are you using T 5 or a T 8?

[tomkz1]

I'm using a t8 I've not been able to find any reflectors to mount on the top of the viv I've only been able to find ones that mount on the back wall but I'll keep looking

[KarrieRee]

https://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/arcadi ... eflectors/
UK website
http://www.lightyourreptiles.com/miscel ... s-new-hot/
US website
The UVB hood needs to stay inside the tank -- it should be attached / mounted to the screen directly above the decor piece 6-8 inches

[tomkz1]

My viv hasn't got a screen top it's laminated wood so I'm not to sure how to mount it the only way could mount it would be to drill holes through it to screw it to the ceiling and figure out a way to attach metal bulb clips to it because the plastic one's become brittle and snap after a few months because of the uv

[KarrieRee]

Ok so you need to figure out a way to get it into the tank --- here are some things you can hang w/ once you get it figured out to open it up -- 3 M command Velcro fasteners- picture hanging wire – long plastic zip ties-- fishing line -- potted plant wire hangers or this I use this stuff its like a Velcro strap cut it in strips and you can wrap it around the fixture -- it works great -- https://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-15-ft-Ca ... /304220195

[tomkz1]

Ok I might just make the switch to t5 as it seems to give a higher output of uvb compared to t8 and can be mounted at around 12" to 15" above the bearded dragon so it'll probs have a cleaner look

[KarrieRee]

That would be good distance is for the inside of the tank as well or NO obstruction
Also please get rid of the red light -- it can cause eye damage -- if thats his basking light please get a bright white basking bulb that keeps temps 95-110 taken w/ a digital probe thermometer -- you dont want any colored or off white yellowish bulbs --- most older dragons like temps around 97-100 or so

[tomkz1]

Ok I'll probs change to a ceramic heater tbh

[KarrieRee]

No---- please get a bright white basking bulb -- CHE's are only for heat and you want a bright white bulb-- they can only produce a lower heat not the high heat you get from a bright white bulb -- he wont be able to properly digest his food --- those two things I have been posting about are the two most important things in the tank -- they control the overall health and behavior of the dragon -- I cannot stress this enough

[tomkz1]

I should of explained ceramic heater and a daytime light that can be turned on and of at day or night