Bearded dragon birth defects.

Question
QUESTION: About 3 months ago I had a bearded dragon hatch that was missing an eye and had a badly kinked spine. The kink started about half way down it's back and bowed up. He did fine for a month, ate crickets fine, caught them ate them, ate a variety of greens well and was misted daily. I provide UV lighting and take my babies out for natural sun weekly. After his month mark, we decided to keep him, he began to spiral rapidly. within 3 days he was gone. he came from a pairing of a hypo male and a het hypo female. their previous clutches had no problems. I did not think it is from them.

last night I had another clutch hatch that is from the same hypo and het hypo pairing. One hatchling is missing an eye and the other's tail is kinked at the base but is otherwise a very good looking hypo.

I am very worried about the "cyclopes" hatchling after what had happened to the last one and will not be making that pairing again. I got them from 2 different people one living where i do and the over state lines.

I replace the UV bulbs every 5 months, they get mixed greens of turnip, mustard, kale, collard greens, squash, diced berries seldom, sliced green beans and powered with calcium. protein consists of crickets, dubais, reptiworms, rarely small hornworms, and wax worms. I also mist the babies about 2-3 times a day.

Is there anything i can do to make these little dragons have a happier and longer life than what i am already doing?

ANSWER: Hello Ray,

Well, while I have no experience with hypos & hets for hypos, they are highly inbred reptiles which will increase the risks of birth defects.  
What type of UVB are you using, a fluorescent tube bulb or a compact/coil light?  What brand is the UVB light?  
How often do you supplement with calcium?  


Tracie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The UVB I use is 24in tube by zoo med. For the hatchlings I powder the greens with every feeding, daily, and the insects every other feeding, every other day. The UVB lighting is about 13 inches above the hatchlings. Give or take an inch from the shelving I installed.

If there is anything else you would like to know please let me know.

ANSWER: Hello Ray,

Is there anything separating them from the light, screen?  If so, how thick is the screen or how small are the squares in the screen top?
The Reptisun 10 ideally should be 6-8 inches from them, for maximum UVB.  
The calcium is best used once daily, 5 times per week. That is if they are eating enough of the powder on their foods.  If not, you can add a bit more on their greens. You can use vitamins a couple of times a week.  You can overdo the calcium, but since they are growing it is not quite as much of an issue as it is for adults.
How are they doing?

Tracie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Right now there is no screen. Then they grow an inch longer I will be placing a screen on top so that they do not climb out. The screen is a normal screen, gray, like you would see used for windows.

I use a multivitamin spray on the greens because it does not let the calcium coat the insects well. They are eating roaches right now, small because they are easier to catch than crickets and I have plenty of small nymphs from breeding the roaches.

They hypo with the kink is eating well and the kink is less noticeable since it hatched. The one eyed het hypo is catching the roaches as well and like all the others are kept separately so that it does not have to fight for food or get picked on by other dragons.

I avoid greens high in vitamin A and iron to make sure they get as much calcium as possible. The reason why I coat the roaches is because at this point they are not eating a lot of greens even though it is offered daily.

I will measure the distance from the bulbs to the babies for a more accurate measurement.

Answer
Hello Ray,

Ok, the fine screen will filter out the UVB so maybe you could mount the light underneath of the screen top so he gets better UVB exposure.  
That is good he is doing well right now.  Maybe the kink will straighten out a little as he gets older.  
So, the dragon missing an eye, is eating on his own then?  I hope so.  I am glad you have housed him separately so he doesn't get picked on.  
I hope they are all doing super for you & that they are eating a lot, too.  
It sounds like they are getting a good amount of calcium, too.  
If you need anything, let me know.  

Tracie