Metabolic Bone Disease???

[yager]

Can Axies get that? My 2.5 incher, i have noticed lately that his back legs are just sort of hanging there. I have been feeding him chopped earthworm, bloodworm cubes, and pinhead crickets. Should i be supplementing his diet with something for calcium??? The temp is 69 degrees but the lighting is pretty subdued.

 

[Bellabelloo]

You seem to be feeding him the ideal food. Keep a close eye on the water temperature though as 69F is getting a little too warm.

 

[melfly]

Have his legs always done that?

Mel

 

[coichards]

Do his legs actually move?

 

[Derm]

Mine do that too, from time to time. But my are older, I contribute it to laziness, cause they don't do anything unless they are hungry.

 

[Darkmaverick]

Hi Yager,

Axies are a bit unique in that their skeletons have a high composition of cartilage rather than bone compared to many other animal species. Also because they are fully aquatic, their limbs are not really 'strong' in the sense that they are not adapted to moving on land (unless they morph, which by then would also develop stronger limbs). As such, axie's limbs by themselves are not as skeletally 'dense'. If a radiograph shot was taken of the axie's legs, you would see that the bones are not as compact and dense as other animals.

However that said, the axie should be able to move the limbs. As long as they can move, regardless of frequency, that would indicate normal bone, muscle and nervous function.

Metabolic bone disease in axies is still an area that needs more research and clinical studies. In general, nutrition plays a big part. The diet you are feeding, as Julia has reassured, is suitable and should meet the axie's nutritional demands. I would like to direct you to another thread that discusses the role of light exposure that is hypothesised to be involved in metabolic regulation. There is a school of thought, at least in vet fields that some very limited light exposure can actually promote better bone metabolism. Limited light exposure refers to very low UV light source (aquarium light/fluorescent) for up to 6 hours per day in a tank with plenty of shaded hiding places.

http://www.caudata.org/forum/showthread.php?t=59626

Cheers.

 

[yager]

Thanx guys his legs appear normal today... I believe his legs looked like that because he had previously (the day before) eaten more than he ever had. I believe he was going through a growth spurt with the back legs so to speak because today his hind legs appear stronger and longer.