Dracos in trouble! Can't walk properly.

[Jaime]

The past few weeks Draco has been losing weight and acting lethargic. I didn't even notice it, but his UVB bulb was incredibly dim! I immediately changed it once I noticed it! I'd say it was dim no longer than 3-4 weeks. I know that is simply too long and I feel terrible. I'm prego and I've been so busy with appointments and the shower and moving et. No excuse though, I still should have been paying attention. He's had his new UVB bulb for about a week now.

His diet consists of kale greens and large crix that are fed both kales and calcium fortified cricket quencher. Draco has always refused to eat the crix powdered so I've relied on his kale greens and the crix eating the quencher and greens as well for calcium et.

Recently I was informed feeding him 20 crix every other day wasn't recommended and he would only need about 10 crix every 3-4 days as long as he had greens every day, so we cut him back to that. Yesterday was his crix feeding day and he had about 15 large crix.

I'm wondering if I over fed him and this is why he is having trouble?

I don't have a temp gauge for his heat light but I know the bulb is still good, its only a few months old. His UVB is brand new, its a 5.0. I have the lights where they've always been since age 1 and he's never had an issue. He's about 3 now and does have basking levels.

Symptoms - dragging his body, he can move his legs but can't lift his back up.

 

[gilliesexotics]

Hi, unfortunately you relying on gut loading is not a sufficient source of calcium. ALL feeders must be dusted with plain phosphorus free calcium. This corrects the improper balance of calcium to phosphorus ratio within feeders. Most of the feeders we feed are way out of balance and need support. Without this your dragons blood chemistry becomes out of whack so to say with higher phosphorus to calcium balanace. This will lead to a loss of appetite, organ damage, MBD, etc. Next without proper UVB or preformed version VitD. Your dragon is not able to process what little caclium it is receieving furthering the blood levels to become even more unbalanced. I would strongly suggest doing what is right for your dragon and giving him the proper husbandry he needs. Kinda like the little kid that only wants to eat icecream. You know whats best and you have to give it.

To help correct your issue.
1. If your weather permits as much out side unfiltered sunlight as possible.
2. Dust all feeders with plain calcium. No exceptions...Lightly dust the feeders, they dont have to look like little ghost running around. If he is picky..He will have to get tough love from you and he will eat the crickets that are dusted.
3. Liquid calcium. I would get some and either force .1cc daily or inject a feeder/s he is to eat.
4. Soak your dragon. Put a leather glove on, ask your husband, a friends or relative to help you put him in warm water up to his arm pits.
5. He also needs more than just kale. Kale is high in oxalates which inhibit calcium absorption. Here is a liink to more food choices http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutritionframeset.html
6. New uvb bulb within the cage,

 

[Bushmaster11B]

The past few weeks Draco has been losing weight and acting lethargic. I didn't even notice it, but his UVB bulb was incredibly dim! I immediately changed it once I noticed it! I'd say it was dim no longer than 3-4 weeks. I know that is simply too long and I feel terrible. I'm prego and I've been so busy with appointments and the shower and moving et. No excuse though, I still should have been paying attention. He's had his new UVB bulb for about a week now.

I don't have a temp gauge for his heat light but I know the bulb is still good, its only a few months old. His UVB is brand new, its a 5.0. I have the lights where they've always been since age 1 and he's never had an issue. He's about 3 now and does have basking levels.

I would seriously go get another UVB bulb and not a 5.0. You need, Draco needs at lease a 10.0 UVB to get proper radiation exposure. You must change it out for a 10.0 soon because MBD (Metabolic Bone Disease) can become existent after just 2 weeks. I would also take Draco into the Vet for some X-Rays ASAP. BD's need proper and strong enough UVB in order to "survive".

Check out this clipping I added a couple weeks ago: http://www.beardeddragonforum.com/i...need-accurate-uvb-to-survive-be-healthy.9289/

 

[Jaime]

Good news is, it was an impaction. Im making some changes to his living arrangements and he's been looking better after a couple baths and some collard greens.

 

[Bushmaster11B]

That is great news! Congrats on getting through it.