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AtomicCow   Minya   Pocochu  
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 #2117209


AtomicCow
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 Shedding issues.

Hey everyone! I have a 3-4 year old water dragon named Calypso and she seems to be very small for her age. She’s a VERY finicky eater and will absolutely refuse to eat sometimes. I don’t feed her mealworms because she throws them up and the only things she’ll eat are crickets and purple grapes. I do gutload the crickets and she gets her vitamins and calcium weekly.
I’m in the process of getting a new UVA/UVB bulb for her, so right now she has a red light and a regular bulb to keep her warm.
What I’m concerned about is the skinniness in her legs and her lack of proper shedding. She’s always had trouble shedding, but I really can’t remember the last time she had a full shed. I applied some vet prescribed cream on her with no luck. She also twitches occasionally which I know could be symptoms of MBD, but her bones feel and look fine and she’s only gone without a UVB bulb for a short while. Other than that, she acts like she always has.
ANY advice would be great. Thanks!

~Nicole



01/25/10  02:07pm

 #2117215


Minya
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   Message To: AtomicCow   In reference to Message Id: 2117209


 Shedding issues.

hi! what kind of UVB are you using and how far away from it is she? you know most tubes have a reach of 12-15 inches. it sounds like her digestive system is weak. crickets are high in phos which is hard on the kidney’s. can you get a picture to us? what’s your temps and humidity levels? can let us know more about your viv?



01/25/10  02:28pm

 #2117383


Pocochu
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   Message To: AtomicCow   In reference to Message Id: 2117209


 Shedding issues.

Hi Nicole,

Oh Boy you need to try and get her on a better diet...Have you tried Superworms, Silkworms, Roaches, even Hornworms....Does she eat any pinkies or fuzzies?..

You really need to get her a uvb light ASAP....Giving her the vita & calcium really isn’t helping her, it could be hurting her....her body can’t break down the calcium with out the uvb.....

The twitches could be a sign of MBD, but I’m thinking they are caused by hypercalcemia (too much calcium) and like Minya said crx are very high in phosphorus and that could damage the kidneys..I almost lost one of my dragons do to a phosphorus over load..she started to go into renal failure..but with fast thinking and acting I was able to save her..it was touch and go for a few days..but she pulled through...The only thing she would eat was crx..but with some tough love and a little bit of force feeding of other foods...she eats anything now I put in front of her..she gets NO crickets...

I don’t mean to scare you but you really need to change that diet and get her a new uvb light..or you might lose your little girl.....The shedding problem is most likely do to poor diet...

What are her temps & humidity levels and what is her enclosure size?

Annie...>^..^<



01/26/10  04:00am


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