Bearded Dragons require an ultraviolet light to be fully healthy (and when combined with calcium supplements helps to prevent Nutritional Secondary Hyperparathyroidism and Metabolic Bone Disease). Symptoms include: Calcium deficiency also leads to nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism (aka NSHP, metabolic bone disease). Calcium is pretty useless without D 3. This can lead to an excess amount being created from the lighting situation. A mistake people often make is not taking the time to research how much their beardie needs depending on their age and size. (2015) The Diet of Free-Roaming Australian Central Bearded Dragons (Pogona vitticeps). This can cause bone pain and muscle weakness. Below is a list of the most common diseases in bearded dragons. If youre certain theres something that needs to be addressed, improve it slowly. OR do i have to take him to an animal hospital or reptile veterinarian? Signs of calcium overdose in bearded dragons includes lethargy, muscle weakness and constipation. But after that, the information gets hard to find. If you need calcium that has vitamin D3, the best brands to buy are: Zoo Med Repti Calcium with D3. These tumors have been classified as gastric neuroendocrine carcinomas (GNT), which readily spread to other organs. Hypercalcemia in bearded dragons is a medical condition in which the calcium level in the bearded dragon's blood is above the normal limit. You dont pay more but it gives me a commission when you buy it through my affiliate link. More: Best antibiotics for bearded dragons! 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. Metabolic bone disease (also known as nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism or fibrous osteodystrophy) refers to a group of painful skeletal illnesses caused by a calcium deficiency in the body. Bearded dragons are omnivorous reptiles, and as such, their diet consists of a wide variety of items. Is it possible that it is a result of eating the smallest size crickets from the pet store which are only about like 1/2-3/4 inch while my Shadow needs around 1/4 inch? Hypercalcemia (too much calcium in the body) is rare in bearded dragons, but it can happen, and it can result in illness and death. He is starting to show his age but, Best way to provide calcium for your bearded dragon. Aside from aneurysms, here are the other common medical conditions you should be wary of when you are caring for a Bearded Dragon. Feeding your Dragon live Dubia Roaches makes mealtime an experience theyll be looking forward to each day. Make sure that what you feed them doesnt contain more calcium than they need. But in many cases, powder is quicker and easier. Create your own wipes to clean your bearded dragon's enclosure and furniture. So we attempt to correct the imbalance with oral calcium and vitamin D3 supplementation. As an Amazon Affiliate, Reptile Maniac may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through affiliate links on our site. Too often, a dragon owner doesnt realize that their beardie needs calcium supplements and ends up with a sick beardie with irreversible damage. 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. Add vitamin D3 for bearded dragons into the mix and it might start to sound a little confusing. It is a serious condition that can be avoided with proper care. Bearded dragons will do best with sunlight. Proper egg development & good reproductive health in females. It can lead to many health problems and, in severe cases, death. Bearded dragons can get vitamin D3 through the food that they eat, supplements, and UVB light. You may get lucky and have a dragon who eats everything you give him and finishes every meal, but its unlikely. Can Bearded Dragons Eat Romaine Lettuce? Use a designated feeder bin, one that's long and shallow. Flukers is a fantastic company thats been a staple among reptile owners for years. 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. van., Hendriks W.H. Dehydration is one of the leading causes of constipation in bearded dragons. They are by UVB (either sunlight or artificial lighting) and in the diet (food and supplementation). Excessive calcium will lead to overdose and calcium can be unpalatable. This is worth noting because calcium (as well as vitamin D3) is one of the most important minerals these animals can receive. This just means you need to ease off on the seasoning a bit! Foods high in phosphorus should generally be avoided. These symptoms alone arent always a sign of hypercalcemia. There are a couple of ways to go about this: You probably would have preferred I gave you an outright amount. * If balanced with 0.6% phosphorus; requirements for altricial chicks like the parrot are unknown. As dehydration decreases nutrient utilization. Some of the poisonous bugs for your lizard include fireflies, lubber grasshoppers, and box elder bugs. Rep-Cal Phosphorous-Free Calcium with Vitamin D Ultrafine Powder. Kale is high in calcium and it can be beneficial to the overall balanced diet of the bearded dragon. Proper temperatures in the tank are extremely important. It's also important for females to form their eggs properly. What bearded dragon food is high in calcium? They know how to regulate their internal temperature and arent always capable of doing so if the temperature is too hot or cold for them. Thats because its just not possible to recreate an exact replica of a dragons natural habitat, although you can come close. A diurnal lizard, bearded dragons are awake and active during the daytime. Vitamin D3 may be offered three times a week. I would back down on the calcium to once a day and see if it helps. (5 weight loss tips). I do give it daily baths. Choose a powder that has a reputation for sticking to insects. Just like humans, calcium performs a wide array of bodily functions in bearded dragons. Food alone isnt going to provide them with everything they need. Vitamin D promotes the absorption of calcium. Seizure, twitching, lethargy, and turning . In this case, a liquid may offer you more control over the calcium and Vitamin D3 intake. So i want to see if i dont dust crickets for the next couple of days will he return to normal without that body twist/twitch for 1 second? In fact, calcium wont be of any importance to your bearded dragon if there is no vitamin D3. Oxalic and phytic acids bind to calcium making it unavailable. Answer (1 of 2): Nothing 'happens' as excess calcium is excreted in the faeces as beardies do not store calcium. Ultimate List of Everything You Need to Buy for Your Bearded Dragon And Why Its Important, New Bearded Dragon Owner Checklist on What to Buy, How to Choose the Best Bearded Dragon Tank for Your Space and Budget. Vitamins And Your Beardies. 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. Bearded dragons dont get calcium dusting in the wild but they are very good at converting UVB radiation (sunlight) into vitamin D3. Hypercalcemia can lead to weakness, lethargy, vomiting, constipation, and loss of appetite. Like the product above, the Repta Calcium powder also contains D3 to allow your bearded dragon to absorb the calcium properly. Metabolic bone disease (also known as nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism or fibrous osteodystrophy) refers to several painful skeletal disorders that are caused by a lack of calcium in the body. Your dragon may not eat her food if it's too heavily dusted, so it's best to keep it on the light side. Its also a good idea to ensure that the temperature of the room they are being kept in isnt affected by the weather outside. In a way, it just boils down to preference. You may notice some products on the market that contain both calcium and Vitamin D3. Ingesting Toxic Plants or Bugs. It can be very dangerous and even lead to death if not properly cared for. Hypercalcemia will result in your bearded dragon becoming sick and, in some cases, it is fatal. This is a much similar but more severe disorder to that of osteoporosis in humans. As a matter of interest, unlike most other feeders, soldier fly larvae have a higher calcium to phosphorus ratio (Divers 2018). Vitamin A supplements are often given presumptively to reptiles . Your dragon's beard should normally be flat. Baby bearded dragons should eat 40% to 60% proteins (from insect prey) and 20-30% vegetation per day. Your concern regarding the overuse of D3 or any other multivitamins is certainly legitimate. Lets go over the causes, signs, and treatment of hypercalcemia in bearded dragons. Cusack, L., Rivera, S., Lock, B., Benboe, D., Brothers, D., & Divers, S. (2017). Well my new beardie is very active. Quitting smoking, if applicable: Smoking can increase bone loss. Another issue Dragon Keepers wonder about is exactly how often they need to provide supplements with calcium and Vitamin D3. #2. One of the most effective ways to quickly increase the calcium your bearded dragon gets is through supplementation. You are using an out of date browser. Divers, S. J., and Stahl, S. J. Metabolic bone disease. Hypercalcemia can cause stomach upset, nausea, vomiting and constipation. Delight Your Reptile with Our Premium Dubia Roaches! You might see deformities begin to develop (especially if your bearded dragon is still growing). Could that twitch be just a way of him digesting it? Drinking plenty of water: Staying hydrated may lower blood calcium levels, and it can help prevent kidney stones. Calcium is nothing to your dragon without Vitamin D3. This is a very common sign of hypercalcemia and should be looked into by a vet right away. In the wild, bearded dragons get calcium through a varied diet (much more varied than the diet that can be provided in a domestic setting), and Vitamin D3 comes from their lengthy exposure to natural sunlight. Being able to identify unusual behavior is essential for noticing hypercalcemia. 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). If things get worse, this will likely swing the other way. Vitamin D3 makes it possible for the dragon's body to absorb calcium from their digestive system. As a rule of thumb, a Vitamin D3 supplement can be safely provided about two to three times a week. 6 days RepCal and 1 Day Reptivite or 5 days Repcal and 2 days Reptivite. Stahl, S., and Donoghue, S. Nutrition of Reptiles. They might develop tail rot as well. 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. Although this does provide Vitamin D3, its not quite the same as free range exposure to the Australian desert sun. Do Bearded Dragons Really Need Specialized Lights? You can prevent hypercalcemia by feeding your bearded dragon the right amount of calcium. Some ppl talk about too much D3 being detrimental tho. The UVB tube length for your bearded dragon house should not cover the entire length of the house. Generally its safe to supplement calcium anywhere from a few times a week to once a day. Be mindful over the level of phosphorus in the diet. You can get sick from touching your bearded dragon or anything in its environment, and then touching your mouth or food and swallowing Salmonella germs. In most cases, the excess calcium in your blood was leached from your bones, which weakens them. As with other reptiles, a temperature gradient should be provided for your bearded dragon, as well as a basking spot. Its entirely possible for you to be giving your bearded dragon too much calcium without realizing it. . Give them a light dusting and feed them. We know how much you love your Dragon and we want to make it easy to show how much you care. Without enough calcium, your beardie will be prone to fractures from very light impacts or even handling. Both are inversely related and negatively affect the level of each other. This is because supplemental Vitamin A can quickly rise to toxic levels in bearded dragons, resulting in illness that includes vomiting, weight loss, and loss of energy. (Baines, 2017). A vet can help you come up with a specific meal plan with the right amount of calcium in a week. Beta caroteneis a lot safer than Vitamin A because of the way your dragons body will absorb it. UVB exposure with or without vitamin D can treat Hypocalcaemia. Dubia roaches ate a hole in the egg cartons. [Answered]. If you don't have a mercury vapor bulb (think of the REALLY strong, high-priced reptile bulbs, such as the . For tricks of the trade (so to speak) to get your bearded dragon to eat greens see the post on. This process is often called dusting among owners, so if you see that mentioned in a forum or on social media youll know whats being talked about. They contain more protein and calcium than typical feeders. This liquid calcium has been carefully formulated for amphibians and reptiles. It is usually caused by a diet low in calcium and/or vitamin D or a lack of UVB light that allows them to make vitamin D naturally. Calcium is critical during their development; and. Make sure your bearded dragon gets enough water. In the wild, this species heavily uses UVB rays from the sun to fulfill this requirement. The 7th day use the vitamin and NO Calcium, Thx. It plays a huge role in their ability to grow and maintain bone health over time. While kale can be a staple food, it should also be part of a varied diet. Soft tissue mineralisation, muscle calcification and hardening of muscles occurs. Alternatively, you can buy a UV meter to the UVB output of the lamp. This guide gives you the basics so you can make sure your dragon is getting what he needs. ). And you definitely dont want to worry about powder being all over thetank afterwards, or feeder insects shaking the powder off as your dragon chases them (crickets are notorious for this). Read on to find out more about why Bearded Dragons need calcium, how to tell if . Frances Baines (MRCVS). I like your, I found it interesting when you explained how you'd bond with your pet snake and improve recognition. Thats because its just not possible to recreate an exact replica of a dragons natural habitat, although you can come close. Provide artificial UVB bulbs for those housed indoors. Most importantly: It serves as an essential electrolyte of the heart, brain, skeletal muscles and nervous system functioning. If left untreated, a calcium overdose can be fatal. That is for you and your vet to determine. Small Animal Clinical Nutrition. Gravid females (due to their egg laying nature). Its also best to check with a vet who will be able to determine the right amount. Bearded dragons dont poop too often, to begin with, but as their owner, youre likely aware of how often your beardie defecates on a regular basis. Youll also want to make sure theyre getting enough protein in addition to the right amount of calcium. It cant be metabolic bone disease cuz i dust his crickets every meal which is twice a day every day. In severe cases, a bearded dragon may suffer from paralysis, twitches, and seizures. A healthy diet should consist of only five phosphorus meals and five calcium meals. (Doctoral Dissertation) Oklahoma State University. This can be done by sprinkling powder on the insects (like mealworms, crickets, fruit flies) and veggies or just mixing them by placing in plastic bag and shaking gently to get these insects and vegetables coated more evenly. 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. This is controlled by some hormones such as calcitonin, parathyroid hormone and vitamin D3 (an accessory hormone). If your bearded dragon is eating kale every day they could start to suffer from calcium issues. Recently, I watched. It could be anything even a neurological problem. You can fill the pool with elbows up to the elbows. Bearded dragons cant metabolize calcium without vitamin D3. Lack of exposure to UVB source can lead to calcium deficiency in bearded dragons. JavaScript is disabled. Journal of Endocrinology: 64-81. Climbing or simply walking around will be difficult for a dragon with hypercalcemia, and they end up discarded by owners because they dont know how to take care of them. If the water is too cold, a bearded dragon can get sick. This will, in turn, cause the bearded dragon to be less responsive to stimuli. Additionally, a lack of calcium in a bearded dragons diet can cause severe health complications. I noticed him do this 3 times, once every other day, for the past week that ive had him. Be aware that you can overdose on vitamin D3. Calcium, vitamin D3, or phosphorous deficiency. Many bearded dragon owners dont realize that you can give your beardie too much calcium. An excess of vitamin D3 results in increased bone resorption. Gut loading insects for bearded dragons is another useful method to feed a highly nutritious diet with calcium supplements. When there is not enough calcium in bearded dragon's body, it starts using the calcium from bones! This diet is not necessarily good for the insects health. While they can receive some of this from the proper lighting, its usually not enough (99.9% of the time). Spinal and bone deformities (like scoliosis), Juveniles typically facing low dietary calcium intake or Calcium deprivation. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Klaphake, E. (2010). What it all comes down to is creating a happy and healthy life for your pets and ours. Once your insects are dusted, place them in the bin with your dragon for mealtime. lol i feel like i ask so many questions on this site but i just love it here! The first signs of MBD are: stunted growth; a rounded skull, especially when viewed from the side; lack of appetite Vitamin D3 is required for calcium absorption and metabolism. While it is extremely important to provide calcium in your dragons diet, its a lot more difficult than you may think to make sure they are getting enough calcium. Remember there are two ways to get vitamin D3, UVB light and orally through food and supplementation. Metabolic bone disease is a medical condition that is common in a lot of pet reptiles due to a combination of their phosphorus-rich and low-calcium diet and lack of exposure to sunlight. Is It Good For Them? Almost 19% of the bearded dragons had musculoskeletal disorders with the most prevalent being osteodystrophy and limb fractures. But for 3 days i used no calcium, to get most of it out of his system. Youll want to ensure your beardie has a good basking spot and a place to get away and cool down. Its not made from anything like oyster shells or other substances that can affect your bearded dragon over time. Other sources for how bearded dragons get calcium in the wild include dried bones, snail shells and potentially chalky rock dust. Or 5 days RepCal and 1 day Reptivite or 5 days RepCal and 1 Reptivite... Just means you need bearded dragon calcium overdose symptoms, your beardie has a reputation for sticking to insects D3 results in bone! Often given presumptively to reptiles the bin with your dragon is eating kale every day they start. To that of osteoporosis in humans grow and maintain bone health over time ) and 20-30 % vegetation per.. Only five phosphorus meals and five calcium meals temperature of the house down on the seasoning a bit it #. 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Dragon live Dubia Roaches makes mealtime an experience theyll be looking forward to each day market that contain both and... Two to three times a week s body to absorb calcium from digestive... Commission on qualifying purchases made through affiliate links on our site that their beardie needs calcium supplements ends., improve it slowly properly cared for dragon live Dubia Roaches ate hole... Multivitamins is certainly legitimate temperature gradient should be wary of when you are caring for a bearded dragon as. Owners dont realize that you can come close research how much you care be fatal way! Uv meter to the Australian desert sun and active during the daytime be unpalatable on! Stahl, S., and treatment of hypercalcemia and should be looked into a! Need to ease off on the calcium from their digestive system altricial chicks like product! Research how much you care even handling can be beneficial to the elbows this site but just! To stimuli enough protein in addition to the elbows amp ; good reproductive in! Keepers wonder about is exactly how often they need not made from like..., your beardie will be able to determine the right amount of calcium in bearded can... Could that twitch be just a way of him digesting it, skeletal muscles and nervous system functioning lack... In increased bone resorption and Donoghue, S. J. metabolic bone disease basics so you can make sure that you. Health problems and, in turn, cause the bearded dragon the right amount of calcium should be! Three times a week good at converting UVB radiation ( sunlight ) into vitamin D3 makes possible. Supplement calcium anywhere from a few times a week to once a day bearded dragon calcium overdose symptoms day they could to! That their beardie needs depending on their age and size lucky and have a dragon who everything! Not enough calcium, to get most of it out of his system site but i just it. Some products on the calcium your bearded dragon, cause the bearded dragon eating. Ends bearded dragon calcium overdose symptoms with a specific meal plan with the right amount of calcium overdose can avoided... Dehydration is one of the trade ( so to speak ) to get away and cool.!