Baby bearded dragon limp front legs

87amanda

Member
Original Poster
I need some help. I am very new to bearded dragons. We got one as a pet Nov 3rd this year and he was thriving. He was a voracious cricket eater. He has gone through two sheds already since we got him a month ago. He will not eat greens, like refuses to.
He just finished shedding 5 days ago. Yesterday I noticed he was dragging his right front leg and he was very lethargic. He didn't have much of an appetite for crickets.
He lazed around practically all day in his basking spot and today, both front legs are very limp and he has not ventured far from his basking spot. I took his taller basking spot out of the terrarium so that he didn't fall off and hurt himself. I notice that he lays on his rock with his mouth partly open a lot. I dripped some water on his nose to get him to drink since I thought maybe he was thirsty. Trying to figure out how to get his calcium to him since he is not eating.
Help me figure out if I've done something wrong or what I need to do. Draco has been the most awesome thing to happen to our family lately. We absolutely love this little guy and my heart is broken.

Thank you in advance!

I have had so much varied advice on setup, feeding, what's normal and what's not. I just need to make sure I'm caring for him the best and how he needs.
I've attached a picture of his limp leg as well as my setup. I got this kit:

Zoo Med ReptiHabitat Bearded Dragon Terrarium Kit, 20 Gallon​

Features:
  • ReptiSun 5.0 Compact Fluorescent (5143061 /FS-C5) and 12-inch Naturalistic Terrarium Hood (5148807 /LF-50)
  • Care guide to ensure proper set-up (These two items are compatible in terms of bulb and fixture
  • Mini Combo Deep Dome Lamp Fixture (5156044 /LF-19), Repti Basking 100w Spot Lamp (1851477/SL-100) and Nocturnal Infrared Heat Lamp (5017595/RS-100)
  • The mini combo fixture is compatible with both of the bulbs listed above. There are two domes intended for the Spot Lamp and Infrared Heat Lamp listed above
  • The mini combo fixture is also compatible with PowerSun 100w (5067714 /PUV-11). This bulb is not included in the kit, but is a trade up alternative to the Spot Lamp mentioned above
 

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KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
I need some help. I am very new to bearded dragons. We got one as a pet Nov 3rd this year and he was thriving. He was a voracious cricket eater. He has gone through two sheds already since we got him a month ago. He will not eat greens, like refuses to.
He just finished shedding 5 days ago. Yesterday I noticed he was dragging his right front leg and he was very lethargic. He didn't have much of an appetite for crickets.
He lazed around practically all day in his basking spot and today, both front legs are very limp and he has not ventured far from his basking spot. I took his taller basking spot out of the terrarium so that he didn't fall off and hurt himself. I notice that he lays on his rock with his mouth partly open a lot. I dripped some water on his nose to get him to drink since I thought maybe he was thirsty. Trying to figure out how to get his calcium to him since he is not eating.
Help me figure out if I've done something wrong or what I need to do. Draco has been the most awesome thing to happen to our family lately. We absolutely love this little guy and my heart is broken.

Thank you in advance!

I have had so much varied advice on setup, feeding, what's normal and what's not. I just need to make sure I'm caring for him the best and how he needs.
I've attached a picture of his limp leg as well as my setup. I got this kit:

Zoo Med ReptiHabitat Bearded Dragon Terrarium Kit, 20 Gallon​

Features:
  • ReptiSun 5.0 Compact Fluorescent (5143061 /FS-C5) and 12-inch Naturalistic Terrarium Hood (5148807 /LF-50)
  • Care guide to ensure proper set-up (These two items are compatible in terms of bulb and fixture
  • Mini Combo Deep Dome Lamp Fixture (5156044 /LF-19), Repti Basking 100w Spot Lamp (1851477/SL-100) and Nocturnal Infrared Heat Lamp (5017595/RS-100)
  • The mini combo fixture is compatible with both of the bulbs listed above. There are two domes intended for the Spot Lamp and Infrared Heat Lamp listed above
  • The mini combo fixture is also compatible with PowerSun 100w (5067714 /PUV-11). This bulb is not included in the kit, but is a trade up alternative to the Spot Lamp mentioned above
Please get rid of the coil uvb- you need a long tube fixture-- I am recommending the 24" zoo med fixture - please use the 5.0 bulb that comes w/ it- it will be good for the 20 gallon for now - it will need to be unobstructed tho and placed directly above the basking decor 6-8 inches- you will / can upgrade the uvb bulb to the 10.0 when you go to a bigger tank - if you need links to that fixture I can post some for you- please get 2 digital probe thermometers - you need surface basking temps of 105-110-- these things I posted are crucial to his health- please do this right away
 

87amanda

Member
Original Poster
Please get rid of the coil uvb- you need a long tube fixture-- I am recommending the 24" zoo med fixture - please use the 5.0 bulb that comes w/ it- it will be good for the 20 gallon for now - it will need to be unobstructed tho and placed directly above the basking decor 6-8 inches- you will / can upgrade the uvb bulb to the 10.0 when you go to a bigger tank - if you need links to that fixture I can post some for you- please get 2 digital probe thermometers - you need surface basking temps of 105-110-- these things I posted are crucial to his health- please do this right away

Thank you for your reply
Can you help me with links? I've looked and read and it seems different places have different advice. Some say to mount uvb inside terrarium, others say to leave it out so it doesn't get too hot.
I will order these right away as well as thermometers.
Thank you
 

87amanda

Member
Original Poster
Please get rid of the coil uvb- you need a long tube fixture-- I am recommending the 24" zoo med fixture - please use the 5.0 bulb that comes w/ it- it will be good for the 20 gallon for now - it will need to be unobstructed tho and placed directly above the basking decor 6-8 inches- you will / can upgrade the uvb bulb to the 10.0 when you go to a bigger tank - if you need links to that fixture I can post some for you- please get 2 digital probe thermometers - you need surface basking temps of 105-110-- these things I posted are crucial to his health- please do this right away
Will this work?
 

Drache613

BD.org Sicko
Staff member
Moderator
Hello,

The light fixture pictured will be fine. Have you been able to purchase it yet? If you are
purchasing a T5 high output tube bulb, depending on the distance to your dragon, you can
mount it inside of the tank. Those higher output bulbs do need a clearance of around 10 or
so inches. If you are getting a regular T8 tube then it can be 6-8 inches from them. Either
way,
Once you are ready to mount it, be sure to post a picture of the setup so we can see the lighting
placement.

Tracie
 

87amanda

Member
Original Poster
Hello,

The light fixture pictured will be fine. Have you been able to purchase it yet? If you are
purchasing a T5 high output tube bulb, depending on the distance to your dragon, you can
mount it inside of the tank. Those higher output bulbs do need a clearance of around 10 or
so inches. If you are getting a regular T8 tube then it can be 6-8 inches from them. Either
way,
Once you are ready to mount it, be sure to post a picture of the setup so we can see the lighting
placement.

Tracie
So I ordered the bulb and fixture in picture attached. In the 20 gallon tank I have, do I place this on top of the mesh top or do I need to mount inside the tank?
I also ordered some strawberry banana flavored calcium powder with D3 to see if that will entice him to eat. It's flukers brand.
 

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KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
So I ordered the bulb and fixture in picture attached. In the 20 gallon tank I have, do I place this on top of the mesh top or do I need to mount inside the tank?
I also ordered some strawberry banana flavored calcium powder with D3 to see if that will entice him to eat. It's flukers brand.
Fixture is good but please use a different brand of bulb- you want the Reptisun 10.0 T 5 or a Arcadia 12% bulb - w/ the 20 gallon tank please have the distance 10 inches or so directly above him - you may haft to take and place the fixture width wise across the tank on one end of it and the screen butted up to the fixture so you have one end of the tank basking area----- temps need to be taken w/ a digital probe thermometer 105-110-- cool end 80"s during the day and middle of the tank 90's -- if you need a pic of the set up for this let me know I can show you mine for the 20 gallon
 

Drache613

BD.org Sicko
Staff member
Moderator
Hello,

How is your dragon doing today?
Hopefully the powder will help out for him. Since it is a 20 gallon tank, as Karrie suggested, it would
be best to put the T5 tube on top of the screen to be sure it isn't too close to him.
Definitely post some pictures once you have it all setup for him. Let us know how things are going!

Tracie
 

87amanda

Member
Original Poster
Hello,

How is your dragon doing today?
Hopefully the powder will help out for him. Since it is a 20 gallon tank, as Karrie suggested, it would
be best to put the T5 tube on top of the screen to be sure it isn't too close to him.
Definitely post some pictures once you have it all setup for him. Let us know how things are going!

Tracie
The new uvb setup will be here today so I'll get that changed when it gets here. Draco is lethargic, not moving and will not drink anything. Tried to use a dropper and place drops on his nose, but he's refusing to lick it. He ate a couple crickets yesterday that wandered near him and he had a bowel movement last night. It's heartbreaking to see him like this.
I really don't know what to do to help him.
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
The new uvb setup will be here today so I'll get that changed when it gets here. Draco is lethargic, not moving and will not drink anything. Tried to use a dropper and place drops on his nose, but he's refusing to lick it. He ate a couple crickets yesterday that wandered near him and he had a bowel movement last night. It's heartbreaking to see him like this.
I really don't know what to do to help him.
Please post pics of him so we can see what is going on w/ him--- I am hoping the UVB will straighten out what is going on w/ him -- what is the weather like where you are? Warm or cold? The direct sunlight outside would probably do him some good but it has to be 65+ degrees where you are --- did you get the bulb I recommended?
 

87amanda

Member
Original Poster
Please post pics of him so we can see what is going on w/ him--- I am hoping the UVB will straighten out what is going on w/ him -- what is the weather like where you are? Warm or cold? The direct sunlight outside would probably do him some good but it has to be 65+ degrees where you are --- did you get the bulb I recommended?
It's cold and rainy this whole week here. If we get a nice warm day I'll see about taking him out. I've been trying to be as non-invasive with him right now and not stress him out by handling him so much.
He has been in the same spot all day. I got him to eat five disabled crickets though today and he drank some from a dropper today. His carpet is dusty with calcium dust, so please look past that in my picture.
His surface temp at basking spot is 101 and at cool side is 81. Is that good or do I need a hotter spotlight?
 

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KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
It's cold and rainy this whole week here. If we get a nice warm day I'll see about taking him out. I've been trying to be as non-invasive with him right now and not stress him out by handling him so much.
He has been in the same spot all day. I got him to eat five disabled crickets though today and he drank some from a dropper today. His carpet is dusty with calcium dust, so please look past that in my picture.
His surface temp at basking spot is 101 and at cool side is 81. Is that good or do I need a hotter spotlight?
I see your screen is a wide whole type please get the bulbs / bulb I posted --- your UVB will be able to go on top but you must have the distance 8-10 inches w/ the basking decor directly under it---- you need a digital probe thermometer to get accurate surface basking temps of 105-110--- I see hes on the floor of the tank -- hes eating that is good news -- when they stop eating that not so good ---
 

87amanda

Member
Original Poster
I see your screen is a wide whole type please get the bulbs / bulb I posted --- your UVB will be able to go on top but you must have the distance 8-10 inches w/ the basking decor directly under it---- you need a digital probe thermometer to get accurate surface basking temps of 105-110--- I see hes on the floor of the tank -- hes eating that is good news -- when they stop eating that not so good ---
I got the Reptisun 10.0 T 5 bulb to put in the fixture instead of the one that came with it. I have a higher basking spot, but I took it out when he started acting sick so that he wouldn't try to get on it and fall off. I got two digital probe thermometers to put on each side of the tank.
I set up the uvb today to where it's right over where he has decided to rest. Should I move him to the basking rock?
 

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KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
I got the Reptisun 10.0 T 5 bulb to put in the fixture instead of the one that came with it. I have a higher basking spot, but I took it out when he started acting sick so that he wouldn't try to get on it and fall off. I got two digital probe thermometers to put on each side of the tank.
I set up the uvb today to where it's right over where he has decided to rest. Should I move him to the basking rock?
Get a surface basking temp w/ the probe place on the spot where sits for basking 10 min or so get temp- those temps and uvb are the most important things in the tank-- you need that uvb distance correct- if you need to unobstruct the uvb no screen that would make distance 12-15 inches but he needs this on par
 
Last edited:

Drache613

BD.org Sicko
Staff member
Moderator
Hello,

How is he doing today? He appears a bit more alert if that is him in the picture above.
Has he eaten anything?
As Karrie has suggested, placing the UVB light is very important so that he can get the
maximum UVB exposure that he needs.

Let us know how he is doing.
Tracie
 

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