I got Frenzy in Febuary and ever since I got her she has been doing this weird thing that I have never seen before. She is my second Bearded Dragon and she is still very young. She is eating fine and is very enthusiastic when she eats. She is very active during the day and sleeps all through the night. The thing that concerns me though is that when she is hunting her food her whole body begins to shake like she is on vibrate. We have started feeding her with tongs to make sure she can actually catch her prey. Sometimes she misses the food and gets a bit frusturated. Another thing I noticed is when she get excited or spooked she runs in a tight circle like she is chasing her tail.
It sounds like she is having a seizure... Kiki used to do this when we first got her and it is a bit alarmind. More than likely, she has MBD but check in with your vet to make sure. Does she have a UVB lighting and daily calcium powdering? Can you describe her husbandry to me please and how big is the food you feed her?
Well I give her the calcium powder and vitamins once a week but she has a calcium light. I bought her off of craigslist from some first time breeders who had given her to their young boys.
I think she may be a little under a year, I am not quite sure they didnt tell me how old she was when I bought her.
When you say a "calcium light" what exactly do you mean? Can you tell us what brand and style of bulb it is? A picture of the kind of bulb would be great. Also, how far away is the bulb from the beardie's basking spot? Finally, how long has it been since you last changed the bulb? Regardless of the answers to those questions, it definitely sounds like you need to get to your beardie to a vet as soon as possible. He's exhibiting the signs of a severe calcium deficiency. If left untreated this is fatal. http://herpvetconnection.com is a good resource for finding a qualified reptile veterinarian near you.
Well I dont know the brand but all I know is it is supposed to help her with calcium intake or something. She has been like this since we brought her home and besides the shaking when she goes to eat she seems to be doing fine. It pretty far up and sits on top of the cage lid.
It may be a neurological disorder, but it would be best to cover the bases thoroughly and rule genetic issues in only after all other conerns have been addressed. The symptoms could be a result of a number of things, but our obvious concern is to rule out Metabloic Bone Disease. With husbandry changes, this can be prevented and cured, but it can lead to death and it can be a slow process. Bearded dragons require a UVB producing bulb - this is what your 'calcium light' is. These are generally sold as flourescent, tube shaped bulb that emit UVB and are specially designed for reptiles. Some supplier also sell Mercury Vapor Bulbs that produce heat and UVB light (Zoomed's Powersun bulb, for example). These bulbs that produce UVB can only be purchased from pet stores, reptile shows, and online from reptile specific retailers - they are specifically designed to produce UVB and are meant for reptiles. The reason this is important, and why it is important to know that brand, is that unfortunately many brands out there are very low quality. Some of the compact 'coiled' flourescent bulbs dimish in UVB output within a week or two, while others produce so little UVB that they are essentially worthless. Distance from the bulb is another important factor, as flourescent tube-style bulbs must be within 6-10" of the animal to have any effect, and MVB's need be no closer than 12". In addition, screen tops on caging can dimish output of these bulbs by up to 50% when the rays must penetrate the screen - and most bulbs need to be replaced roughly every 6 months or their output becomes worthless (these are the reasons why Cammy asked about the age and sitance of the bulb). UVB rays are emitted by the sun and are required be reptiles for calcium synthesis. They take in the UVB through the skin where it is converted into vitamin D3 - this in turns promotes the absorption and metabolism of calcium. Without D3 or UVB, they cannot use calcium efficiently and will begin to develop Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD). This occurs when blood calcium levels are too low so the body begins to metabolize bones as a calcium source. This can ultimately lead to a number of symptoms - floppy jaws, inhibited reflexes and vision, seizures, and ultimately death. One can pump all the calcium they want into a reptile with MBD, but without UVB rays, or at the very least, a source of D3, it is almost worthless. If you cannot determine the brand of the bulb, or guarantee that it is a quality UVB emitting bulb, I would consider buying a new one that is of good standing, and make sure the dragon can get the appropriate distance from it. Here are a couple of good articles on UVB that you would find helpful: http://www.reptileboards.com/threads/uvb-basics.64396/ But in summary, it might not be a bad idea to get your pet to the vet - the link Cammy provided is excellent. The vet can help to decide if it is MBD and may prescribe calcium glubionate in addition to recommending a quality light and D3 source. If it is not MBD, he/she may be able to better guide you in what exactly is going on.
