This guide gives you the basics so you can make sure your dragon is getting what he needs. Lethargy and weakness can be a sign of many potential health complications, and its no different with a calcium deficiency. Supplementing the diet with calcium alone is of no value unless you provide UVB exposure to your bearded dragon. The nutritional demands of adults is 1.5:1 and in egg laying periods it reaches up to the level of 10:1. Remember, nothing beats natural exposure to sunlight even if only for a few hours a week. John Wiley & Sons. While kale can be a staple food, it should also be part of a varied diet. If the water is too cold, a bearded dragon can get sick. This just means you need to ease off on the seasoning a bit! These lizards may have swollen eardrums (the visible thin film also known as tympanic membrane), discharge, hearing loss, black-brownish spots, among other symptoms. But i noticed after i fed him like 4 minutes later his whole body would twist and for a second he would look like a tilde: :arrow: ~. But i dont use Herptivite with beta carotine. It's important to note that a bearded dragon's diet should always be supplemented with calcium, as it can't get enough from food alone. Fortunately, this is an easy thing to fix. You need to get a calcium supplement that doesn't have D3 in it. Some invertebrates, such as crickets, cannot be kept alive on calcium gut loading diet for over 3 days as it causes impaction in the cricket and subsequently it dies (Thompson, 2016). Thank you for the support! Mild cases can be treated by proper diet. If you make a change in the tank whether it's just taking a rock out, changing where the basking spots are, or switching . This means that when one is rich in the diet, the level of other will be low and vice versa. [Answered], Highly bioavailable source of calcium carbonate, Made for reptiles that require vitamin D3 to assimilate calcium, Recommended for reptiles that are kept indoors, Promotes healthy bones and vital bodily functions, Provides the necessary calcium for strong bones, Made from high-quality and natural materials. The mixture is extremely fine which makes it easier to digest. And on the surface, they all look pretty much the same. While bearded dragons are naturally pretty hardy, that isn't to say that they can't develop serious health issues! When there is not enough calcium in bearded dragon's body, it starts using the calcium from bones! its just peristalsis that you are seeing. Vitamin D3 is required for calcium absorption and metabolism. In: Hand MS, Thatcher CD, Remillard RL, et al, editors. Create your own wipes to clean your bearded dragon's enclosure and furniture. There are a number, 11 Types Of Chameleons That Make The Best Pets, The Best Ways To Provide Them With Calcium, The Best Calcium Powders For Your Bearded Dragons, the best UVB light for your bearded dragon, variety is important when it comes to diet, Zoo Med Repti Calcium D3 Reptile Supplement, Do Bearded Dragons Like To Be Pet (And How To Pet Them), How To Tell If Your Turtle Is Dying: Signs & Causes, Can Bearded Dragons Eat Mice? Overdosing can result in mineralisation of tissues, including the kidneys, which can lead to renal disease. Bearded Dragon Impaction: Symptoms and Treatment Causes of impaction in bearded dragons. Quitting smoking, if applicable: Smoking can increase bone loss. Vitamin D3 may be offered three times a week. If left untreated, a calcium overdose can be fatal. Its not made from anything like oyster shells or other substances that can affect your bearded dragon over time. You may find that your dragon doesnt enjoy their favorite foods as often anymore. Proper hydration helps the dragon's body absorb calcium, Vitamin D3, and other important nutrients. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inadequate UVB exposure and heat for calcium absorption, Excessive levels of vitamin A which competes with vitamin D, High phosphorus diet or improper calcium to phosphorus ratio. This is another great calcium powder for bearded dragons that we really like. Unlike other minerals such as phosphorus, calcium is not something your bearded dragon will receive enough of from their diet. You might see them twitching or acting very skittish (even when the stimulation is mild). JavaScript is disabled. Keep an eye on the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio in fruits and veggies. Being transparent (such as glass) does not mean it allows UVB rays to pass through it. Used as a relative umbrella term for a wide array of nutritional deficiencies, Metabolic Bone Disease is actually a very common disease associated with domesticated bearded dragons. Fluker's is a fantastic company that's been a staple among reptile owners for years. Of those which were given blood tests, 57% showed a deviation in the calcium-phosphorus ratio and 63% showed hypocalcaemia. Vitamin D3. For bearded dragons kept outdoors or a combination of indoor and outdoor housing, it is likely that lower levels of D3 cholecalciferol will be needed. Frances Baines (MRCVS). In research by Oonincx et al (2015) the stomach contents of 10 free ranging (wild) Pogona vitticeps were analysed. While this isnt always a surefire sign that the problem is a calcium overdose, loss of appetite can be related to another issue. Bearded dragons are omnivorous reptiles, and as such, their diet consists of a wide variety of items. Your dragon's beard should normally be flat. ; Avoid smoking . Without enough calcium, your beardie will be prone to fractures from very light impacts or even handling. One of the nice things about this product is that its super affordable. Understanding if bearded dragons like to be pet is important if youre interested in owning these lizards. Keep reading to learn how to save your bearded dragon from this potentially fatal disease. Bearded dragons need calcium for the following reasons: Bone development. Greenstick fractures (folded or bent bones), If you are looking for a calcium-rich feeder insect, try, If you have questions or would like to give feedback, please email us at. Cusack, L., Rivera, S., Lock, B., Benboe, D., Brothers, D., & Divers, S. (2017). My parents have a cockatiel who is 36 years old this year. Then, simply feed the insects to your bearded dragon. It may also be drooping down, and their beards may be black due to stress and discomfort. Too much calcium in your blood is referred to as Hypercalcemia. The worth thing you can do is overcompensate and fix a problem that didnt exist in the first place! I really hope that whichever one of these problems it is, itll be as simple enough as refraining from calcium dust for a couple days and ordering 1/4 inch crickets in bulk! The effects of hypocalcemia mostly involve the muscles being more excitable. Additionally, a lack of calcium in a bearded dragons diet can cause severe health complications. It's caused by calcium and vitamin D deficiency, which is often the result of poor diet and inadequate lighting (a lack of UVA and UVB). Keep your dragon happy and thriving by providing a balanced diet, proper UVB lighting, and adequate supplements. I noticed him do this 3 times, once every other day, for the past week that ive had him. Normal serum calcium levels range from 8-10 mg/dL in non-laying hens, while healthy layers have calcium levels ranging from 15-30 mg/dL. #2. van., Hendriks, W. H., Poel, A. F. B. van der. Any information found on this website is for entertainment purposes only. So it can be hard to gauge exactly how much calcium your dragon is eating based on diet alone. Upper Respiratory Infection (URI) 10. 2-3 times a week is the number of times you should sprinkle calcium powder on their food. But in many cases, powder is quicker and easier. Metabolic bone disease. This guide will teach you the fundamentals of why bearded dragons need calcium, how to provide it to them (with our powder recommendations), the way other factors influence how much they need, and much more! Fluker's Repta Calcium. This can cause excessive thirst and frequent urination. Other symptoms include sneezing, refusing to eat, breathing quickly or taking shallow breaths, and acting tired along with fluid leaking from the eyes and nose. Calcium to phosphorus ratio is crucial to understand in the bearded dragons diet. A bearded dragon's beard is also black, his face, limbs, and tail are all pale, and his head is turning black. You may need to rearrange parts of their diet so that they arent receiving too much D3. Keep an eye out for any signs of illness. Pet dragons primarily get Vitamin D3 through proper UVB lighting in their tank as well as exposure to natural sunlight (this means exposure to natural sunlight outside, not necessarily through a window; its actually dangerous to keep your. On the other hand, two or more symptoms are generally a sign that there is indeed a problem. Instead, keep it simple. In a conversation on calcium, vitamin D cannot be left out. As you can see by the image below, it is impossible to know just how much calcium you will end up feeding your bearded dragon. Vitamin D promotes the absorption of calcium. Hypercalcemia happens when there is too much calcium in the blood. One, through the UVB interaction with the epidermis (skin) and two, orally through food and supplementation. Nutritional deficiencies are a significant cause of MBD. Absorbed vitamin D can be stored in the body such as the fat tissue, liver and kidneys. If the disease is detected early, your vet can help you manage it. If you need calcium that has vitamin D3, the best brands to buy are: Zoo Med Repti Calcium with D3. This occurs when the body tissue surrounding the weak bones gets pulled tight in an attempt to fortify the bones resulting in tissue and muscle damage. Other symptoms of weakness are being shaky and unwilling to move. Some links on this site are paid services or products which contain affiliate links such as Amazon. B., Leeuwen, J. P. Picture this: 100 grams of these greens contain up to 187 mg of calcium. Since in the wild they are able to effectively convert UVB radiation to into vitamin D3, they are able to make use of the calcium they can absorb in their diet. Dehydration is one of the leading causes of constipation in bearded dragons. Remember, kale is about 90 percent water. Too much phosphorus or oxalates (oxalic acid) in the diet, Poor lighting, causing a Vitamin D3 deficiency. If you have questions or would like to give feedback, please email us at[emailprotected]. Source tut tutorialstops.blogspot.com. Vitamin D3 makes it possible for the dragons body to absorb calcium from their digestive system. While you cant rely on this entirely, this will provide a good baseline and a bit of variety. For tricks of the trade (so to speak) to get your bearded dragon to eat greens see the post on. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Note: The above-listed signs can also apply to other health complications in bearded dragons. Avoid foods such as spinach, beetroot and rhubarb leaves. Some of the symptoms of MBD are as follows: Bumps that you can see or feel in the legs. Take caution not to provide too much calcium for your bearded dragon especially if you are supplying vitamin D3 supplements as well since they can overdose on calcium. Toxic bugs and plants can cause the quick death of a bearded dragon. Almost 19% of the bearded dragons had musculoskeletal disorders with the most prevalent being osteodystrophy and limb fractures. Be aware that you can overdose on vitamin D3. Effects of a light-emitting diode on the production of cholecalciferol and associated blood parameters in the bearded dragon (pogona vitticeps). Calcium is nothing to your dragon without Vitamin D3. BD.org Sicko. So its always best to check with a vet first before starting any supplementation. Vitamin D3 given as a supplement orally is not as effective as it is from giving access to sunlight without any barriers between the UVB and the bearded dragon. Bearded dragons cant metabolize calcium without vitamin D3. So lets start with the basics. Bearded dragons will do best with sunlight. Disastrous Things Happens when Bearded Dragons Dont Get Enough Calcium, Be aware that you can overdose on vitamin D, Effect of UV exposure in calcium absorption, Get These Things Right for a Healthy Bearded Dragon, nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism (NSHP) or metabolic bone disease in bearded dragons, 6 ways to get your bearded dragon to eat vegetables, Bearded Dragon Diet and Nutrition [Over 125 Safe Food List], Bearded Dragon Breeding: Mating, Eggs and Hatching, Bearded Dragon Indoors and Outdoor Housing, Do Bearded Dragons Feel? Calcium is nothing to your dragon without Vitamin D3. You might see deformities begin to develop (especially if your bearded dragon is still growing). When a reptile is exposed to sunlight or UVB, the calcium consumed is used to produce D3 which is used to build strong bones. Sometimes bearded dragon owners unintentionally give their pets too much calcium. Technically supplements can be given by injection, but this would usually only be in the case of a vet treating a dragon for metabolic bone disease or another condition which would require such an intervention. Dr Amna Ahmad is a Doctor of Veterinary Science graduated from the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Calcium. Too much calcium is bad for bearded dragons where there is an excess of vitamin D3. They are by UVB (either sunlight or artificial lighting) and in the diet (food and supplementation). Together they are referred to as calcifediol. Bearded dragons need full spectrum or high UVB reptile bulbs provided overhead. Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. One case where you may want to select a liquid supplement over a powder would be if your dragon steadily refuses to eat or finish her food. If you choose to do this, its best to ensure they are not getting any additional Vitamin A (unless your vet determines your dragon is seriously deficient in Vitamin A). Unfortunately, it can be very problematic if they ingest an excessive amount of calcium. Bearded dragons get their name from the scaled and spiked . Their bones can become brittle as well. Respiratory diseases such as pneumonia can cause your dragon to pant. Thats me, right now, HELP WITH MY BEARDIE EGGS DONT WANT THEM TO DIE. I do give it daily baths. Hypocalcaemia is low levels calcium in the blood. Environmental factors like UVB lighting and heat including amount of exposure to direct sunlight versus artificial UVB. Some of the poisonous bugs for your lizard include fireflies, lubber grasshoppers, and box elder bugs. Just make sure to avoid using rocks as they can overheat and burn your bearded dragons belly without them realizing it. 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