Red foot

[clbauman7]

Goliath is nearing 2 years old now. Probably a year and 22 months? Not completely sure
We are using rep-cal calcium and vitamins. Calcium daily and vitamins 3-4 times a week. This does pose a question. He doesn't like salad much. He really likes super worms, and I know that he is supposed to really start easting salad now and less protein, but I don't know how to get him too. I have cut him back to 5 super worms a day. Some days he will eat his salad and others he will not. I have found he will eat it if I don't give him worms for a day or two. But then I feel bad because he will wait a day or even two before he eats his salad. Any thoughts?
His basking spot has a reptisun 10.0 (changed every 6 months) and a 75 watt zoo med basking spot lamp. Temp is about 103.
Inside his hide is his cool spot. It is about 78 degrees. The other side of his cage is around 85 degrees and simply has a flood light. Using a digital probe thermometer.
He isn't showing any signs of not feeling well. He is alert and happy. Eating fine. Wanders around when he is out of his viv.
Thanks again!

 

[Drache613]

Hello Julie,

Sorry your hubby has the flu. I hope he gets better soon.
The digital probe should be fine in measuring those temperatures. Where is it placed, directly underneath of the basking light where he basks most often? If so, that is good & the temperatures should be optimal. You could "safely" increase the basking temperatures to where it is a range of 95-110 so he can pick where he wants to bask. The younger dragons tend to like the basking temperatures warmer than adults. I believe it is due to their higher metabolism & requirements for digestion.
The cooler end of the tank should run around 78-82 for proper thermoregulation, with the hot end of the tank where the majority of heat is.
I think that moving the Reptisun 10 tube bulb closer to him is going to help him. Do you have a screen in between him & the UVB light? If so, remember that screen will filter out roughly 30% of the UVB to him. Where exactly is the tube bulb placed, is it alongside of the basking light on one end of the tank?
Since he has not been receiving adequate UVB due to the distance of the UVB light, he most likely has a calcium to phosphorus imbalance. What happens when they begin "showing" signs of early metabolic bone disease, these symptoms are an early window of opportunity to reverse any bone damage before it happens. The swelling is most likely due to the imbalance of the calcium & phosphorus. His levels are probably out of balance because when they are not exposed to enough UVB they cannot absorb their calcium or other vitamins properly. The calcium will end up being excreted & possibly just being deposited in other unfavorable areas instead of being absorbed into the bones. This can cause bloating because his digestive processes and metabolism is not optimal right now.
Correcting the lighting should fix his levels relatively easily. If the swelling & the discoloration does not disappear within a couple of weeks, I would get a blood test on him to see what his levels are.
At 2 years or so, you can safely cut the calcium down to 3 times per week & vitamins 1 time per week. We usually recommend only around 40-50 feeders weekly on average, for adults, with the majority being made of greens & vegetation if possible. I realize that some just don't eat their greens & veggies. So, you can use baby food to help supplement that portion of his diet, if you would like to. He might get spoiled though!
Keep offering his greens & veggies, & eventually he will realize that they are edible!
Let us know how he is doing.
Tracie

 

[clbauman7]

Thank you. My husband is feeling a little better, but not well enough to get out of bed yet. I'm sure he will be fine by tomorrow.
LOL I have plenty of baby food around. Might have to give that a try.
No screen. His uv is directly over his basking spot, where he spends the largest majority of his time.
Thanks for the details. I am not the type of person who can just accept an answer. I need to know who, what, when, where, why, and how.

 

[Drache613]

Hello Julie,

That is not a problem, that's why we are here. I am huge on details, too.
That is good your UVB is not being filtered through a screen, so moving it closer should make a big difference pretty soon. Please keep us posted on the swelling, & how much it is going down. The baby food might help him out too, along with spoiling him also.
Great your hubby is feeling a little bit better now.

Talk to you soon.
Tracie

 

[clbauman7]

I have been keeping an eye on Goliath's foot/leg and I even though I was looking at his right leg I thought I was looking at the wrong one. It looks so good. Almost back to normal. The red spot is nearly gone.
Thank you so much everyone for all the help. He seems to like the babyfood, but since he is getting ready to brumate he isn't to excited about it. I suspect when brumation has past he will.
Thanks again!