New Owner/Dragon Tremors

[tyryce]

I am very frustrated! My bulb has not come in yet. As far as I know it hasn't come thru customs yet...you see once it comes in I have to change the shipping address for it to be left with someone else because we are leaving for Christmas holidays tomorrow.

I found someone to look after my dragon while we are away. He is a dragon owner as well and had to treat his dragon for MBD when he got it at one year of age. I'll be taking his entire set up over there tonight...I am nervous about leaving him with someone because I have been trying so hard in caring or him.

I haven't seen any changes yet but I imagine I would see an improvement once I get the other bulb. Anyway he has been on Calcium with D3 since Dec 14th and I change his bulb to the Repti-Sun 5% last thursday (Dec 18th). He is not lethargic, he is alert and he poops 1-2 times a day. I have noticed though that sometimes his poop is a mushy mass...and this morning it was runny but the colour is normal. Is this diarrea? If so what could it be from? Also I notice that he doesn't always sit in his basking spot where he can get his UVB but sits lower on the basking log where it is cooler. Why would he do this?

I do know that he seems to have some better days than others because some days he appears quite content and his coluring looks good. Some days like today he seems grumpy..his got faded stress markings on his beard. These markings don't last all day and not everday though is this normal?

Anyway...he still is growing and shedding but doesn't drink when he bathes. He doesn't like to take water from a dropper either so instead in the mornings I dip his pheonix worms in water so he gets some droplets that way.

Also he still doesn't seem interested to get back on eating greens. I put piles of greens on his basking area for easier access...not sure if he is nibbling or not.

Anyway are there any more last minute suggestions. I'll keep checking my posts while away.


Have a Merry Christmas!

 

[tyryce]

My dragon had another siezure tonight. I moved his entire set up over to the sitters tonight (we are leaving for Christmas holidays tomorrow). The gut that is watching him took him out of the transport tank I had him in and moved him into his enclosure. He just clung to his hand and I knew he was going to seizure. It started with tremors in the back legs then his arms twitched and he threw his head back...he also opened his mouth and his tongue started to come out. During all of this I supported the back of his head so he would not fall.

The guy I'm leaving him with said he has never seen that before with his dragon that had MBD when he got him. He also said that my dragon looks good except for the seizure incident. I'm glad it happened while I was there so he could see what has been happening with the poor little guy.

Anyway I searched some of the topics on this site and found a lady that posted about her dragon having seizures as well after using a Repti-glo 10% bulb from about June. She posted on November 20th. I went over posts. I was just wondering if she was able to correct this problem once getting the Repti-sun 10% bulb. Also I read that she was using liquid calcium. Should I be trying to use liquid calcium rather than just the powdered calcium supplement? How is her dragon doing now?

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I hope your bulb comes soon for you!
Yes, I think you should try using some liquid calcium for now, it does absorb more quickly. Remember, using the Reptiglo 10 for awhile allowed his body to become hypocalcemic which was a long term process. So, he will take awhile to become in the positive for his calcium stores. It takes time. His body is unable to control the muscular contractions & seizes due to the positive & negative ions that are made up in the muscular channels for calcium which is mostly responsible for muscular contractions, along with sodium & potassium.
I really think that as soon as you get the stronger bulb & start using the liquid calcium you should see a tremendous difference in him.
How long has he been under the Reptiglo 10 light?
Do you mind if your case is documented by me? I help Frances Baines with documented cases to build up information regarding lighting, etc for reports to the companies. She performs UVB meter testing for lights out of the UK. If so, just PM me with all of the information, so I can jot it all down. Thanks.
As far as the woman who had the dragon with seizures, I am pretty sure that it has begun recovering now.

Tracie

 

[tyryce]

Yes finally my bulb arrived at my Dads on the 23rd and he took it over to the guy looking after my dragon. I will be calling him tomorrow to see how things are going. While Im out here I will pick up some liquid calcium supplement. Any suggestions on brands and how to give it...I know you can get it in a spray form for smaller reptiles and I will probably be limited to my choices.

Another question I had about lighting is that the Reptisun 10% bulb i believe has a certain percentage of UVA as well (i think it is 30%). For heat i am using the Exoterra Sun glo bulb 100W which also provides UVA. Do I need this additional bulb for UVA as well. If not should I just use a ceramic heat emitter for heat or do I still need this bulb to get a broader spectrum of light.

As far as information about my dragon that you need I will be glad to help out. In the first week to week and a half (he was two weeks old when I got him) I used the bulb that my Turtles have...I checked the bulb it is a Zoomed reptisun 5%. This would have been in the second week of October. I then used the Repti-glo 10% 36 inch lamp when I got his new set up which was in the last week of October. He used this bulb up until Dec 17th which I switched out with a Reptisun 5% until I got the Reptisun 10%. I got the Reptisun 10% on the 23rd and I assume the guy made the switch since we had discussed it before I left. I started to notice trembling in the backlegs in November. it was probably more noticable at this time. I saw his first seizure in the second week of November. I want to add that I know he was not getting enough calcium in his diet prior to this. I had been periodically giving him a multivitamin and had thought this was all that was needed.

If there any other questions you have give me a shout.

 

[akingsley9000]

Hi,

You do still need a basking lamp. Beardies thrive on bright white light. In the future, you can use an ordinary household bulb for basking but the bulb you have is fine to use.

 

[qhgirl1]

I just wanted to comment some on the food since no one else has and I'll say first and foremost I'm not an expert, just repeating what I've learned. Because of your beardie's age, he probably isn't going to eat veggies very much. They don't start eating those a lot until they reach adulthood. I'm going to guess that he could also eat more than 20 crickets a day. Most people recommend feeding live feeders 3 times a day and give them as much as they'll eat in a 10-15 minute time period. Some young beardies can eat 100 crickets a day. I *believe* a baby's diet should consist of 70% live feeders and 30% veggies. Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[tyryce]

Yes I notice that my dragon is heavy on the feeders. He is now eating 40-50crickets over two meals a day plus 7-8 pheonix worms.I imagine this will increase by the time I come back because his food intake increases weekly. I still put a salad out for him everyday because I want him use to the veggies. I have caught him (when he doesnèt notice me watching) nibbling on veggies occasionally ...Im going to guess that he nibbles on them a couple of times a week and when he does it is only a couple of pieces.

Thanks for the reply...I have also been told that babies will be heavy on feeders but I hope that I can gradually get him into eating more greens and veg as he gets older.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

How are things going? Yes, babies will eat 70-80% protein with the remainder being greens. Some babies will eat greens while others just will not. They are all different. Usually at around 7 or so months, maybe 8, they will start to eat more greens & veggies.
Use the Sun Glo in conjunction with the Reptisun 10 yes, & make sure the basking light is directly beside the UVB light. IF you need nighttime heating, then you can use the ceramic heat emitter since it does not emit light.
The calcium is needed 5 times per week, as well. Keep us posted on him. I hope he is feeling better.


Tracie

 

[tyryce]

Hello there,
I am back from holidays and picked up Flick yesterday from the sitters. I do not think he has improved but he has been using his new Reptisun bulb for only about 1 week.

I will be able o monitor his condition now. Second thing...I picked up some liquid calcium in town today but it is for human consumption. It is liquid calcium sugar free (blueberry flavouredis the best I could do)with Vitamin D (Calcium 1000mg/Vitamin D 400IU). Is it possible for me to use this because they were out in the pet store in Regina on my way back home. The bottle has this for the ingredients: Each 30ml (2 tablespoons) contains Calcium (Tricalcium Phosphate and calcium Citrate) 1000mg, Phosphorous (Tricalcium phosphate)200mg, Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol) 10mcg (400IU).

If I can give it to him how best to do this and how much???? I have a small syringe (plunger) that holds 1cc. He usually does not take from this to well but this is probably the only option since he does not drink from a water dish much either.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

So, the liquid calcium has D3 in it. Ok. We will need to be very careful as liquid D3 can be overdosed pretty easily. What is his weight? However, it has phosphorus in it so I don't think that is really a good idea seeing as he has metabolic bone disease. That can inhibit calcium absorption. I recommend just a straight liquid calcium with NO D3 or phosphorus in it.
So you don't think he has improved much yet? Hopefully he will soon with being underneath the Reptisun 10 flourescent tube bulb.

Tracie

 

[tyryce]

Do you have any suggestions for a brand of liquid calcium that might be available. I know that the ones available at the pharmacy are a liquid calcium and Vitamin D (and probably all have phosphate in them as well).

Will the phosphate still be a problem even thought the ratio of the calcium content is much higher? Looks as though this may be another item I may have to order off the net. Any suggestions?

Or...I do have The Rep-cal with no phosphate and D3 (I have both types of calcium supplements) in powder form. Is it possible to make a solution of this with water? I could try it tomorrow. I forgot to weigh him today so I will give you his weight tomorrow.

As far as improvements, its hard to tell. When I brought him home yesterday and put him in his tank he did not seizure but his back legs were extended and over his tail. It took him a few moments before he was able to get them going. His back legs do not seem very strong and I know his front legs must be soft because sometimes he sits with his hands tucked beneath him. But yesterday and today I did not observe a seizure. He is still eating well but I still feed him from the tongs because he does not seem to want to run around a whole lot.

 

[tyryce]

Hello there,

I finally got some liquid calcium without phosphate but I need help because I need to know if I can use it, how much and how best to give it to him. I hope this is gonna work because I think he is getting worse.

The product is called Nano partical Liquid ionic Magical (Highest Absorption Possible).
I got it at a health food store and the serving size is 2 tablespoons (30ml) or 1 oz.

Amount per serving
Calcium Gluconate 1400mg
Magnesium Ascorbate 350mg
Ascorbic Acid 125mg

Specific ingredients includes: Steamed ditilled Water, Calcium Gluconate/Ascorbate, Calcium Ascorbate, Magnesium Ascorbate, Ascorbic acid, trace minerals from apples with tannins removed from apples, real lime juice, raspberryflavoring and trace quantities of Colloidal Silver Solution. (That last one made me wince).

My mother picked this up today for me and I want to make sure I can use this first because it cost 36.00 bucks and I can't return after it has been opened.

I weighed Flick 2 days ago and he was 42.3 grams. He may be a couple more grams today. He is now unable to use his back legs. Please help!

 

[Drache613]

Hello Danielle,

How many milligrams does each milliliter of the liquid calcium have? Does it say? If you can find that out for me, I can dose it for you. The ingredients look fine to me, no problem.
Actually the colloidal silver is really good for her too.
However, I am not sure that it has enough calcium in it but you can try. Try to look over the label to see if it has more specifics on the amounts.
So he cannot use his back legs at all now?
How close is the Reptisun 10 flourescent tube bulb to him?
How is his appetite doing?

Tracie