limb tremors in blue

prcdslnc13 · Member Joined: Feb 16, 2005 Posts: 30

I came home from work today to my tegu asleep. At first it looked like he was kicking like a dog dreaming then I noticed it was in all his limbs and its was like tremors. Whats going on!??? Im really worried about this and Im going out of town for work for five days early tomorrow morning

tupinambis · Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 6:48 pm Post subject:

Muscle tremors are usually first sign of metabolic bone disease. Likely something is wrong with your tegu's calcium metabolic pathways.

prcdslnc13 · Member Joined: Feb 16, 2005 Posts: 30

well hes still very mobile and hasnt lost muscle movement yet. I havent been able to dust his crickets in a week or so because Ive been out of calcium and so has my petstore. Im assuming this is where my problem is stemming from as he has a mercury vapor light so uvb shouldnt be an issue. At this point do you guys think these effects should be revesable with a corrected diet? Im going to go find some more dust tonight hoepfully.

tupinambis · Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 7:21 pm Post subject:

It is easily correctable at this stage IF it is indeed diet related (which it usually is). However, one week of non-dusted crickets is not going to do it. It is a sign that your diet is likely incomplete and you need to re-evaluate what you are feeding your tegu.

prcdslnc13 · Member Joined: Feb 16, 2005 Posts: 30

hes currently getting crickets superworms and a pinky once a week. Ive been trying fruit and greens with him but he hasnt been interested in them. Do you have any other advice Im really worried about this especially since Im going to be gone after tonight until thurs. my girlfriend will be looking after him though
and she can handle most things well

tupinambis · Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 11:44 pm Post subject:

You might need to check your bulb to see if it's putting out sufficient UVB.
The bulb needs to be put within proper distance so that UVB output is not absorbed entirely by the air. Usually about ~1' for fluorescent bulbs, <3' for self ballasted mercury vapor bulbs.
There cannot be glass, plastic or other material between the bulb and the tegu or else it will filter out all/most of the UVB. Mesh or screen will reduce UVB transmission as well.
The foods you have been offering are usually extremely low in calcium, high in phosphorus. You need to balance the tegu's diet so that it has a calcium:phosphorus ratio of 2:1 or 3:1. Pinkies are better than invertebrates as the staple for the diet (however, variety is important). Earthworms are actually pretty good, better than most insects. Gut loading your crickets as opposed to dusting them is a better alternative. Proper vitamin content would also be advisable. Not only D3 is necessary for proper calcium metabolism, but selenium as well.

Hellbound · Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 11:47 am Post subject:

I posted on the same subject awhile back. My tegu was having the same problems. Muscles shaking and didnt seem to lift himself off the ground when he'd walk. Someone recommended that i get him on a solid mouse diet and, get a better bulb(which it sounds like you have), and to put him on liquid calcuim. I used bone aid by T-rex. I feed Zeek a mouse a day with 3-4 drops of calcium on it. It was only about 3 days before i started to notice a difference. Now 3 weeks later i give him 3-4 drops a week and hes back on his normal diet of a vareity of berries, insects, and mice. Id say hes about 95% back to normal which is way more than i was expecting! Good luck!

prcdslnc13 · Member Joined: Feb 16, 2005 Posts: 30

I was out of pinks so i chopped up an adult mouse last night after I posted that. He went to town on it and downed half the thing (its amazing how much they eat that thing was almost as big as him when it was whole!!) and My girlfriend called me today and told me that hes basically back to normal. She said she didnt see any shakes at all in him. We got some night crawlers last night and I picked up some Rep-cal. I finally found some!! so yea hopefully the little dude will perk back up. Ill keep you posted though and eventually post some pics of him!!

Hellbound · Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 8:56 pm Post subject:

Cool man glad to hear it! hope the little guy recovers fully! Id still keep him on a just mouse diet for a week or so, just to make sure. And if you do notice him trembeling after that try the liquid calcuim, like 12 bucks or something. Thats what made the huge difference with mine. Good luck!