basking upside down?

[cmp7106]

Ok so i have a beardie who is probably about 4 months old. He has a curvature in his spine that the vet said is most likely from a fracture when he was shipped to the store. I work at the store I got him from and he has been in our observation area for a few weeks now and every once in a while we would find him on his back just laying there or curled into a weird ball. I brought him home yesterday and he was doing great he ate and was basking nicely on his log. I came to check on him and he was on his back on the log. He seemed to get mad at me for flipping him back over because he was puffing his beard at me. Is this normal?? I have a calcium supplement for him that the vet gave me.
his set up (currently small tank I know, I am getting a larger one ASAP!)
*10 gallon tank
* Reptisun UVB Lamp
* hot area is about 95 warm area about 80
* substrate is the reptile carpet
* i have read alot of info and I have given him kale, zuccini and carrots.

Any suggestions

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

No, being on their back is not normal. He likely was upset & that is why he huffed when you turned him over like that. They do not have diaphrams to assist with their breathing so they are not able to breathe well on their backs.
He has a vitamin deficienty or a calcium deficiency. Did the vet give liquid calcium for him then?
Is the Reptisun 10 tube bulb 6-8 inches from him mounted underneath of the screen in the tank?
Is he eating very well right now?
You could probably increase his basking temperatures just a little bit, to around 100. Do you use a digital probe or temp gun to measure his temperatures with?

Tracie

 

[cmp7106]

he was given a vitamin d injection yesterday. i am going to give him the supplement now. he wont eat any veggies or mealworms. he also looks like he is starting to shed.l

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

That is good he got a vitamin D injection that should help him out. You are using liquid calcium also?
Shedding is a great sign, I hope he is doing better soon.
Let us know if you have more questions & keep us posted on him.

Tracie

 

[cmp7106]

ok so he Norbert (bd) hasn't gone on his back since I posted this. he is not eating too much and barely moves around. when I pick him up he moves his head and looks at me but that's it. the only time he is moving in his tank is to get out of his basking area. he is still getting liquid calcium daily. his uvb light is also on for about 12+ hours a day. I did soak him this morning for a few minutes. but it didn't liven him up at all. any suggestions?

 

[AMHaak]

I would try to force feed him some baby food with a syring. I usually buy the organic green beans. Just drip a little on the tip of the beardies nose and he should lick it up. Because of not eating much this maybe why he is so weak. Hope this helps. Please keep us posted.