baby beardie walking weird and shaking head

[adhdreptilenerd]

I have a baby bearded dragon that is around 3-4 months old. He has been walking strange for a while now but I just noticed it getting pretty bad recently. He also turns weird and commonly falls over and he doesn’t move a lot. He- Poe- walks sort of like he’s just dragging himself across the ground, like army crawling almost. Poe’s leg will stick out weirdly sometimes and he doesn't really seem to care about what position I put him in, or he just can’t do anything about it. He also spends most of his day in one place and won’t even run around to chase food, I’ll have to hand it to him to place it in front of him and hope he gets it before it doesn’t run away. He has a very hard time climbing and he almost always falls off his stick I have for him, though that might just be because it’s too small for him so I have gotten him a new branch. He just started doing this today but he has been shaking his head as if he would be saying no but he’s never done it before and he did it when turning and when I was feeding him.
He has a ReptiSun UVB 10.0 light as well as a heat lamp. Just today I got him a more intense light because his hottest spot was only 90 degrees Fahrenheit. He also has a bump on his spine and tail that I am super concerned about as well. A few of his toes are also bumpy, I have looked to see if it’s suck shed but I have given him baths and rubbed at it and I don’t think it’s stuck shed but it always could be.
I feed him dubia roaches as his protein but I ran out so I’ve given him crickets for now. His eating has been iffy recently but he is eating again and I think it might have just been brumation. He also has a weird white spot in his ear and I don’t know what it is.
I’ve had him for 3 months now and he’s only shed his whole body once but he’s grown a lot so I don’t know what that’s about.
The main thing I’m worried about right now for him is the bump on his spine and his strange crawl-walking. He also has reddish poop and doesn’t poop often while he used to almost everyday.
If anyone has any ideas of what it could be please let me know, I’m super worried about him and I really want to take him to the vet but I’ve heard bad things about taking reptiles to vets and my mom doesn’t want to since she things it’s too expensive but I’m sure I would be able to convince her if it was something serious.

 

[KarrieRee]

ReptiSun UVB 10.0 light is a coil or tube???? Please post pics of tank and lighting ASAP-- it sounds like severe MBD -- https://www.beardeddragon.org/useruploads/ click on XIMG at top of message box then click on the pic and it should post - please post pic of him as well
Karrie

 

[adhdreptilenerd]

I’m not sure if it’s a tube or coil, sorry about the late response here are some pictures.

 

[KarrieRee]

Ok so the first thing you need to do is get rid of that coil UVB -- they are bad and you need to get this --- this will help w/ the eating but mostly its gonna help w/ his walking and shaking of the head - he is calcium deficient I am thinking --- please go get this ASAP- Petco or Petsmart beware it will be spendy but it is for the health of your dragon -
Which UVB light should I use?
The best UVB light is a ReptiSun 10.0 fluorescent tube HO (Or Arcardia 12% in the UK). Compact or coil bulbs do not emit the proper amount of UVB light for a bearded dragon, and should not be used. Other brands, such as the Zilla Desert Series and ReptiGlo have been known to cause eye problems and other health issues with bearded dragons, and should be avoided. The reason that some UVB lights (Zilla, ReptiGlo, coils/compacts, ect.) are considered dangerous is because the wavelength of UVB that they emit is shorter and more intense than the wavelength of the "safe" lights (ReptiSun, Arcadia). UVB lights should be replaced every 6 months. The T5’s are a strong bulb and only need to be replaced once a year – the T 8 every 6 months--- where as the T 8 are not as strong—they need to be placed inside the tank the T 5 10.0 bulb approx 12-15 inches inside the tank from basking spot – the T 8 approx 6-8 inches from basking spot inside the tank —the cover needs to be off the bulb for full effect of the UVB rays-- the tube looks like this --
https://s7d2.scene7.com/is/image/PetSmart/5123303-- you will need get to a fixture -- if your tank is a 40 gallon I would get the 22" or 24" fixture if they have them --- but your dragon needs good UVB at this point and these are the best on the market at this time --- do you have other ways of taking basking temps besides what I see on the back wall of tank ? If not please get this at Petco or Petsmart a digital probe thermometer they look like this https://s7d2.scene7.com/is/image/PetSmart/5176729

- You also can get a infrared heat gun from your local home improvement store for around $10-12 - this is a good investment as well --- your dragon cannot digest his food w/ out proper basking temps of which they should be around 105-110 for him nor can he absorb the calcium he needs as well w/ out proper UVB - he is very sick w/ out this proper lighting -- https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61bJhmqXU-L._SL1500_.jpg-- they look like this and it does not need to be an expensive one-- but you need that digital now for sure -- please get your lighting in order ASAP--- and let us know how its going when you get it -- if you need help please ask --- make sure the UVB goes into the tank unless you get a T 5 bulb - it will say on the box if its a T 5 or a T 8 but most of the Petcos and Petsmarts sell the T 8's
Karrie

 

[adhdreptilenerd]

Thank you so much, I will get on this right now. I have been so worried about him and this was super helpful, I’ll keep you updated on his progress.

 

[adhdreptilenerd]

It’s his fourth day of having the light and Ive already seen amazing improvement from him. He’s more active and much stronger, now he’s able to hold himself up. I cannot believe it’s worked so quickly, he’s eating again now and seems much happier.

 

[KarrieRee]

What bulb did you get and where in tank is it? I am so glad he bounced back so quickly-- ---
Karrie

 

[adhdreptilenerd]

I got the ReptiSun 10.0 UVB T8, it’s 17 watts and 24 inches long. I looked for the T-5 but it wasn’t at my local petsmart. I rearranged his tank a bit to make sure the temps were good. The light is about 8 inches from his basking spot.

 

[CooperDragon]

With the T8, you may want to try and set it up inside the mesh top using wires or maybe cut or remove the screen under the bulb so it doesn't intercept the UVB and lower the output. A T8 is best at about 6-8'' above the basking area when at full strength.

 

[KarrieRee]

Ok so is it on top of screen? If so it needs to be inside the tank or take the screen off - the screen is blocking 30% of those rays --- also if there is a cover over the bulb take it off -- you want the bulb exposed and 6-8 inches from basking spot
Karrie

 

[adhdreptilenerd]

I’m currently working on putting it inside the tank, I have already taken the cover off the bulb. Thank you again for all your help!