frosstman
Bearded Dragon Egg
- Messages
- 4
Hi, my teenage daughter has had a very healthy bearded dragon for 4 years. He loves human contact and is the love of her life and a member of our family.
One week ago we came into the possession of two more bearded dragons that were a rescue. I was shocked at their condition. There was a female kept in a tiny cage that was skin and bones. She walks normally though. There was a male that has more weight on but has limited use of his back legs. I believe it is NSHP or a Metabolic Bone Disease. They were housed separately. The lady who owned them said she fed them superworms in a dish and baby food off a spoon. She had superworms when I was there to pick them up but I think it was just for show as the female was so skinny. The lady said she never fed greens or vegetables. The only lights were a regular coil bulb from the dollar store for one and an ancient UVB coil bulb for the other. There were no calcium or vitamin supplements. She had them for 4 years and she stated they were two years old when she got them. They had a substrate in their small cages that was like seeds of some kind.
I live in Pictou County, Nova Scotia and there are no vets with any reptile experience. I have phoned and checked with them all.
I immediately purchased new mercury vapour bulbs for both ($140). Their warm spots are 100 degrees. They love to soak in the light like I have never seen.They are now in large enclosures with tile floors. They have fresh greens daily. I do believe though that they have each only eaten one or two greens that I got them to eat by hand. They do not know to go and eat them. They are being fed dusted and gut-loaded crickets and superworms daily. They get a warm bath and misted daily to try and hydrate them. Both seem to have good personalities although the male did bite me once during his bath. He seems to become panicky when he can't use his legs properly and I believe this caused him to bite as he thrashed in his bath. Our original dragon has never bitten. The male had a very large bowel movement while bathing on the second day. This was almost like a small tootsie roll. Much bigger than our dragon has ever done and more solid. The female has gone twice but they were smaller and wetter.
They are both very sleepy - especially the male. He falls asleep during feeding
I plan to keep the female for my second daughter and I hope that she will just gain the weight she needs over time. I am not as worried about her because she lifts her body and walks normally.
My question is this: Will the male regain use of his back legs? I need to rehome him eventually but do not wish to do so until I know that he will become healthy. He drags his bum and sometimes flips right over on his back. It is hard for him to climb. My daughter's friend wants to take this male. I don't want to give a special needs dragon to a new owner but cannot keep three full setups in our home.
I have pictures of both if there is a way to post them. I really need some advice.
One week ago we came into the possession of two more bearded dragons that were a rescue. I was shocked at their condition. There was a female kept in a tiny cage that was skin and bones. She walks normally though. There was a male that has more weight on but has limited use of his back legs. I believe it is NSHP or a Metabolic Bone Disease. They were housed separately. The lady who owned them said she fed them superworms in a dish and baby food off a spoon. She had superworms when I was there to pick them up but I think it was just for show as the female was so skinny. The lady said she never fed greens or vegetables. The only lights were a regular coil bulb from the dollar store for one and an ancient UVB coil bulb for the other. There were no calcium or vitamin supplements. She had them for 4 years and she stated they were two years old when she got them. They had a substrate in their small cages that was like seeds of some kind.
I live in Pictou County, Nova Scotia and there are no vets with any reptile experience. I have phoned and checked with them all.
I immediately purchased new mercury vapour bulbs for both ($140). Their warm spots are 100 degrees. They love to soak in the light like I have never seen.They are now in large enclosures with tile floors. They have fresh greens daily. I do believe though that they have each only eaten one or two greens that I got them to eat by hand. They do not know to go and eat them. They are being fed dusted and gut-loaded crickets and superworms daily. They get a warm bath and misted daily to try and hydrate them. Both seem to have good personalities although the male did bite me once during his bath. He seems to become panicky when he can't use his legs properly and I believe this caused him to bite as he thrashed in his bath. Our original dragon has never bitten. The male had a very large bowel movement while bathing on the second day. This was almost like a small tootsie roll. Much bigger than our dragon has ever done and more solid. The female has gone twice but they were smaller and wetter.
They are both very sleepy - especially the male. He falls asleep during feeding
I plan to keep the female for my second daughter and I hope that she will just gain the weight she needs over time. I am not as worried about her because she lifts her body and walks normally.
My question is this: Will the male regain use of his back legs? I need to rehome him eventually but do not wish to do so until I know that he will become healthy. He drags his bum and sometimes flips right over on his back. It is hard for him to climb. My daughter's friend wants to take this male. I don't want to give a special needs dragon to a new owner but cannot keep three full setups in our home.
I have pictures of both if there is a way to post them. I really need some advice.
