I think our 7 month beardie may have a bit of calcium def.

[lissac67]

I tried my best to research and everything before we got him 5 weeks ago. We have the right UVB light, but it had a cover! I just took it off last night. The reptile shop gave us a coil UVB light. I read up on it and found out right away that wasn't good, so got the reptisun 10. SO now we have that AND the cover is off. His heat lamp is fine. He does NOT light calcium power, nor the drops I purchased. He will not eat anything with the powder on it. I have been doing pheonix worms but he doesn't eat more than maybe 20-25 medium ones once a day. I have offered them more, but he won't eat them more often. He doesn't love crickets. He does get pellets, lots of salad variety (going by the menu at beatifuldragons.com). SO he is being offered the right stuff. He doesn't eat as much as I think he should, and with the challenge of getting calcium in him, PLUS the fact the reptile store sold me the wrong light, I am wondering if he has been UVB deficient before we even got him. He is now 7 months old, and growing, is 14 inches long. So not too neglected. He is currently in a shed, but his skin is loose. I think he looks to skinny, but I offer so much food, worms, etc and he won't eat more than he wants. I am now realizing that the UVB light having a cover for the past 5 weeks could not have helped the situation. So I do think, while he doesn't seem totally sickly..I think he needs to eat more and get more calcium. I think I need to get a lot of calcium into him quick or we could have more problems down the road. The liquid I got is very bitter. I would not eat it if I was him, either. So I need some help figuring out what to do so I can avoid any more problems down the road. I have heard of feeding baby food for a bit to jump start them, and any ideas on what I can do about calcium??? He literally refuses the powder and bitter liquid. I tried to put the drops in his mouth and he fought so hard. then he would run from me, so I don't want that, either. Took me 2 days to calm him down so he liked us holding him again. Thanks for any ideas.

 

[doe222]

I have never done it nor do i have experience in the matter but i believe you are able to inject your staples with calcium? Or instead of trying to poweder your crickets, there is a calcium spray that i have used in the past and i sprayed the veggies with it. Another thing, pheonixworms contain alot of calcium and calcium supplements arent needed as much. Maybe give those a try. But the spray is what i would recomend giving a try first, its oderless/tasteless(lol yes i have tried it on accident) and its simple.

 

[carlisv]

I don't think reptiles have the same taste receptors mammals do, so I don't think they sense the bitter taste. It could just be the fact that it's new, and not necessarily the taste itself, that he's hesitant about. My Richard didn't like the calcium spray either at first, but now he drinks water with liquid calcium in it with no problem at all. And there are different formulations of calcium powder. There's a granulated kind that is not quite as coarse as sand but almost. Neither of mine like that kind, but they eat the finely ground calcium with no problem.

They only need a pinch, so maybe he's getting more than you think. Keep trying and I think he'll eventually get used to it.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Which calcium liquid did get him?
I am glad to hear you changed out your UVB light now, so that should help him out a lot.
How is his appetite doing, is he eating pretty well?

Tracie

 

[lissac67]

It was the zillo calcium and vitamin drops. It comes in a small bottle with a dropper from Petco. I did see the spray, but figured the dropper would be better if I did have to give it directly to him. His appetite seems pretty good for the most part. He has been downing a whole bowl of salad the last two days (dandelion greens, carrots, and cucumber yesterday) and is back to eating his beloved pellets. Last night he ate about 25 phoenix worms before he walked off and refused any more. So he seems to be getting a variety and simply stops eating when he has had enough. He just seems thin to me this week. Being only 7 months I figured he would be more filled out from that juvenile appetite they all sound like they have. The cover has been off the light for 2 days now. He is in a full body shed, it seems. His skin just seems saggy and loose on on his sides, like he has more room to grown into it. lol I can try to take a picture later. He isn't super active, but we do take him out a few times a day and he has baths everyday.