- Messages
- 3,684
This is them at almost one year old.
VARNYARD said:They are around two and a half feet long, guessing.
Azaleah said:My red is supposed to be almost a year old, but he is still really tiny. His previous owner put him through brumation, so I hope thats why and that hes not permanently dwarfed for any reason.
VARNYARD said:Yea I agree they are looking hot, they are by far my favorites.
And Azaleah, improper care would be the main cause of lack of size as well as the weak jaw pressure, that is a sign of MBD. Improper UV lighting and a lack of rodents and calcium.
Azaleah said:VARNYARD said:Yea I agree they are looking hot, they are by far my favorites.
And Azaleah, improper care would be the main cause of lack of size as well as the weak jaw pressure, that is a sign of MBD. Improper UV lighting and a lack of rodents and calcium.
He is under UV light with me (10% bulb over screen lid) and thought he doesn't eat rodents (he just doesn't seem to like them), he eats chicken giblets, cherries, grapes, eggs, and crickets, most if not all dusted with calcium powder.
Would improper care from his previous owner cause him to be dwarfed for good? I am very worried about him now :/.
VARNYARD said:It could keep him from getting to full size, but the thing about MBD is that the damage that is done cannot be reversed. With proper care it can be stopped from progressing and getting worse, but the damage that has been done already will be there regardless. The bones that are weak can get stronger, but they will never be like the normal well cared for animals. Tegus grow fast when they are young, the lack of UV and calcium cause them to become handicapped with weaker twisted bones and less growth, when compared to a healthy animal of the same age.
I have seen animals that had MBD as a baby and they did grow into large adults, but the signs do show from the damage when they were young. Most often times you see overbites, under bites, bent spines, and feet that turn in or out. This does not show the internal damage that has been done. It all depends on how long it takes to get them back on proper care as to the damage that has been done; there are many cases that it is too late to catch it in time. If yours has a good appetite, then that is a very good sign that he can live a happy life.