Twitching!

[ctln]

Hello, I have a male bearded dragon roughly a year old now. He has always been very healthy and active. He eats kingworms and bok choy mostly, with rep-cal with vitD3 dusted on one meal a day. He poops daily and overall just comes off a very healthy bearded dragon. I noticed recently that in the evenings when he's sleepy and I have him on me, his head tends to twitch. I'm not sure if this is happening any other time but I noticed it for the last couple days. When i search up on beardie twitching, most results i get lead to seizures or MBD. Does anyone know if his head twitching is normal or if there is something I should do to help him??
He lives in a 40 gallon tank with a basking temp of 90-112 F and humidity usually ranges from 12-26% during the day. We often take him out of his cage though and hold him with us or have him basking by the open windows when the sun hits (there is a screen so he gets fresh air but can't leave hehe)
Any help or suggestions would be appreciated!!

 

[KarrieRee]

You mentioned NO UVB -- he needs a UVB and if is head is twitching then yes it is a sign of MBD or other issues --- filtered sun thru windows is not enough --- take him out side for now to get good UVB - let him sit on you for as long as you can stand the heat -- 15 minutes of direct sun will equal out to around 4 hrs of UVB --- you need a 24" fixture w/ reflector https://www.reptilesupplyco.com/wholesale-reptile-hoods-domes-fixtures/1884-reptisun-terrarium-hood-t5-24-zoo-med.html and a Reptisun 10.0 T 5 bulb -- this one comes w/ a 5.0 but it can be used as a back up--- if your using a coil for a UVB get rid of it --- they are inadequate!
Karrie

 

[ctln]

Hi, thanks for the reply! Sorry, I knew I missed something!! He does have a UVB light! He has the Reptisun 10.0 UVB T5 HO high output 24W. He's normally under this from at least 7am-9pm with the occassional hour or so that we take him out to run around, bask by the window, or hang out with us.

 

[KarrieRee]

Ok and where is it? On top of screen or inside the tank and how old is it? Are you giving any supplements?
Karrie

 

[ctln]

it's on top of the screen and i got it roughly 2 months ago. prior to that he did have a coil UVB.
the only supplement i've been giving him is rep-cal with vitamin D3 on one of his meals a day

 

[KarrieRee]

How long was he under the coil? And basking decor should be 8-10 inches directly under the uvb-- to be honest given the issues I would move that UVB inside the tank and distance should be 12-15 inches-- I am guessing this is stemming from the coil . If you need ideas on how to hang let me know I can post some for you
Karrie

 

[ctln]

we were unfortunately using the coil uvb for the first 5 months we had him currently his basking hammock on the left side and his cave on the cool side are 11 and 12 inches under the reptisun 10.0, is that okay?

 

[KarrieRee]

I would get it inside the tank --- 11-12 is too far for on top --- get it inside the tank approx 12-15 inches -- here are some ideas of how to hang it - its going to do him better and ward off MBD getting worse
3 M command Velcro fasteners- picture hanging wire – long plastic zip ties-- fishing line-- shoe laces-- potted plant wire hangers--
You can get him outside for some good UVB too --- sitting on you for as long as you can stand the heat --- or in a plastic tote NO glass for 15 minutes direct sun/ partial shade NO longer in the tote you dont want to burn him up-- watch him as well --
Karrie