Suspected MBD

Question
Hi, I've asked you a question about my bearded dragon before and you did a wonderful job helping... but I've got a new problem now and I'm afraid that my lizard isn't going to make it. I have been using a fluckers cricket quencher to gut load my crickets, and its calcium fortified. I was told by the petsmart people that it would be enough calcium to prevent MBD. I have used this for four months starting in September, and I've noticed that my beardie isn't doing well. His symptoms are a stiffness of his hind legs, (he can still walk and maintain balance) a slightly open mouth in the front of his snout, and his head twitches rapidly but very slightly. He still eats a ton of crickets, as well as peas, chopped spinach, and green beans, and has no problems otherwise such as defecating or being lethargic. I do have the proper heating/lighting, you helped me with that last time. (For reference, he has a 100w heat lamp and a repti-glo 10.0 UV light. ) Does he have MBD? Or is he calcium deprived? Can I reverse this? I plan on picking up some D3 calcium fortified powder but have read that it is easily overdosed. Thank you for the help, I asked my local vet (he does my dogs) and he doesn't do, nor does he know anyone nearby, who will do a bearded dragon, so I'm very worried. Please help

Answer
Hello Eli,

The Reptiglo 10 tube bulb needs to be replaced with a Reptisun 20 tube bulb.  The Reptiglo 10 is not a very good bulb & lacks the wavelength which is conducive for D3 synthesis.  The Reptiglo 10 is acceptable only for a short time though, as it just is not as good of a light as the Reptisun 10.  
I would give regular calcium powder without D3 most of the time.  You can purchase the calcium with D3 as well to use maybe 1-2 times per day & then the other 3 times use the regular calcium.
Or you can get a liquid calcium to use for him for a little while to give him a boost.
The gutload food for crickets is not enough for him, no.I would cut out the chopped spinach though, as it is high in oxalates & can bind calcium absorption.  
You can offset this but you need to take immediate action to avoid him getting any worse.
The Reptisun 10 tube bulb can be purchased at  www.petmountain.com  


Let me know how he is doing.
Tracie