I kinda think hes fat but I need to read my bearded dragon care guide first before I cut back on his food, but I just want to know what you guys think. He walks on his arms because they are huge. I dont know if he just cant support himself when he walks on his hands, because of his love of mealworms, or if its just a lot of muscle. Is there a way of telling if they are eating too much and are fat? Ok, not really "fat" but more like has eatin way too much over his lifetime of 8 months. I dont know what a fat lizard is explained as these days.
2007-08-15 13:43:30 · 5 answers · asked by Linzi 4 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
OK thanks. I'll have to read into that about the MBD. I do feed him mealworms and crickets, and I always dust them with calcium dust. I also make sure he gets fresh fruit. He did have a heat lamp that gives out the special rays he needs, but it accidentally got broken the other day, so I need to get another one. His arms havnt been like that long.
Will his arms ever go back to normal?
2007-08-16 01:02:30 · update #1
Two things you mentioned are much more of a concern then possibly being overweight. The overly large limbs and the inability to support himself are two classic early signs of metabolic bone disease. The same thing happens to iguanas as well and owners often mistake it for muscle or fat.
When the bones of the legs are weakened through MBD the body tries to compensate by building up the area around the bones with connective tissue. The limbs end up looking thick and bulbous, often called "popeye" limbs. These animals have trouble climbing and walking due to the weakened skeleton. Mealworms are indeed fattening but they are also very high in phosphorous with a poor calcium to phosphorous ratio. Unless your calcium/vitamin supplementation and lighting has been adequate to overcome this your dragon may have MBD.
2007-08-15 14:24:30 · answer #1 · answered by Thea 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
An 8 month old should not be "fat", they are still growing at this age. Mealworms are not a good food for beardies. And "fat" arms are definitely a sign of MBD. It sounds like you have a seriously ill beardie on your hands. He needs a basking spot of 100F, a UVB on for 12 hours a day and within 12 inches, crickets and superworms dusted with Calcium D3 several times a week and a multivitamin once a week, weekly baths/soaks and daily misting, no loose sand as a substrate, plus more. Please read:
http://users.cjb.net/thescalyfamily/bdcare.html
http://www.herpvetconnection.com/
2007-08-15 22:59:28 · answer #2 · answered by KimbeeJ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree that it sounds like it may be MBD. I would have it checked out by the vet.
2007-08-15 22:07:53 · answer #3 · answered by sxyrdkitn69 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
his beard will puff out also beardie get fat natraly he is heathy fat
2007-08-16 13:46:59 · answer #4 · answered by chris k 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have no idea how you can tell....but bearded dragons are ever so cute :) i'd love to have one!!!
I hope you figure it out!!
Best wishes to you and your dragon!!
2007-08-15 21:06:56 · answer #5 · answered by Miss*Blue 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋