Why are my bearded dragon's legs shaking? What does it mean?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Reptile | Other Reptile
My bearded dragon is shaking quite a bit in its legs and I’m not sure whats wrong with him/her.
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on March 31st, 2019
Thanks for reaching out about Ryuu and including photos. Shaking limbs is often and indication of metabolic bone disease, which is a calcium deficiency. A veterinary visit can evaluation diet and husbandry, as well as Ryuu. Crickets and mealworms are a poor diet, even if dusted with calcium. Good luck.
4Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on April 2nd, 2019
Thanks for reaching out about Spike. Not sure it there is a good answer. A thought would be early metabolic disease or a neurologic condition (such as adenovirus) stimulated by eating. If this persists, a veterinary visit would be a good idea, for a physical examination and evaluation of husbandry/diet. Good luck.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Food & Nutrition
my bearded dragon's hind legs stick straight out to the sides when he is trying to catch his food, right after he eats it his hind legs are raised up and shake a little bit and his tail sometimes sticks straight up and shakes and bends multiple times
Thanks for reaching out about Spike. Not sure it there is a good answer. A thought would be early metabolic disease or a neurologic condition (such as adenovirus) stimulated by eating. If this persists, a veterinary visit would be a good idea, for a physical examination and evaluation of husbandry/diet. Good luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I can’t tell if my bearded dragon is having tremors or what I’m really worried please help.
Thanks for reaching out about Draco. Tremors or twitching in young reptiles can often be due to low calcium levels, often associated with an inadequate diet. Check and correct diet and husbandry including temperature and UVB exposure. A veterinary visit is highly recommended to assess, provide a diagnostic plan and review diet/husbandry. Good luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I am a first time leopard gecko owner and I noticed her two front legs look like it is in pain and when she walks she is like shaking while walking and she hasn’t eaten in two days?
Thanks for reaching out about Daisy and including photos. Difficulty using front legs can possibly be due to a calcium deficiency and metabolic bone disease. A review of husbandry and diet is recommended. If the problems persists, a veterinary visit is recommended. Good luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I just purchased a baby leopard gecko from petco. I noticed it was the smallest of all of them and occasionally it will shake its legs individually like thumper... what could this be ? It eats really good!
If it is only occasionally, continue to monitor him/her. A nutritional deficiency is always a concern, especially in juveniles, but as long as the appetite is good this is not a concern. Be sure to supplement with a calcium/D3 at each feeding and a multivitamin several times a week. Repashy, HerptiVite and Rep-Cal w/D3 are all options. If the shaking/thumping worsens or if you see lethargy, lameness or swollen limbs/joints, then have the little one examined by your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My bearded dragon I just got which is a month and 3 weeks old is having problems with back legs. I noticed her back legs wobble and shake, and seems unenergized. Anything I can do to help her ?
This may be due to nutritional deficiency or digestive issue (impaction impinging on nerves). If Medusa is defecating normally, it likely is not a digestion issue. If she is having difficulty defecating, soak her in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte for 15-20 minutes. Gently massage her abdomen during the soak to encourage defecation. Feed appropriately sized prey to prevent impaction/constipation. Prey should be no bigger than the space between her eyes. Gut load prey for 24 hours prior to offering to maximize nutritional value. Check temperatures since low temps can affect appetite and digestion. A calcium deficiency is another possible cause. Juvenile beardies need more calcium and vitamin supplementation than adult beardies. Rep-Cal's Herptivite multivitamin powder and Calcium with D3 powder are the gold standards for supplements. Dust prey twice weekly with the multivitamin and 5 days per week with the calcium powder. As your beardies mature, they will requ
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Food & Nutrition
My bearded dragon has uncoordinated back legs. He otherwise looks and acts healthy, he has a good setup and eats well. The problem is just his walk, it tends to get him flipped over on his back which I know is stressful for him and makes it hard for
Thanks for reaching out about Sky and including photos. By the picture it appears this might be a congenital concern. Radiographs will give possible answers. Some viral diseases (i.e. atadenovirus) can also cause neurologic signs. Good luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My bearded dragon has a lump on his lower back and has been having troubles moving his back legs. Should I be concerned? Is there anything I can do?
Thanks for reaching out about Mushu and including pictures. You should be concerned and a veterinary visit is recommended. The lump on the back appears to involve the spine. The rear legs appear swollen and front legs held awkwardly. First thoughts are around metabolic bone disease, which arises from calcium deficiency, whether lack in diet, lack of absorption or lack of ultraviolet radiation. A veterinary visit can help with diagnosis and prognosis, provide injections of calcium and vitamin D3, and oral calcium supplements. Good luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hi so i have a bearded dragon i got her a month ago & 2-3 days ago she was doing these weird wiggling with her arms & legs today i checked up on her & it seems to look like she has a broken toe but it didnt seem to bother her at all she is very activ
Thanks for reaching out about Nessie and including photos. Twitching of toes is often associated with calcium deficiency whether dietary or lack of UVB radiation. If continues, a veterinary visit is recommended, and not to wait too long as these deficiencies can result in other problems such as weak bones, weak muscles and more. Intestinal infections, inflammation or parasites can affect absorption. See a veterinarian. Good luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I just bought my baby bearded dragon and he is stressed from moving and shedding so he has not been eating and today when I picked him up he seemed dead so I put him in water and he started spazzing out doing twist and stuff and now he will barely mo
Thanks for reaching out about Mushu. No sure if a definitive answer but hypocalcemia, parasitic enteritis, atadenovirus, are all possibilities. A veterinary visit is recommended. Check and correct husbandry and environmental temperatures should be up to 90-100 F. Offer water via a syringe to maintain hydration. Good luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Food & Nutrition
Good evening. I have an 8 year old female iguana, eats a big amount of food every day, veggies fruits and commercial food, she likes everything. Gets UVB light about 7 hours a day, outside of the cage 5 hours and 10 hours of sleep. Recently she is ge
Thanks for reaching out about Baby and including photos. Could you include the radiograph? The arm does appear swollen. Calcium deficiencies and metabolic bone disease, are the most common. Has the UV bulb been changed in the last 6 months? Neurological problems can also cause twitching, so if the radiographs are normal, a comprehensive reptilian profile is probably the next step, as kidney disease can also cause tremors. Good luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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