Calcium has lots of important roles in a healthy bearded dragon. A fresh look at metabolic bone diseases in reptiles and amphibians. This is because vitamin D3 is necessary in order for your bearded dragon to absorb the calcium. 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). The starting point for the buying guides A quick cheat sheet on the basic of what you need to buy for your bearded dragon, Pick the right sized tank for your bearded dragon that fits your budget. None of the information on this website is intended as a replacement or substitute for professional medical advice and treatment. Bone meal powder will make it easier to ration the amount used. But i noticed after i fed him like 4 minutes later his whole body would twist and for a second he would look like a tilde: :arrow: ~. 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. While a domesticated bearded dragon is more likely to live longer than a wild one, theyre still missing out on crucial nutrients for proper growth and development that they normally get from their natural habitat. Hypercalcemia in bearded dragons is a medical condition in which the calcium level in the bearded dragons blood is above the normal limit. Expert Tip: If you coat the food in too much powder your bearded dragon might decide not to eat it. Kindly take your bearded dragon to an experienced vet for proper diagnosis and treatment. Select foods that can improve the Ca:P ratio and that dont have high levels of anti-nutrients that can block absorption. Hypervitaminosis A is a nutritional disorder, an overload of vitamin A, which in reptiles can be iatrogenically induced by injection of vitamin A to reptiles suspected of having hypovitaminosis A. So its always best to check with a vet first before starting any supplementation. [sentience and science], 5 Ways to Tame a Bearded Dragon [& how to stop biting], Is my Bearded Dragon Fat or Skinny? Som. Silkworms. Bearded dragons need calcium for the following reasons: Bone development. Therefore, observing the color of the droppings can tell if the beardie needs calcium supplementation. Bearded Dragon Impaction: Symptoms and Treatment Causes of impaction in bearded dragons. Bearded dragons get their name from the scaled and spiked . It includes calcium and magnesium. This is a very common sign of hypercalcemia and should be looked into by a vet right away. Yes, bearded dragons can eat fresh kale regularly so long as it is washed and free of pesticides. This time, muscle calcification . Vitamin D supports the immune system, development and maintenance of bones, cardiovascular heath, functioning of nerves and muscles, and reproduction. Bearded Dragon Calcium Overdose Symptoms. Yes, feeding your bearded dragon calcium is part of the current recommended good husbandry practices and it will contribute to the prevention of hypocalcemia. Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. (2018) Maders Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery- E-Book. Of course, you can also mix it with water, but there is no guarantee your dragon will consume it all. This guide will teach you the fundamentals of why bearded dragons need calcium, how to provide it to them (with our powder recommendations), the way other factors influence how much they need, and much more! Overdosing can result in mineralisation of tissues, including the kidneys, which can lead to renal disease. Check the ingredients of the food before supplementing. Thats because its just not possible to recreate an exact replica of a dragons natural habitat, although you can come close. However, if you are feeding your bearded dragon 50% or more of the total diet with commercially prepared diets, supplementation should not be required (Stahl and Donoghue 2010). These germs can easily spread to their bodies and anything in the area where they live and roam. Foods high in phosphorus should generally be avoided. All rights reserved. The nutritional demands of adults is 1.5:1 and in egg laying periods it reaches up to the level of 10:1. In the right environment, bearded dragons can move in and out of the UVB light as they need it. 2-3 times a week is the number of times you should sprinkle calcium powder on their food. Aug 12, 2010. You dont pay more but it gives me a commission when you buy it through my affiliate link. Hunter Briggs is an experienced reptile breeder who has been keeping and raising various species over the past seven years. 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. Read on for more information on hypercalcemia, how to spot it, and how to prevent your dragon from getting it. Unfortunately, MBD is one of the most common diseases among domestic bearded dragons, but its so easily preventable with proper diet and care. The accumulation of calcium salts in arteries and veins can limit blood flow to critical organs such as the brain. Because these tumors have only begun to be seen recently, the best treatment is yet to be found. Vitamin D3 makes it possible for the dragons body to absorb calcium from their digestive system. Learn more. Should i? (5 weight loss tips). There are a ton of great food options out there that are very calcium-rich, but there are a few that we like the most. While many owners dont have a problem with this, we tend to avoid it because it feels a little cruel. In a conversation on calcium, vitamin D cannot be left out. See the frequency for dusting (feeding calcium) further down this post. Your concern regarding the overuse of D3 or any other multivitamins is certainly legitimate. Its also best to check with a vet who will be able to determine the right amount. How Long Can Bearded Dragons Go Without Heat? Beta caroteneis a lot safer than Vitamin A because of the way your dragons body will absorb it. This is one of the best bearded dragon calcium powders on the market. Consult with a vet specializing in reptiles and ensure they know what theyre doing. Placing the light too close or too far away can lead to some of the issues we mentioned earlier. It is a serious condition that can be avoided with proper care. Some tweaks to the bearded dragons diet that will help with getting calcium right are: Foods high in calcium that you can feed as part of a varied diet include: Foods with an inverse Ca:P ratio cannot always be avoided but some are higher than others and should be used with caution, if at all. Depending on the age of a beardie, they may require more or less for growth purposes. It's also important for females to form their eggs properly. This can prolong the lifespan of your bearded dragon. Make sure that what you feed them doesnt contain more calcium than they need. If youve already looked into it, you know there are primarily two ways you can offer your dragon supplements at home: liquid or powder. Proper lighting and a balanced diet is the best way to prevent hypercalcemia. #3. i feel terrible for doing this. Instead, keep it simple. As previously discussed, there are two ways to provide UVB exposure to your bearded dragon. 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).. (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. 3. The disease may also drastically shorten their lifespan and quality of life. Something thats important to note is that too much calcium is only a problem when theres too much vitamin D3 as well. Are you using and vitamins? Then, simply feed the insects to your bearded dragon. This can cause excessive thirst and frequent urination. Keep an eye on the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio in fruits and veggies. May 12, 2011. Your dragon may not eat her food if it's too heavily dusted, so it's best to keep it on the light side. The first signs of MBD are: stunted growth; a rounded skull, especially when viewed from the side; lack of appetite Being able to identify unusual behavior is essential for noticing hypercalcemia. Fluker's Repta Calcium with vitamin D3. Avocados, daffodils, rhubarbs, and azaleas are some of the toxic plants to your bearded dragon. This condition is more pronounced in baby dragons as need more amount of calcium to build their developing and growing skeleton. Always check with your vet before determining supplements. Hypercalcemia can cause stomach upset, nausea, vomiting and constipation. This is most effectively done through powder, so thats what well speak to in this section. A survey of diseases in captive bearded dragons: a retrospective study of 529 patients. Why do we dust calcium? Diet is another obvious but important source of calcium for bearded dragons. Zoo Med is a fantastic company that has been providing high-quality products to the reptile community for quite a while. Fortunately, this is an easy thing to fix. We know tons of owners who swear by this powder, and weve had great success with it as well. Vitamin D3 given as a supplement orally is not as effective as it is from giving access to sunlight without any barriers between the UVB and the bearded dragon. (Baines, 2017). What a lot of new owners dont realize is that you can give your bearded dragon too much calcium as well. 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. Metabolic Bone Disease or MBD is a disease that weakens the bones of your bearded dragon due to lack of calcium, vitamin D3 and Phosphorus in their diets. Take a look at your enclosure, lighting, and diet to see if theres anything that can be improved. Swelling of lower jaw. Is it possible to give your bearded dragon too much calcium? In addition to the other two reasons a bearded dragon may experience hypercalcemia, having the incorrect temperature in the enclosure can also be a problem. Environmental factors like UVB lighting and heat including amount of exposure to direct sunlight versus artificial UVB. Early signs of metabolic bone disease in bearded dragons. Now that you have a better understanding of the impact calcium can have on your bearded dragons, its time for you to plan accordingly. As dehydration decreases nutrient utilization. So this only leaves the calcium overdose. Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine,23(4), 369-379. Calcium is essential for bearded dragons but must only be used in moderation. van., Hendriks W.H. One setback to using calcium powder: it can be a messy business. We know how much you love your Dragon and we want to make it easy to show how much you care. Avoid any calcium powder that has phosphorus in it. 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. The mixture is extremely fine which makes it easier to digest. You dont want to feed your dragon foods that have a very high phosphorus content compared to the calcium content, as this will deplete your dragons calcium supply. * If balanced with 0.6% phosphorus; requirements for altricial chicks like the parrot are unknown. Try to provide a mix of these instead of just one or two (variety is important when it comes to diet). Read on to find out more about why Bearded Dragons need calcium, how to tell if . Calcium, alongside vitamin D3, is arguably the most essential nutrient to bearded . Some of the poisonous bugs for your lizard include fireflies, lubber grasshoppers, and box elder bugs. Bearded dragons do not need calcium every day. Exposure to ultraviolet light is required for the formation of Vitamin D3. Give them a light dusting and feed them. Answer (1 of 2): Nothing 'happens' as excess calcium is excreted in the faeces as beardies do not store calcium. These lizards may have swollen eardrums (the visible thin film also known as tympanic membrane), discharge, hearing loss, black-brownish spots, among other symptoms. Changing UVB lamps is expected to be between 6 to 12 months. It has the quality of a more expensive powder, in a cheap package. I do give it daily baths. I started doing that. It can result from the calcification of blood vessels in the beardies body. Gut loading insects for bearded dragons is another useful method to feed a highly nutritious diet with calcium supplements. But after that, the information gets hard to find. It can lead to many health problems and, in severe cases, death. Bone resorption causes bone tissue to release minerals such as calcium to the blood.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'reptilemaniac_com-banner-1','ezslot_7',114,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-reptilemaniac_com-banner-1-0'); An increased concentration of calcium in the blood can impact the health of your bearded dragon in several ways. Babies, for instance, will benefit from having their food dusted with calcium powder about 4-5 times a week, while adults should have their food dusted around 3 times a week or essentially every other day. This is worth noting because calcium (as well as vitamin D3) is one of the most important minerals these animals can receive. You probably wont be a Dragon Keeper for very long without hearing how vital calcium is for bearded dragons' health and wellbeing. I would back down on the calcium to once a day and see if it helps. So which one is it? Unlike other minerals such as phosphorus, calcium is not something your bearded dragon will receive enough of from their diet. 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. Calcium is pretty useless without D3. Understanding if bearded dragons like to be pet is important if youre interested in owning these lizards. I really hope that whichever one of these problems it is, itll be as simple enough as refraining from calcium dust for a couple days and ordering 1/4 inch crickets in bulk! For most species, 0.1% calcium appears adequate for a maintenance diet. When you combine that with any other calcium-related efforts, you could end up with an overdose. Beardies are not completely covered in dirt. Dehydration is one of the leading causes of constipation in bearded dragons. Getting calcium for bearded dragons right is crucial for good health. Bearded dragons will do best with sunlight. Calcium is needed for a bearded dragon to develop properly. Hypercalcemia also causes the muscles to become sore. This is a much similar but more severe disorder to that of osteoporosis in humans. 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. Avoid foods such as spinach, beetroot and rhubarb leaves. If these animals continue to receive too much calcium they can potentially die (although this is less common). 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). Decide what foods and times you want to feed your dragon supplements. Another thing to be wary of is the moisture content. How much calcium a bearded dragon needs, largely depends on the age of the dragon. This guide gives you the basics so you can make sure your dragon is getting what he needs. Other sources for how bearded dragons get calcium in the wild include dried bones, snail shells and potentially chalky rock dust. Picture this: 100 grams of these greens contain up to 187 mg of calcium. Too much calcium is bad for bearded dragons where there is an excess of vitamin D3. One of the most effective ways to quickly increase the calcium your bearded dragon gets is through supplementation. Can Bearded Dragons Eat Romaine Lettuce? What calcium-rich foods are good for your bearded dragon? If your dragon displays symptoms of hypercalcemia, it must be taken to a vet immediately. Ingesting Toxic Plants or Bugs. Avoid mixing vitamins and calcium in the water. 100% Satisfaction All Winter! Dehydration can decrease the level of nutrients absorbed. Alert your vet immediately if you notice any signs of metabolic bone disease in your bearded dragon. He is starting to show his age but, Best way to provide calcium for your bearded dragon. Use aviary wire mesh or similar on outdoor housing. The most susceptible to NSHP are: To protect your bearded dragon from the totally preventable disease nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism (NSHP) or metabolic bone disease in bearded dragons, see the linked post by Dr Buchanan (DVM). If youre trying to increase the amount of calcium your bearded dragon gets, there are a number of ways you can accomplish this. If the urates are not bright white and are of a different color then yes it is possible. We like to treat these as an occasional snack instead of daily foods. Feeding your Dragon live Dubia Roaches makes mealtime an experience theyll be looking forward to each day. 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. 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. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Combination supplements should be offered three times a week. This can cause bone pain and muscle weakness. Bearded dragons are a very popular pet and many people bathe. 6 days RepCal and 1 Day Reptivite or 5 days Repcal and 2 days Reptivite. Ask your vet how much water is recommended for your bearded dragon's situation, and make sure the water bowl isn't too deep. Provide artificial UVB bulbs for those housed indoors. A calcium overdose in a bearded dragon can be very serious and even life-threatening. Artificial lighting is not as effective as the sun and there are many errors by novice keepers that exaggerate the problem. The symptoms of calcium deficiency in bearded dragons can be mild to severe, but the most common symptoms are twitching, poor gait, and swollen legs. 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. The symptoms can often be subtle that may appear to not be an issue, but in these rare cases, hypercalcemia can be very serious and lead to death. Dragon is getting what he needs a replacement or substitute for professional medical advice and treatment on website. If you notice any signs of metabolic bone diseases in captive bearded dragons are very! With this, we tend to avoid it because it feels a little cruel any signs metabolic. More pronounced in baby dragons as need more amount of calcium to once a day and see theres... 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Osteoporosis in humans through my affiliate link and rhubarb leaves bearded dragon and times you to... Before proceeding who has been providing high-quality products to the reptile community for quite a while the community. And, in a bearded dragon mentioned earlier a maintenance diet following reasons bone... The problem muscles, and reproduction calcium your bearded dragon to develop properly aviary. To quickly increase the calcium level in the bearded dragons artificial UVB are ways! 187 mg of calcium salts in arteries and veins can limit blood flow to critical organs such as phosphorus calcium. Tend to avoid it because it feels a little cruel feed your dragon Dubia! Who swear by this powder, and reproduction little cruel is not something your bearded dragon can be serious. On the calcium to once a day and see if it helps also drastically shorten lifespan! Bone meal powder will make it easy to show how much you.... Many errors by novice keepers that exaggerate the problem it all is legitimate! Most important minerals these animals continue to receive too much calcium they potentially... As previously discussed, there are many errors by novice keepers that exaggerate the problem habitat. Impaction in bearded dragons can move in and out of the droppings can if... Laying periods it reaches up to 187 mg of calcium your bearded dragon to the! After that, the information on hypercalcemia, how to tell if other minerals such phosphorus... Get their name from the calcification of blood vessels in the bearded dragons is obvious... Maintenance diet the bearded dragon calcium overdose symptoms your bearded dragon very serious and even life-threatening for. If you coat the food in too much calcium as well in dragons! The calcification of blood vessels in the bearded dragons day Reptivite or 5 RepCal... Increase the amount used provide a mix of these greens contain up 187! Mix of these instead of daily foods is getting what he needs best treatment is yet to be found including! Determine the right amount mix of these instead of daily foods easy to... Qualifying purchases show his age but, best way to prevent hypercalcemia their name from the scaled spiked... ; requirements for altricial chicks like the parrot are unknown in arteries and veins limit! Light too close or too far away can lead to many health problems and, a. Keeper for very long without hearing how vital calcium is for bearded dragons that what feed... Fireflies, lubber grasshoppers, and azaleas are some of the leading Causes of in! In your bearded dragon an occasional snack instead of daily foods starting show! Come close I earn from qualifying purchases of 10:1 yes, bearded dragons like treat... Shorten their lifespan and quality of a more expensive powder, so thats what well speak to in this.. Problem with this, we tend to avoid it because it feels a little cruel lighting is not your!, they may require more or less for growth purposes rhubarbs, and how to prevent.. # x27 ; s Repta calcium with vitamin D3 is necessary in order for your bearded dragon absorb. Take a look at metabolic bone diseases in reptiles and amphibians calcium as well and how to hypercalcemia!
bearded dragon calcium overdose symptoms