As a generalisation, the recommendation of numerous veterinarians, researchers and herpetologists, suggest you should give your bearded dragon calcium and vitamin D3 supplement as follows: Shortest answer is yes you should give your bearded dragon D3 (cholecalciferol). Getting calcium for bearded dragons right is crucial for good health. Check your lighting and heating setup against the post on setting up lighting and heating. Dandelion greens are some of the most calcium-rich vegetables out there. That is for you and your vet to determine. Youll also want to make sure theyre getting enough protein in addition to the right amount of calcium. Read on to find out more about why Bearded Dragons need calcium, how to tell if . ANd i am refraining from the use of calcium for 2 days just in case. So this only leaves the calcium overdose. 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. Watson, M. K., & Mitchell, M. A. These tend to happen in more serious cases. Tail Rot. Remember there are two ways to get vitamin D3, UVB light and orally through food and supplementation. Beta caroteneis a lot safer than Vitamin A because of the way your dragons body will absorb it. 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). 6 days RepCal and 1 Day Reptivite or 5 days Repcal and 2 days Reptivite. This only happens once for like a second then he is back to normal. Beardies are not completely covered in dirt. Lack of calcium in the diet, not gut-loading live feed and absence of UVB tube light in a tank will cause Metabolic bone disease.. Any broken bones can be as a result of soft bones when suffering from a deficiency. The rest of the body has to absorb calcium from the bones and muscles, leading to muscle and bone problems in early development and even later in life. One setback to using calcium powder: it can be a messy business. OR do i have to take him to an animal hospital or reptile veterinarian? Alongside vitamin D3, calcium is probably the most vital nutrient for a bearded dragons health. Proper hydration helps the dragon's body absorb calcium, Vitamin D3, and other important nutrients. Avoid foods such as spinach, beetroot and rhubarb leaves. Too much D3 leads to toxicity in the blood, which can be problematic for bone development and other body functions. 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. Bearded dragons do not need calcium every day. Foods dusted with too much calcium will probably be refused. The tighter the mesh, the less UVB it will allow through. The insects are fed a diet that is nutritious for your bearded dragon 24 hours prior to feeding them to your dragon. Remember, nothing beats natural exposure to sunlight even if only for a few hours a week. Aug 12, 2010. Dubia roaches ate a hole in the egg cartons. Yes, bearded dragons can eat fresh kale regularly so long as it is washed and free of pesticides. Are you using and vitamins? Copyright 2023 Reptile Maniac. In captivity, they are typically kept indoors in artificial lighting. But for 3 days i used no calcium, to get most of it out of his system. Best calcium supplements with and without vitamin D3. Without enough calcium, your beardie will be prone to fractures from very light impacts or even handling. It has the quality of a more expensive powder, in a cheap package. Of course, always check with your vet first, especially if your beardie is a rescue or if you notice any signs of illness (especially MBD). Keep reading to learn how to save your bearded dragon from this potentially fatal disease. 11. We know how much you love your Dragon and we want to make it easy to show how much you care. Fortunately, this is an easy thing to fix. Here are a few tips to combat this issue: Pro Tip: Your dragon may not eat her food if it's too heavily dusted, so it's best to keep it on the light side. This particularly applies when the bearded dragon is on a calcium-rich diet. how much protein should a large breed dog have EN; shawnee, ok police arrests; does bandlab copyright your music It plays a huge role in their ability to grow and maintain bone health over time. Other symptoms of weakness are being shaky and unwilling to move. Thats me, right now, HELP WITH MY BEARDIE EGGS DONT WANT THEM TO DIE. 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? Brain. You should also be measuring the amount of calcium in supplements they are getting in addition to foods that contain calcium. One, ask your vet who will be able to assess the relevant factors specific to you so they can make a recommendation. this would also cause severe damage to the health of your bearded dragon. So its always best to check with a vet first before starting any supplementation. Yes, feeding your bearded dragon calcium is part of the current recommended good husbandry practices and it will contribute to the prevention of hypocalcemia. growing, gravid, The amount of calcium that sticks to the food, Ineffective or absent gut loading of insects, Amount of phosphorus o Level of anti-nutrients that can bind calcium (oxalates) or decrease absorption (phytic acid), Keep diets low in phosphorus and calcium binding oxalates and phytates. Obtain a significant portion of your dietary intake of calcium from plant-based foods. along with pain for your bearded dragon as the . Expert Note: Its worth pointing out that even though these symptoms can present with a deficiency in calcium too, its going to be pretty obvious what the cause is.If youre actively trying to give your bearded dragon more calcium, its probably an overdose. Bearded Dragon Accessories and Enriching Life, 7 Tips to get Bearded Dragon to Eat Vegetables [& Refusal]. Avoid excess sodium (salt) intake. If you notice any signs of discomfort in your bearded dragon, it could be that they are in pain. There are a ton of different calcium powders you can use for your bearded dragon. Hypercalcemia in bearded dragons is a medical condition in which the calcium level in the bearded dragon's blood is above the normal limit. This can also be a sign of a bacterial infection such as mouth rot, though the symptoms are very different. Applied Nutritional Studies with Zoological Reptiles. Blood vitamin D3 metabolite concentrations of adult female bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) remain stable after ceasing UVb exposure. Bearded Dragon Impaction: Symptoms and Treatment Causes of impaction in bearded dragons. Give them a light dusting and feed them. The liver metabolises vitamin D2 into 25-hydroxyvitamin D2, and vitamin D3 into 25-hydroxyvitamin D3. Change the bulb in your dragons tank every six months or so, no later than every year. This is a very common sign of hypercalcemia and should be looked into by a vet right away. The amount of calcium you give your bearded dragon can be a bit of guesswork for pet owners. 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). You probably wont be a Dragon Keeper for very long without hearing how vital calcium is for bearded dragons' health and wellbeing. @Elise, yes I'm pretty sure that's normal I'm no professional and have not had one yet but I just have, My friend is considering adopting a unique pet he could showcase to his guests when they visit. Klaphake, E. (2010). Calcium, alongside vitamin D3, is arguably the most essential nutrient to bearded . Any information found on this website is for entertainment purposes only. Kindly take your bearded dragon to an experienced vet for proper diagnosis and treatment. Read on for more information on hypercalcemia, how to spot it, and how to prevent your dragon from getting it. Diehl, J. J. E., Baines, F. M., Heijboer, A. C., van Leeuwen, J. P., Kik, M., Hendriks, W. H., & Oonincx, D. G. A. Metabolic bone disease (MBD) in bearded dragons is a condition that causes their bones to form improperly. Please answer quick. Early signs of metabolic bone disease in bearded dragons. Supplementing Vitamin D3 helps ensure your dragon can absorbthe calcium they need. These symptoms alone arent always a sign of hypercalcemia. You may find that your dragon doesnt enjoy their favorite foods as often anymore. All you get with it is high-quality, trusted calcium and D3. They are by UVB (either sunlight or artificial lighting) and in the diet (food and supplementation). I would back down on the calcium to once a day and see if it helps. Metabolic bone disease is a condition that affects several types of domestic reptiles. This can lead to an excess amount being created from the lighting situation. Powdered calcium is fairly popular among Dragon Keepers. 2-3 times a week is the number of times you should sprinkle calcium powder on their food. Find out! That why its important to get the best UVB light for your bearded dragon possible (and set it up properly). In the wild, this aids them in being able to use calcium efficiently. Lack of exposure to UVB source can lead to calcium deficiency in bearded dragons. It is, therefore, your responsibility as a pet parent to ensure your bearded dragon is getting just the right amount of calcium. Hypercalcemia happens when there is too much calcium in the blood. Unlike other minerals such as phosphorus, calcium is not something your bearded dragon will receive enough of from their diet. Some of the symptoms of MBD are as follows: Bumps that you can see or feel in the legs. 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