Hi there....that is a classic sign of calcium deficiency. It means that he is not absorbing enough calcium....what type + exact brand of lights do you have ? If you're not sure, post pics of the bulbs themselves. If they are not the right kind [ pet stores sell many of the wrong kinds ] or if they are not close enough for him to benefit, then he will not get any UVB and can not absorb any calcium. Also, do you use a calcium supplement ? If so how often + how much does he get, and what is his diet like ? Fortunately this can usually be reversed pretty quickly with the proper lights + calcium suplements. He's a very pretty leatherback BTW !
When I first brought him home he ate like three or four crickets but I haven't used any calcium yet on the bugs. I sprinkle it on the greens just now. I gave him two superworms yesterday because he wasn't eating the crickets (I crushed the worms heads to be safe). My friend that's a herpetologist said to bath him in warm water to see if he poops and he did. The shaking stopped for a while but started back again but not as bad.
He is in a twenty gallon with greens, water, a little cave and a big thing to climb on.
Can you unscrew the bulb and read the brand written on it ? It's important to know what it is . And do not feed him superworms, unless they are the very small [ 1/2 -3/4 inch at most ] Even with the head pinched off he is way too small to digest regular size superworms. If he poo'd, that's good....shows that he's prob. not impacted. Impaction + calcium problems can pop up at the same time.
Right now he is acting like he is trying to throw up! I feel horrible! Was it the worms? I can't go anywhere because there is ice on the roads, the closest herp vet that I know of is almost an hour away x.x I'm in freak out mode
It's O.K if he has to throw up....it was the superworms that did it, but if he throws them up he'll recupe after a day or two. If this is a calcium deficiency,it is something that started before you got him, not your fault and it's probably not serious yet, you just need to correct a few things. Now you say it's a Zoo med, one more thing ....does it say Powersun anywhere on it ? Because if it says Powersun, then it is a mercury vapor bulb which DOES provide UVB. If so, did you buy it new or did it come with the beardie. If it does NOT say Powersun, then it's not providing UVB , just heat. In that case you need to get either a mercury vapor bulb ASAP or a long tube Reptisun 10.0 [ not compact or coil bulb ! ] This is essential to do immediately. I edited, realize you don't live in a warm state...I was writing as you posted.
That looks like it's just a basking light. You need a UVB light as well, and it should be a tube light, not coil. He can't absorb the calcium without it. The best light you can get is the Reptisun 10.0 T5.
He might be trying to throw up because the worms you're giving him are too big.
Please look closely at the neck of the bulb....do you see the word Powersun on it ? It should say " Zoo med, 100 watt/120 volt and also have " Powersun" on it. That is what my Powersun mercury vapor bulbs are like.
If your beardie does throw up, just let him rest, then offer water with a dropper or syringe, or a light stream dripping from a spray bottle gently on his snout to give him a drink. If you don't have any of those , get a paper towel soaked with water and let it drip on his snout. You can also try a warm bath, but only if he is not so lethargic that he won't hold up his head. And if he throws up, he will probably not eat for a day or two....that's normal.
Did he throw up ? He may not drink now, but about an hour or so after he throws up you can try. As for the bulb, since it says it produces UVB, then it must be a mercury vapor bulb, but I'm not sure since it doesn't have the name on it. Do you know what you paid for it ? A Powersun or any mercury vapor bulb is generally at least $60 -$70 at a pet store, and about $50 ordered from an online company.