Too many follow ups. Bearded Dragon

Question
QUESTION:   Copied from last question>>>>((((He has began to eat the crickets but not very many a day prob like 3 or 4.  Because he doesn't seem to eat very many at a time I have been leaving them in his cage through out the day and removing them at night. I tried to just put a few in for 10 or 15 min then go remove them but my little baby doesn't always start eating right away he takes little time to become interested it them.  Is that ok.  I always change out all his beading and clean his cage at night anyway so I make sure to get them all out before lights out.  Also he sleep ALLOT.  He will sleep in my hand.  Its kinda scary at times I'm worried he is dead but when he is awake he runs around allot and is very active he even ate some of his salad off my finger the other day.  Again thank you for all your help
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Answer   Hello Amanda,
It is ok to leave them in there if he is awake during the day. If he sleeps during the day or is ignoring crickets if they walk on him then its not advised. Many times I hear about crickets chewing at the toes of their lizard. But if he is aware when a cricket crawls on him or if he is awake during the day then I dont see a problem. Just dont leave too many in there adn try to add something like a tall shot glass that somehow crickets can get into but the dragon cant and place a chunk of potato or some gut load in the shot glass. So the crickets get hungry they dont go after bearded Dragon they go after their food.
What are the temperatures in the tank and outside of your house? I am wondering if he could be starting to brumate.
Let me know..)))))))))

I copy pasted all that so you could remember who I was I fidgured you prob answer alot of questions a day.  Anyways, I was wondering he was burmating to.  Its really hot out side I live in Texas but I keep my house pretty cold I keep a UVB Buld and his night time heating light on him all day long and we have a heating pad underneath the tank ( I do cover that side with double paper towl to ensure he doesn't burn him self)  The thurmometor reads like 95 but its stuck to the out side of the tank so its prob alittle hotter in the tank and at his basking spot.  I just hope he isn't sick.  He does sleep ALOT durning the day and its like a lifeless sleep but he always wakes up when I mess with him quit a bit.  He is just so tiny I worry ALOT about him.  I have had several Reptiles in the past but he is my first beardie and proving to be the hardest to care for.  Thank you very much for all your help

ANSWER: Hello Amanda, how long are your lights on during the day? During summer and spring months the lights should be on 13-14 hours a day where as in winter and fall months 10-12 is better. If your lights are only on for short times like this during the day it could be very likely that he thinks its time to start brumating.

If you are concerned and nothing seems to be getting better a vet check up wouldnt help.

Let me know,
Yexalen

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QUESTION: ok now I'm really worried his light are on atleast 13 hours.  But now he seems sick he is curling up in alittle ball and cant walk properly, he tenses up to the right and cant turn back the other way.  Is that normal for burmation? I didn't think it looked normal but I have done everything I can think of to help him I give him baths like I'm supose to keep his light like I'm supose to and I feed him like I'm supose to I'm begining to get discouraged!

ANSWER: Amanda, you need to take him to the vet. He may have a medical problem that needs proper attention, medication, and diagnosis. This is not normal behavior and sounds like it could be severe.

Turn his substrate to papertowels, give him a little extra heat Cold side about 85-90 warm side 95 Basking spot 105
Take him to the vet and explain all you can to them.

http://www.herpvetconnection.com has vets listed by area all over the world.

Good luck and let me know how it goes
Yexalen

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QUESTION: A friend of mine is a vet I have spoke to him some about it he thinks its MBS.  I'm giving him 3 drops orally with a dropper of Calcium supplement, and a Reptile-aide( to provide him with about 100-200 calories a day)  Just to insure he is intaking something to regain strength.  I have also lowered his UVB bulb alittle lower I believe that is what prob caused the problem.  He is acting allot better he is able to walk in a straight line now and is becoming more coordinated.  I'm still having to remove the crickets legs so he can catch them but he is atleast showing some interest.  I do plan on taking him to the vet if things don't continue to improve. Are there advantages in using the Tube UVB bulb over a regular UVB bulb I bought one that says UVB and UVA but also does heat and its bright.   Should I switch to a tube and how can I get it close enough to him.  I have a 20 gallon tank with a screen top.  I heard somewhere of someone using a tubelight and lowering it low enough for the babies is bask on top of it.  I'm assuming it didn't put off heat? I got a digtal thermometer and its working much better his basking spot is about 103 most the time and thats right by the basking area, I find allot that he lays on the ground though where the warmer is.  Well thank you again for all your help.

Answer
I think you are talking about MBD (Metabolic Bone Disease) Which after your last question is what I was thinking as well. Which is treatable, not reversible, and can be fatal so all in all I think its a huge risk to "wait" to take him to the vet.

What kind of UV are you using?

If you are using Coil Bulbs then they need to be removed ASAP because they have been known to cause severe problems

You will want a tube UV light and a Heat light. UV lights dont produce heat as heat lights dont produce UV rays. So both are neccesary.

Here is some information on MBD in Bearded Dragons:

http://www.repvet.co.za/health_metabolic_bone_disease_mbd.php

Good luck
Yexalen