Getting the Little Man Help... (MBD and the Quest for Knowledge)

[sebastianzhall]

Regarding my previous post, and thanks to @Beman 's help, I am almost certain Montague has MBD. I take full responsibility for this and believe I could have done more research before obtaining him to have prevented this, so I am now taking the chance to do as much research as I can on them to hopefully prevent this in the future. I have ordered the Reptivive supplements, a new (and correct) UVB bulb, and I've scheduled a vet appointment a few days from now.
Until then, I will be doing everything in my power to keep him well. Any advice is greatly and warmly welcomed.

I am using this as an opportunity to learn and do better, so any information you or someone you know may have on: MBD (Metabolic Bone Disease), tending to a cham with MBD, veiled chams, male veiled cham enclosures, veiled cham diets/feeding, bettering husbandry, or anything relating to veiled chams and keeping them happy and healthy would be very much appreciated.

I am hoping to get him on the road to recovery very soon, and will (try) to continue to post updates. Thank you all very kindly.

 

[sebastianzhall]

@Beman @NashansCamos

 

[kinyonga]

In your other thread @Beman toldyou your chameleon has MBD.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/husbandry-review-im-new-to-this.176953/#post-1587580

To correct it your chameleon will need a liquid calcium from a good chameleon vet...and in addition to that, your chameleons husbandry needs to be corrected to help to correct the MDB and then to keep it from returning.

More to follow.

 

[kinyonga]

Husbandry...
It's important to feed/gutload and dust the insects properly so that the chameleon has a good nutritious diet.

I feed/gutload crickets, roaches, superworms, locusts, etc with an assortment of greens such as dandelions, collards, kale, mustard greens, endive, escarole...and veggies such as, squash, zucchini, sweet red pepper, sweet potato, carrots, and a small amount of fruits such as apples, pears, mango, papaya, melon, etc.

For supplements I dust the insects lightly, just before feeding them to the chameleon, with a phos free calcium powder at all feedings but 4 a month. One two of those 4...one feeding every two weeks, I dust lightly with a phos free calcium/ D3 powder and the other two, once every two weeks, I dust lightly with a vitamin powder that contains a beta carotene source of vitamin A.

Calcium needs the D3 either from the sun or UVB light or the supplement to be able to use the calcium in its system for bones, muscles, etc in its body.

Dusting only twice with the D3 supplement ensures that the chameleon gets some D3 without overdosing it and leaving it to produce the rest of the D3 it needs from its exposure to sunlight or the UVB light. (D3 from supplements can build up in the system but D3 produced from exposure to UVB/sunlight won't as long as the chameleon can move in and out of the UVB at will.)

The best UVB light is the long linear reptisun 5.0 tube light. @Gingero did a video on it...can you give th eOP the link please @Gingero please?

Appropriate temperatures will aid in digestion and thus help with absorption of the nutrients.

Of course, water, and other things are going to play a part too.


Still more to follow...

 

[kinyonga]

MBD...
https://www.chameleonforums.com/thr...-like-how-it-happens-and-how-to-fix-it.95071/

https://www.madcham.de/en/metabolic-bone-disease/

https://www.adcham.com/html/veterinary/mbd-fractures-kramer.html

Forgot to say...the liquid calcium will only be needed until the bones and muscles, etc are strong again...they the regular supplementing, etc is all that should be needed.

 

[Beman]

@sebastianzhall listen to the feedback from @kinyonga. She knows what she is talking about

 

[kinyonga]

@sebastianzhall listen to the feedback from @kinyonga. She knows what she is talking about

Thanks for the vote of confidence @Beman ...but I'm still learning too...even after 30 years.

 

[Beman]

Thanks for the vote of confidence @Beman ...but I'm still learning too...even after 30 years.

If I had even a quarter of the knowledge that you have I would consider myself very lucky! You have amazing knowledge and feedback. And honestly we all are still learning it is never done with these guys. But you know your stuff inside and out. I have seen it tons of times here.

 

[kinyonga]

If I had even a quarter of the knowledge that you have I would consider myself very lucky! You have amazing knowledge and feedback. And honestly we all are still learning it is never done with these guys. But you know your stuff inside and out. I have seen it tons of times here.

Thanks @ Beman...you are a fast learner yourself.

 

[Gingero]

Here is the UVB video that @kinyonga mentioned:




Here are a few others you might find helpful:

 

[sebastianzhall]

Thank you @Beman @kinyonga @Gingero for all your help and resources, I appreciate you all greatly.

 

[kinyonga]

Thanks @Gingero!