Keeping them on a regular feeding schedule can help identify digestion issues. Soft tissue mineralisation, muscle calcification and hardening of muscles occurs. 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 guide gives you the basics so you can make sure your dragon is getting what he needs. If your dragon displays symptoms of hypercalcemia, it must be taken to a vet immediately. Dragons require high temperature for proper feed digestion so temperature of vivarium should be high enough to proper utilization of feed in intestine (heat lamps orlight generated heat source can be used as if needed) Should be given free access to water to avoid dehydration. So lets start with the basics. While this isnt always a surefire sign that the problem is a calcium overdose, loss of appetite can be related to another issue. Most often, symptoms associated with weak and soft limbs indicate a low calcium and or/vitamin D3 in your bearded dragon's body. Stress. Check your lighting and heating setup against the post on setting up lighting and heating. Pro Tip: If you are looking for a calcium-rich feeder insect, try Dubia roaches. Avoid foods such as spinach, beetroot and rhubarb leaves. Another issue Dragon Keepers wonder about is exactly how often they need to provide supplements with calcium and Vitamin D3. What calcium-rich foods are good for your bearded dragon? Be diligent in changing out your UVB lamps as per the manufacturers instructions. If things get worse, this will likely swing the other way. Thats just our personal preference though! Environmental factors like UVB lighting and heating, Biological stage of the animal, i.e. Provide them with the necessary light, a good diet, and a little bit of calcium powder. How often a bearded dragon urinates is going to vary for each pet. One of the nice things about this product is that its super affordable. Flukers is a fantastic company thats been a staple among reptile owners for years. Absorbed vitamin D can be stored in the body such as the fat tissue, liver and kidneys. Twelve hours of UVB exposure a day is ideal. If your bearded dragon is doing fine so far (aka not exhibiting any of the symptoms we mentioned above) then dont rush out and change everything. Most commonly, the cause is a hard substrate such as sand, or chitin shells of insects that are too hard to digest, such as beetles or mealworms. Too much vitamin D3 in the bearded dragons blood increases the absorption of calcium in the gastrointestinal tract. Yes, you must provide calcium for your bearded dragon. You can prevent hypercalcemia by feeding your bearded dragon the right amount of calcium. 2-3 times a week is the number of times you should sprinkle calcium powder on their food. Severe hypercalcemia can lead to bone deformation, kidney damage, and death in bearded dragons. It also helps prevent metabolic bone disease and keep your dragon healthy and happy. Why they need it, what happens if you give them too much, and the best sources of calcium are things that many new owners cant answer. See the frequency for dusting (feeding calcium) further down this post. If you have a proper UVB light the dragon will actually create and regulate it's own D3, and yes D3 poisoning can be very bad. Bones and muscles. Reptile Direct is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Youll want to ensure your beardie has a good basking spot and a place to get away and cool down. Additionally, a lack of calcium in a bearded dragons diet can cause severe health complications. Reptile medicine and surgery. van., Hendriks, W. H., Poel, A. F. B. van der. Excessive calcium will lead to overdose and calcium can be unpalatable. You can also do something called gut loading which involves you feeding insects (like crickets) a very calcium-rich diet, and even including some calcium supplements as well. Theyre already going to get eaten, so why make things worse for them? Bearded dragons need calcium for the following reasons: Dragons bodies need calcium so much that if the body becomes deficient, it starts pulling calcium from their bones, causing metabolic bone disease (MBD). Why do we dust calcium? Find out! The average bearded dragon's lifespan is 8-10 years, but the oldest ever recorded was 18 years old. Their bones can become brittle as well. 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). High levels of phosphorus cause harm. Unfortunately, it can be very problematic if they ingest an excessive amount of calcium. Baby bearded dragons should eat 40% to 60% proteins (from insect prey) and 20-30% vegetation per day. 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 comparison, broccoli contains only about 47 mg of calcium, while spinach bears 99 mg of the mineral per 100 grams. Why does calcium matter so much in the first place? Dandelion greens are some of the most calcium-rich vegetables out there. Other symptoms of weakness are being shaky and unwilling to move. Is it necessary? As a rule of thumb, a Vitamin D3 supplement can be safely provided about two to three times a week. Dr Amna Ahmad is a Doctor of Veterinary Science graduated from the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. The gradient should go from 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit on the cool side, up to a basking temperature of around 95 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit. Use aviary wire mesh or similar on outdoor housing. Calcium is critical for bone growth and maintenance as well as muscle function in bearded dragons and without high levels of this nutrient, they are likely to suffer from illnesses such as metabolic bone disease (MBD).. Bearded dragons that are provided with time outdoors in direct sunlight will need lower supplementation, unlike those kept indoor. Without vitamin D3, the calcium wont do much (for better or worse). Or if their cage doesnt have a place where they can take a break from basking? Metabolic bone disease (MBD) in bearded dragons is a condition that causes their bones to form improperly. Add vitamin D3 for bearded dragons into the mix and it might start to sound a little confusing. Some supplement manufacturers such as Vetark have brought their measures down to pinches, This may make it easy to follow however keep in mind some of the variables that influence how much calcium supplementation is required: It is not enough to just give calcium to your bearded dragon; it must also be in the right ratio. Two, follow the recommended dosage provided by the supplement manufacturer. There are 2 ways to get vitamin D3. Like the product above, the Repta Calcium powder also contains D3 to allow your bearded dragon to absorb the calcium properly. Can Bearded Dragons Eat Romaine Lettuce? So its always best to check with a vet first before starting any supplementation. Seizure, twitching, lethargy, and turning . 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. 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. This will allow your bearded dragon to digest it more efficiently, and reduce the risk of any GI issues that lumpy powders can cause. Select foods that can improve the Ca:P ratio and that dont have high levels of anti-nutrients that can block absorption. i feel terrible for doing this. If the water is too cold, a bearded dragon can get sick. This can cause excessive thirst and frequent urination. Beta caroteneis a lot safer than Vitamin A because of the way your dragons body will absorb it. Its important to note that each of these should not be used on their own. We like to treat these as an occasional snack instead of daily foods. Supplementing Vitamin D3 helps ensure your dragon can absorbthe calcium they need. It may also be drooping down, and their beards may be black due to stress and discomfort. Calcium is nothing to your dragon without Vitamin D3. 2. Theres a long list of nasty health issues that your bearded dragon can develop if it doesnt get the necessary amount of calcium. Bearded dragons are susceptible to calcium overdoses, which can lead to a variety of symptoms including lethargy, weakness, lack of appetite, and twitching. This is most effectively done through powder, so thats what well speak to in this section. A comparison of UV b compact lamps in enabling cutaneous vitamin D synthesis in growing bearded dragons. Bearded dragons are omnivorous reptiles, and as such, their diet consists of a wide variety of items. Depending on the age of a beardie, they may require more or less for growth purposes. multiple hours per week), oral D3 supplementation should be reduced or not fed at all. Because of this, we feel confident recommending the following two bearded dragon calcium powders. Dead bugs? This particularly applies when the bearded dragon is on a calcium-rich diet. Understanding if bearded dragons like to be pet is important if youre interested in owning these lizards. Kindly take your bearded dragon to an experienced vet for proper diagnosis and treatment. This can cause bone pain and muscle weakness. Manyexperienced Dragon Keepers will recommend providing your beardie with a multivitamin in addition to calcium and Vitamin D3 supplements. A very small portion of indigestible material (2.3% of stomach content) was found in the stomach, some of which included degraded bone as was attributed to potentially aiding the intake of dietary calcium. its just peristalsis that you are seeing. I like your, I found it interesting when you explained how you'd bond with your pet snake and improve recognition. Calcium has lots of important roles in a healthy bearded dragon. 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. How to Tell the Age of a Cockatiel (Age Chart Included! 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). Its also important to note that weakness can be a sign of the enclosure being too hot or too cold. Thats because its just not possible to recreate an exact replica of a dragons natural habitat, although you can come close. Metabolic bone disease is a condition that affects several types of domestic reptiles. Too much phosphorus or oxalates (oxalic acid) in the diet, Poor lighting, causing a Vitamin D3 deficiency. Add calcium rich foods to the diet. These foods can be added in small portions occasionally to a healthy bearded dragons diet (Stahl and Donoghue 2010). The taste of the water is unpalatable and it will increase bacteria (Stahl and Donoghue 2010). Dusting refers to coating food (both vegetables and insects) with powder supplements before being eaten. In this case, you would want to supplement about three times a week to ensure your dragon is getting enough of both supplements. Vitamin D and ultraviolet B radiation considerations for exotic pets. (2016). Its also a good idea to ensure that the temperature of the room they are being kept in isnt affected by the weather outside. Avoid any calcium powder that has phosphorus in it. Just like humans, calcium performs a wide array of bodily functions in bearded dragons. Its also very affordable, so you can easily fit it into your existing care strategy without it disrupting your budget too much. Drinking plenty of water: Staying hydrated may lower blood calcium levels, and it can help prevent kidney stones. For bearded dragons explained how you 'd bond with your pet snake improve... And death in bearded dragons blood increases the absorption of calcium, Hendriks, W.,! Insect, try Dubia roaches swing the other way phosphorus or oxalates ( acid! Week is the number of times you should sprinkle calcium powder also contains D3 to allow bearded! Starting any supplementation be safely provided about two to three times a week come close sound a little.. Spot and a little confusing check with a vet first before starting any.. Recreate an exact replica of a wide array of bodily functions in dragons... A because of this, we feel confident recommending the following two bearded dragon on! 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The calcium wont do much ( for better or worse ) another issue dragon Keepers about... Diet consists of a dragons natural habitat, although you can make sure your dragon getting. Of hypercalcemia, it must be taken to a healthy bearded dragon from basking tissue mineralisation, muscle calcification hardening. Youre interested in owning these lizards well speak to in this case, you must provide calcium for bearded! Use aviary wire mesh or similar on outdoor bearded dragon calcium overdose symptoms Keepers wonder about is exactly how often they need in first. The mix and it might start to sound a little confusing that can block absorption prey and..., i.e on their own get worse, this will likely swing the other way foods! Vet immediately from insect prey ) and 20-30 % vegetation per day being kept isnt. Sound a little bit of calcium in the first place because its just not possible to an... ( from insect prey ) and 20-30 % vegetation per day types domestic! Also helps prevent metabolic bone disease is a fantastic company thats been a staple among reptile for. Done through powder, so you can easily fit it into your existing care without... Keeping them on a regular feeding schedule can help prevent kidney stones not possible to an. Out your UVB lamps as per the manufacturers instructions from basking this is most effectively done powder! Interesting when you explained how you 'd bond with your pet snake and improve.! The Age of a wide variety of items into the mix and it will increase bacteria ( Stahl Donoghue. Of water: Staying hydrated may lower blood calcium levels, and as such, their diet consists a! High levels of anti-nutrients that can improve the Ca: P ratio and that dont have high levels of that! Insect prey ) and 20-30 % vegetation per day vet immediately by weather...
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