My roommate has a bearded lizard who's been sick for a

Hello and thanks for posting your question on JustAnswer.com. My name is***** and I have been a veterinarian for over 21 years, specializing in aquatics, reptiles, amphibians, avian and other exotic species. You may already be aware, but on this platform veterinarians can provide insight and advice, but as this is not considered a legal client-patient relationship, we are unable to prescribe medications, provide medical records or sign documents for your specific pet. For that you would need to make an in person visit with a local veterinarian. I am happy to chat with you via text but if you are interested in a phone call instead that is an option you can choose for an additional charge. In the meantime, I am putting together some questions that will help me learn more about what’s going on with your pet.

I am sorry to hear that your room mate's bearded dragon Bella is under the weather. I'm surprised that they have not been able to help, as Angell Memorial in Boston has a fairly good reputation. Are they suspecting she has "metabolic bone disease"?

Metabolic bone disease (MBD) is a complex disorder, also called nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism, that is unfortunately not uncommon in pet bearded dragons, especially juveniles. It is typically caused by improper nutrition: feeding a diet too high in fat, oxalates or phosphorus and too low in calcium and Vitamin D3. But insufficient lighting and low temperatures can also play a role. Deficiency of Vitamin D3 is either from a dietary lack or insufficient exposure to UV-B light which is needed to make the active form of Vit D.

However, skin turning green is not related to metabolic bone disease. It could be algal growth, discoloration from colored substrate or possible mildew/fungus on skin that is preparing to shed.

I have some husbandry questions that might help me to figure out what is going on:

What is the current tank temperature (basking temp, low range, high range) and what is the humidity?

Do they receive any access to UV light (outdoor time or UVB bulb on tank)? When was the UVB bulb last changed out?

Have they been eating normally?

What do you feed them? Do they receive any calcium or vitamin supplements?

If the dragon has metabolic bone disease and green skin, I would look to environmental conditions first to make sure conditions are in the correct range:

-Daytime temperature range with a cool side at 75-80F, a warm side at 80-85 and a very warm, focal basking area of 90-100F for adults and 90-105F for juveniles. A nighttime temperature range of 70-75F should be provided. 30-40% humidity is recommended. Although they are from an arid region, having sufficient humidity is important to respiratory and skin issues and not too much humidity is important to prevent secondary infections from moisture loving microbes.

-In addition to tank lighting that supplies UVA and visible light exposure, bearded dragons require UVB exposure to maintain proper health. Just as with temperature, their enclosure should have a gradient of UVB exposure with no UVB at the coolest end and highest at the basking spot. To avoid oversupplementing, at least ¼ of the tank should not be directly illuminated with UVB light. Distance from the UVB bulb is vital as it dictates how much UVB exposure an animal will receive in the basking site. Distance depends upon the type and UVB output of the bulb. The most common types of UVB bulbs used with bearded dragons are the compact fluorescent (CFL), linear fluorescent or mercury vapor bulbs. For example, a CFL or linear fluorescent 10.0 bulb should be placed no more than 16-18" from the basking site while a 5.0 bulb should be placed 12” or less. A mercury vapor bulb can be used in a larger enclosure due to its greated depth of UVB penetration, up to 3 feet. The mercury vapor bulb’s wattage dictates the heat output of these dual use bulbs it does not change the UV penetration. There should be no glass or acrylic between the bulb and the surface as these will block UV light. Note that metal screening between the bulb and the enclosure will cut UVB output of the bulb significantly, sometimes as much as in half. Conversely, UVB light reflectors can improve UVB penetration by bouncing and focusing the UV light produced by the bulb. All UVB bulbs loose effectiveness over time, even if the light still appears to be working, it may no longer be producing UVB. It's recommended that you change the bulbs regularly, compact fluorescent bulbs at least every 6 months, linear fluorescent bulbs and mercury vapor bulbs every 12 months. Some bulbs may last longer but the only way to know for sure if they are still effective is to measure their UV output with a meter that measures UV Index or total UVB.

Diet and vitamin/mineral supplementation are also important to help promote normal bone and skin health:

-Balanced diet of 30% vegetables and 70% insects for a young bearded dragon (< 6 months old) which are more carnivorous than the omnivorous adults. That should be reversed as they age and adults fed 70-80% of their diet as vegetables for an adult. Greens should be introduced to bearded dragons at a young age. Nutritional insects include black soldier fly larvae (soldier worm larvae), superworms, earthworms, Dubia and cockroaches and the occasional wax worm, mealworm or silk worms (limit them due to their high fat content). Vegetables should be a variety of primarily dark leafy greens (greens: dandelion, collard, lettuce: romaine, green/red leaf, Boston, parsley, broccoli, etc.). Limit feeding oxalate ***** *****s like swiss chard, spinach or beet greens. A small amount of other vegetables (carrots, beans, peas, squash, etc.) and be added; variety is the key! Salad should be chopped and offered in a clean bowl or plate once to twice a day. They can be given flowers and fruit as treats or as top dressing on the salad, with fruit not making up more than 10-20% of plant material fed each day.

-Calcium and vitamin supplementation: 2-3x per week dusting of salad mix with calcium powder (without Vit D3) and 1x per week light dusting of reptile multivitamin powder with vitamin D3. Insects should be dusted with calcium powder just before feeding at every meal and crickets should be both gut-loaded and calcium dusted always. Do not use calcium with vitamin D3 for daily dusting as oversupplemenation of vitamin D3 can lead to toxicity. It is better if the reptiles make most of their own vitamin D3 from proper UVB exposure. And if the bearded dragon is not yet reliably eating salad, dust the insects once weekly with a reptile multivitamin powder with vitamin D3.

And general tank care is important:

-Clean environment. Avoid sand or gravel substrates as bearded dragons may eat this and become impacted. Paper towels, newspaper, slate, tile or reptile carpeting are safe alternatives. Make sure to clean the substrate at least every other day or more frequently as it becomes soiled.

If you have any specific questions about housing or nutrition, please let me know I would be happy to advise.

I will be notified if/when you respond with additional information so we can connect about Bella but in the meantime, I hope this information is helpful. Thanks again for posting your question to JustAnswer.com. Sincerely, ***** *****