Bearded dragon trying to eat its front leg

[Janedog1391]

Hello everyone. I have two 6 month old beardies that were clutch mates. I barely separated them two days ago. Never had any issues with nipping or whatsoever but eventually they were gonna have to be separated. Now last night when I was watching tv I noticed my female Gretel seemed to have been choking, or so I thought. So I immediately went over to check thinking maybe one of her greens got stuck. Upon closer inspection she had her front left foot in her mouth also didn’t think much of it. Thought she was trying to get whatever she had lodged unstuck. Well I give it a minute before I see that she goes back to biting her foot! She was trying to eat her foot! Never ever has she done this before. Saw a little bit of blood but no swelling or anything. I’m a bit worried. Would this have anything to do with maybe stress from me separating them? For lighting I’m using the Zoo med T5 10.0 and basking I’m trying a ceramic emitter. I did also recently change from substrate to a liner instead because their poops and pee was just too smelly with sand.

 

[Sadie]

Hello everyone. I have two 6 month old beardies that were clutch mates. I barely separated them two days ago. Never had any issues with nipping or whatsoever but eventually they were gonna have to be separated. Now last night when I was watching tv I noticed my female Gretel seemed to have been choking, or so I thought. So I immediately went over to check thinking maybe one of her greens got stuck. Upon closer inspection she had her front left foot in her mouth also didn’t think much of it. Thought she was trying to get whatever she had lodged unstuck. Well I give it a minute before I see that she goes back to biting her foot! She was trying to eat her foot! Never ever has she done this before. Saw a little bit of blood but no swelling or anything. I’m a bit worried. Would this have anything to do with maybe stress from me separating them? For lighting I’m using the Zoo med T5 10.0 and basking I’m trying a ceramic emitter. I did also recently change from substrate to a liner instead because their poops and pee was just too smelly with sand.

Your dragon needs a clear solid bright white basking bulb - heat emitters do not give UVA she needs this- also the basking decor needs to be directly under the uvb 12-15 inches- you want a surface basking temp 95-100-- the trying to eat the foot is alarming - I need Tracie the vet tech on here to address this
@Drache613

 

[Janedog1391]

Your dragon needs a clear solid bright white basking bulb - heat emitters do not give UVA she needs this- also the basking decor needs to be directly under the uvb 12-15 inches- you want a surface basking temp 95-100-- the trying to eat the foot is alarming - I need Tracie the vet tech on here to address this
@Drache613

Oh ok I barely put that ceramic heater on there cuz I had it for them in stock for when winter comes but I will get the light basking bulb. And their temps are always good. They’re usually at 95/100 I check a few times throughout the day. I did have a rock in the other enclosure she would love to bask on and lay under the uvb. I have lots of those big rocks so I will be getting another one in there. They get reptivite, and calcium with D3 along with bee pollen 3 times out of the week. They’re well fed. Just never since I’ve had them has she ever done what she did last night so it worried me. I checked her foot and it seemed fine. I didn’t see no cuts, and her toes weren’t swollen. She is using her leg perfectly normal. So idk if maybe she’s stressed from the change and was even thinking if I should put her back in the other one and put her brother in the one she’s in.

 

[Sadie]

Oh ok I barely put that ceramic heater on there cuz I had it for them in stock for when winter comes but I will get the light basking bulb. And their temps are always good. They’re usually at 95/100 I check a few times throughout the day. I did have a rock in the other enclosure she would love to bask on and lay under the uvb. I have lots of those big rocks so I will be getting another one in there. They get reptivite, and calcium with D3 along with bee pollen 3 times out of the week. They’re well fed. Just never since I’ve had them has she ever done what she did last night so it worried me. I checked her foot and it seemed fine. I didn’t see no cuts, and her toes weren’t swollen. She is using her leg perfectly normal. So idk if maybe she’s stressed from the change and was even thinking if I should put her back in the other one and put her brother in the one she’s in.

No please keep them separate --oops your talking about the tanks- -- if over a year old and w/ the T5 D3 should only be given once a week the insects lightly dusted and the other two feeding regular calcium w/ no phosphorus -- since she was moved she is going thru relocation stress -- so give her time to adjust that is normal -- keep the basking decor the same if possible - dragons dont like change -- keep an eye on her and watch her behavior --

 

[Janedog1391]

No please keep them separate --oops your talking about the tanks- -- if over a year old and w/ the T5 D3 should only be given once a week the insects lightly dusted and the other two feeding regular calcium w/ no phosphorus -- since she was moved she is going thru relocation stress -- so give her time to adjust that is normal -- keep the basking decor the same if possible - dragons dont like change -- keep an eye on her and watch her behavior --

They are barely 6 months old and yes they’re in seperate tanks but was thinking to switch them and put her in the old enclosure and her brother in the one she’s in right now.

 

[Janedog1391]

No please keep them separate --oops your talking about the tanks- -- if over a year old and w/ the T5 D3 should only be given once a week the insects lightly dusted and the other two feeding regular calcium w/ no phosphorus -- since she was moved she is going thru relocation stress -- so give her time to adjust that is normal -- keep the basking decor the same if possible - dragons dont like change -- keep an eye on her and watch her behavior --

Also I just ordered her bulb for store pickup. Will get it tomorrow morning as I’m currently at work. I will put her rock she loved in her tank to see if that helps her adjust.

 

[Sadie]

They are barely 6 months old and yes they’re in seperate tanks but was thinking to switch them and put her in the old enclosure and her brother in the one she’s in right now.

Its up to you just remember every time you move them they will go thru relocation stress -- being they are 6 months of age please dust 5 x per week ONCE per feeding lightly coated on the insects -- also they should have a vitamin w/ beta carotene 2 x per week ONCE per feeding lightly coated on the insects - after a year old drop to what I posted above

 

[Janedog1391]

Ok I was dusting more often but I thought it was too much as other people have told me that’s too much. Will make it 5 times. They get all their feedings real good and I do add all of which you’ve mentioned. I will just give her time to adjust then.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

That is a great setup. How close is your Reptisun 10 T5 tube to her?
Since you are using a T5 tube, using D3 is usually only needed 1 or 2 times weekly. She is less than
a year old so you can use calcium 5 times weekly, as Sadie suggested.
It looks like she is shedding in some areas. Did you check to see if perhaps there was some stuck shed
on her foot that might be constricting circulation?
How much does she weigh? Her clutchmate, was the dragon male or female?


Tracie

 

[Janedog1391]

Hello,

That is a great setup. How close is your Reptisun 10 T5 tube to her?
Since you are using a T5 tube, using D3 is usually only needed 1 or 2 times weekly. She is less than
a year old so you can use calcium 5 times weekly, as Sadie suggested.
It looks like she is shedding in some areas. Did you check to see if perhaps there was some stuck shed
on her foot that might be constricting circulation?
How much does she weigh? Her clutchmate, was the dragon male or female?


Tracie

Yes, her front legs aren’t in shed. I checked everything and usually her front legs are always last to she’d. She tail and back legs start first then her torso, then lastly her head and tail. I also soak when I notice she has trouble and if I see some parts on her toes I usually help her. I usually also soak in the zoo med electrolytes as well. The T5 is 15 inches from the bottom of the tank and 10 from the decor.

 

[Janedog1391]

Hello,

That is a great setup. How close is your Reptisun 10 T5 tube to her?
Since you are using a T5 tube, using D3 is usually only needed 1 or 2 times weekly. She is less than
a year old so you can use calcium 5 times weekly, as Sadie suggested.
It looks like she is shedding in some areas. Did you check to see if perhaps there was some stuck shed
on her foot that might be constricting circulation?
How much does she weigh? Her clutchmate, was the dragon male or female?


Tracie

Also, I’m not sure on her weight tbh. I haven’t weighed her. Her clutch mate was male. He’s very tiny compared to her. It’s like she was eating all the food. even the breeder I got them from said he was shocked that she got large so fast and that he found it weird that her being female just got big faster than the male cuz it’s the other way around.

 

[Sadie]

She is so big because she was dominating the food -- this is why they should be kept separate -- hopefully the male will catch up now -- I would keep them to where they cannot see each other as well -- as they get older hormones will kick in and seeing one another will stress them both out

 

[Janedog1391]

She is so big because she was dominating the food -- this is why they should be kept separate -- hopefully the male will catch up now -- I would keep them to where they cannot see each other as well -- as they get older hormones will kick in and seeing one another will stress them both out

Oh they can’t see eachother anymore. Their setup the tanks are stacked. So they have no view of one another. I came home last night to check on her after work. She seemed fine. Just her little toes did seem a bit swollen. I was also spending more time with her and everything. She seemed to be doing better. I’m about to go get her basking bulb right now. Hopefully she’s adjusting and it was only a one time incident.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Ok, good that you have s eparated them. How is your dragon's foot looking today?
If you have raw unpasteurized honey, that is a very good thing to use on a wound & helps to keep infection away. I hope there isn't too much damage.
At 6 months, technically, they have been known to develop eggs at that age. So, you might want to be on the lookout for infertile eggs hopefully. I don't think the male would be able to mate with her that early, but I guess you never know.
Is he doing better now being housed by himself?

Tracie

 

[Janedog1391]

Hello,

Ok, good that you have s eparated them. How is your dragon's foot looking today?
If you have raw unpasteurized honey, that is a very good thing to use on a wound & helps to keep infection away. I hope there isn't too much damage.
At 6 months, technically, they have been known to develop eggs at that age. So, you might want to be on the lookout for infertile eggs hopefully. I don't think the male would be able to mate with her that early, but I guess you never know.
Is he doing better now being housed by himself?

Tracie

Hello,

Ok, good that you have s eparated them. How is your dragon's foot looking today?
If you have raw unpasteurized honey, that is a very good thing to use on a wound & helps to keep infection away. I hope there isn't too much damage.
At 6 months, technically, they have been known to develop eggs at that age. So, you might want to be on the lookout for infertile eggs hopefully. I don't think the male would be able to mate with her that early, but I guess you never know.
Is he doing better now being housed by himself?

Tracie

This is her foot today looks less swollen than it was yesterday but idk I’m kinda worried. She’s eating normal and everything. The first two days she wasn’t putting much weight on it but now she’s walking fine. So idk if it’s just bruised?

The male is doing well. He’s actually eating a lot. I’m guessing because she’s not there anymore. He use to mostly hide in the hide but now he lounges in the hammock a lot. I’m guessing it all has to do since he’s alone now. Probably was scared of her.