beardie cant move arm and hand swollen

[Beardedishe]

Earlier today I have noticed that my 5 mo old beardie was limping. Maddie seems to be moving her arm from the shoulder to the elbow, but nothing after that. In the pit of her arm in front of her elbow, it looks red. Her wrist looks fine but her hand looks swollen and some of her fingers are twisted. This is the first I noticed of this but for the last few day I did see her down on the grown rather than up in the leaves where she normally resides. So this could have happend a couple of days ago. She does not seem to be in much pain, she gets around just fine limping, eats very well, and very active.

I bought two Bearded Dragons back in July of this year. This is my first time owning a Beardie so please forgive me if I am doing something wrong. I do have both of them in the same tank. They have always seemed to get along just fine. I am concerned if the other beardie (Fattie) has done something to her. Yesterday I did find it wierd that she was laying flat on the edge of a bowl against the glass and he stood straight up on top of her against the glass sleeping. I understand it could be the dominence thing but they both often lay on top of eachother and lay next to eachother a lot with just one hand on the other or just resting thier head. One time I seperated them for a little bit just playing and the Fattie was freaking out to get back in the cage and he went in and layed right next to Maddie. So it seems like they get along. I could be wrong though. I am new.

I did buy a kit made just for Bearded Dragons. I am not for sure what the name was but I am learning more and more that even though they say they are made for Beardies, they may still be bad for them. I am going to do a overhaul this week on their tank replacing with all the suggestions in the forums I have read. I knowlege was previously based on the Pet-Smart employees, which I am learning that they didn't know much.

Their diet is about 20 small crickets each a day. They get rehidrated fruits mixes and veggie/bug mixes which says is formulated for Beardies. I also dust the crickets with that calcium powder. They also have pellets in a dish throughout the day. Treats are grasshoppers and fruit.

They have a basking light that comes in a kit and a red bulb light which i keep on at night which also came in a kit. Like I said, looking to replace soon.

They both have been defecating regularly and seem to be eating just fine.

I provided some pictures just in case somebody can reconize what it is that is happening.

 

[jeritta]

Hi welcome to the site :wave:

First I would like to say that you need to separate them as soon as possible. The behaviors that you have been seeing that you thought were cute are really dominance issues. More than likely this issue with the hand on your dragon is a bite or a defensive wound. Look and see if you see any open wounds on your dragon. If you do clean them with a diluted iodine solution (looks like weak tea ).

If you leave them together the issues will escalate if the fighting doesn't worsen then it will lead to early mating. For your male this is not really an issue but for your female this can cause serious health issues. She will not be ready to breed until she is not around 18 months old safely.

Also they seem a little small for that age. But all dragons grow at different rates. 20 crix is not nearly enough. They should be eating all they can eat each in 10 minutes 2-3 times a day. With a salad given each day. you can go to www.beautifuldragons.com and look at the nutrition page for a list of foods you can use in your salads and for feedings.
Also do you mind going over your setup with us so we can help you with your babies?

What uvb do you have? brand? tube or coil?
do you have a basking light?
what are your temps? basking? cool side?
what are you checking temps with? digital or stick on or dial?
what type substrate? sand, tile, carpet or paper towel?
what are you feeding please be specific?
do you use calcium? if yes how often?
do you use vitamins? if yes how often?
what size tank do you have?
do you bathe your dragons? if so how often?

 

[HeatherSullivan]

The beardies need to be separated. More than likely she was bitten by the other dragon. If she isn't using it and it is red and swollen she need anti-biotics. You need to find a exotic vet and get her antibiotics, or she could die if the infection is bad enough and takes her over. Until then you could bathe her and get some sort of anti-septic flush to clean the wound as best you can. Or diluted iodine like the last post suggested.

Hope she gets better soon. Please don't keep the 2 beardies together because it will just excalate and get worse.

 

[Beardedishe]

What uvb do you have? brand? tube or coil?
do you have a basking light?
what are your temps? basking? cool side?
what are you checking temps with? digital or stick on or dial?
what type substrate? sand, tile, carpet or paper towel?
what are you feeding please be specific?
do you use calcium? if yes how often?
do you use vitamins? if yes how often?
what size tank do you have?
do you bathe your dragons? if so how often?

When I purchased the beardies, they told me to buy a All Living Things - Bearded Dragon Startup Kit. As I am looking at the kit, it doesn't specify what type of bulbs that are used. I have a ceramic lamp with a white bulb that says ALT2101 on the face of it. I use that for basking. Then there is another ceramic lamp that has a red bulb.

On the cool side of the tank, it consistantly at 80-85. Under the white light, it is around 105-110. Humidity stay at around 20%

The kit came with little round temperature dials and humitiy dial that sticks to the side glass.

I was using paper towel at first but now I am using news paper as a substrate.

They have been getting a few minutes worth of cricket feeding in the morning and in the evening. They also have the Flukers BD Pellets through the day. I also give grasshoppers as treats through the day and about one feeding of a fruit mix or veg/bug mix which is made for bearded dragons. They come in little packets and are dehydrated. I soak and serve.

I do use calcium. I mix it in with each batch of crickets I buy. I also feed the crickets Flukes calcium gutt loader. It is this yellow gel stuff.

The tank is a 20 gal tank (I believe)

I bathe the dragons about every other day. Sometimes every third day. They stay in about 10-15 min. I make sure the water is warm not hot and it is about neck deep at the deepest part. The male seems to love it. He swims back and forth. The female just sits and drinks.

I hope this information can help. I am putting together a list now to resolve all these isssues. The only reason I have the setup I have is because I trusted the employees at Petsmart to tell me what they need and how often. After reading these posts and the actual care, it is scary what they are telling people to do. Thanks again for any help.

 

[jeritta]

You are welcome for the help. We are all here to help and we just want to make sure you and your beardies are both happy.

On your lights:
Is one of them a long strip light (flouresent)? did it say repti Glo on the package or does it say it on the tube?
Right now the Repti Sun brand is the best on the market for making sure the dragons are getting the right amount of UVB to stay healthy.
Each of your dragons need their own tanks. They seem small for their age. That is probably due to the wrong info the petstore has given you. Everyone here will be happy to help you try and correct the situation and help you get your dragons healthy. They will both need to have
ReptiSUN 10.0 UVB tube (strip) light
basking light (You can use a household bulb)
substrate papertowels, tile, newspaper, repticarpet will all work
basking spot
basically they will each need their own complete set up. With the proper lights.

The petstore told you to use the red that. You do not need it. If you use it at night it will disturb sleep. If you need heat at night you can use a ceramic heat emiter.
Try going to www.beautifuldragons.com for info on food for feeding. It has a great list.

How is your baby's foot doing? have you tried cleaning it and soaking in the diluted iodine? Just don't let her drink it.

 

[Beardedishe]

She is doing good. She doesn't show any signs of being in pain. She seems to be eating very well and getting around but still no movement from the elbow down. I want to get the supplies I need after I take my wife to work to seperate them. Don't know if I can get from the store or not. I may have to order online. I don't have a long flouresent light. It did not say anything about the bulbs on the box. It is a semi-round bulb, kinda flat on the top.

What is weird is that she seams to be the dominent one today. She hopped on the grasshopper snacks and went to sleep so he couldn't get any.

I did not give her a iodine bath. I don't have any. I did call a vet though. They can see her in the morning. I am kind of in a hard place though. I know I shouldn't have pets if I can't afford them but I did'nt expect these costs before christmas. They want $55 just to see her, plus the services they provide. Which I can only imagine what thats going to be. I also want to get all the new equipment to seperate them. I am not going to be able to do both right now. Trying to figure something out.

 

[catUK]

Is it possible that you can put a divide up in the cage for the time being?

I know I shouldn't have pets if I can't afford them but I did'nt expect these costs before christmas.

I completely understand that so don't feel bad about it. Christmas is the worst time for any unexpected expenditure and im sure others will understand that too.

You really should have a long tube (UVB) light. Its a shame that some pet shop people give out the wrong advice! I think petmountain.com do the reptisun for a good price. I hope she's ok and the vet doesn't cost too much

 

[jeritta]

that's what I was gonna ask. Can you divide the tank for the time being? Where do you live? is it hot there? Can you take them outside safely for natural UVB light? That is better than the light you have.
www.petmountain.com has the best price around for the reptiSUN tube right now. Also they DID have a Christmas sale going on. I do not know if they still have it or not. Talk to your vet tomorrow. Tell them what happened with the petstore. Explain that you followed their advice and now it is Christmas and you want to know if you can work out a payment plan or other option. Most vets will work with you.

Is the swelling going down any in her arm? They really need to separate. Even if she is showing the dominance they WILL fight. There are WAY TOOOOOO many stories on here of injured, maimed or even killed dragons from not being separated because petstores said it was okay to keep them together.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Sorry that this has happened.
I think the best thing right now to help save some money is to divide the tank until you can afford another tank.
If you purchased an All Living Things bulb, it does not emit UVB. It is just an aquarium light, that's all. The best choice for a tube UVB light is the Reptisun 10 fluorescent tube bulb. You can purchase that online for around $20 or so, on petmountain.com

How is the swelling coming along? Do you have any antibiotic ointment right now? Try to keep the area as clean as possible with the diluted betadine wash daily, & antibiotic ointment 1-2 times per day as well.

Let us know how they are doing.

Tracie

 

[Beardedishe]

Well,

I have been babying my beardie for the last few days now. She is doing a lot better. I had made a tiny splint and did a light wrap around her hand and her arm then did a light wrap holding it to her body. I have been putting ointment regularly and keeping her clean. I sectioned off the tank so that they cant access each other but can both access the lamps. I did go buy a Reptisun 10.0 bulb and hood. This seems to be making a difference in how they are. I also added mango, collard greens, mustard greens and another kind of green to their diet. I increased their crickets to about 30-40 each a day. Learning to breed my own crickets now. Wow! expensive. I found a guy on craigslist with a very nice 55 gal setup with all the accessories. He is willing to trade my laptop for his whole setup. I'm pretty excited.

I unwrapped her arm and hand today. She has gained back 70% functionality and is back climbing again. They both seem to be a lot better with all the changes made. I want to thank everyone for their advice/support/concern.

Kevin

 

[catUK]

Sounds like you've done a great job. Glad things have improved!

 

[HeatherSullivan]

Wow Glad to hear she's doing better!

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

That is excellent news to hear that he is doing so much better now. Great job on getting things moved around for them and getting another light as well.
I hope he continues to improve for you. How is his appetite doing, 30-40 crickets is doing pretty good! Yes, breeding your own crickets will save you some money! If you want any tips, let me know.
It sounds like you have been busy shopping around for a tank. I am so glad that you found the 55 gallon, congratulations.

If you need anything just let us know.

Tracie

 

[jreed]

talking of crickets was wondering if you have looked into roaches they are way easy to breed don't smell and are great food source it does take a little time to get a colony going but once you do you will never have to buy live food again

 

[Beardedishe]

Never really thought thought about it. It dies sound like a good idea. The crickets do stink. I will try to find some information on them. Thank you.