URGENT! HELP! 2 Yr Old Male Beardie Right Front Leg Limp

[SephyrasMom]

My 2 year old male beardie started.acting strange yesterday. A bit listless, belly dragging. Thought he needed to poop. Today he has a severe limp and can't put weight on his right front arm. I gently moved it and he didn't react. Seemed like a limp limb. He had a big poop and tried to run on floor but can't. He ate normally. Is black-bearding on and off. He eats mealworms and waxworms, about 10-12 a day. He won't eat crickets. He prefers to be hand-fed ans given water by syringe. He also has fresh greens and other veggies every day dusted with multi-vitamin powder and calcium with D3. He is on a 40 gallon terrarium with stone repti-carpet. He has the long UV T5 light, a heat lamp with 150 watt bulb in basking spot, and a red 100 watt lamp in the middle. Warm side is 96-100 degrees and the cool side is 80-83 degrees. He is misted several times a day. Help please!

 

[AHBD]

Hi there....is there any swelling at all ? If not it may be just a sprain. Maybe he jumped off something in his tank and just landed on it wrong, especially if he's on tile which is very practical and popular but also unnatural for flooring. If it's not swollen you might see how it does in the next few days but if it gets worse then an X-ray would tell you if there's something more serious.

By the way, how are you measuring the temps. ? 250 watts seems to be pretty much for a 40 G tank.

 

[SephyrasMom]

It doesn't appear to be swollen. I have digital stick-on thermometers, one on each side. I have had them for over a year, so its possible they have lost accuracy. I mist him many times a day so that might make a difference, too. I agree it should not need that much wattage, been bugging me for awhile as to why.

 

[AHBD]

The stick on thermometers can be off by about 20 degrees at times, plus they don't register what the temp. is directly below the basking area since they are on the wall. If the room that his tank is in is 70-75 F then I'm sure that a 150 will definitely heat that tank. You can place it about a foot from one end of the lid and get rid of the other light [ red lights aren't needed for reptiles, always go with a bright white light like a halogen, even from a home improvement store ]

And spraying him once a day is fine, it does aid in shedding but any more than that can raise humidity + lead to a respiratory infection. My dragons drink directly from a spray bottle [ a light stream directly on the snout ] once or twice a week.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Poor guy, it sounds like he strained his arm. If you are using one of the T5 tube bulbs, then he should be getting adequate UVB. Which brand are you using, the Reptisun or Arcadia?
How often do you give him calcium? Even with him being 2 years old, he still needs calcium a couple of days per week.
Definitely get either a digital probe or temp gun to measure the temperatures more accurately.

Let us know how he is doing.

Tracie

 

[SephyrasMom]

It's the ReptiSun bulb. I am going to get a couple.of new thermometers to see if the current readings are off. I put multi-vitamin and calcium on his veggies, free-fed daily. He doesn't always eat them, though. I am going to start dusting the mealworms also. He loves the misting, will "ask" for it every day. He crawled inside his log earlier, leg lengthwise against his body. He wants to move around but can't use that leg, poor guy! I am so worried, he is my "son" and we are very close. I pray it is better tomorrow.

 

[AHBD]

If it is just a sprain it may take a few days or a week, but it may be sooner or take longer. And I know some beardies enjoy being sprayed , mine do too but you just have to keep it to once a day in general so you don't raise the humidity too much. Of course, if you live in a VERY dry area you can get away with it twice a day.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I hope that he is doing better today! I know it's not fun when they are hurting or in pain & even harder when there isn't much we can do to help them. It will take a little bit of time to heal.
I am glad you have the Reptisun 10 tube bulb. So, as long as it is 6-8 inches from him without any plastic or screen in between him & the light he should be getting great exposure.
Which brand of vitamins does he get? He only needs vitamins once a week or so as long as he is eating well. The calcium, 3 times a week should be sufficient.
Keep us posted on him. Don't give too many mealies, try superworms or silkworms for a higher protein & less fat option. Though the supers are higher in fat than the silkworms, but a better choice than mealies.
How are the temperatures with a new digital probe?

Tracie