2 Month Hatchling swollen joints

**peartato** · 04-05-2011, 09:35 AM

I just got four hatchlings, approximately 2 months old according to the owner, and one of them has significantly more bulbous joints than the other three... nothing else seems wrong with him, he's just as active as the others and his tail doesn't look kinked or anything... just much bigger, rounder knees and elbows. As far as I know, they have only been fed crickets thus far and I just started providing them with a very small dish of CGD which a couple have taken to already... is this possibly just a deformity, something common that I'm making a big deal out of, or something bad that could be fixed if paid attention to right away? I can provide pictures if anyone thinks it will really help!
Thanks!

**Jaybee** · 04-05-2011, 09:53 AM

Not sure if I've personally ever witnessed much larger joints between different geckos... considering their previous diet it could have played a part. If you can get pics that might help a bit.

**danar1977** · 04-06-2011, 03:50 AM

In general the most common reason for swollen joints in a reptile is a calcium definiency.
I would look into adding calcium into the diet. Seperating that gecko would be a good idea, and IF it is from a lack of calcium he/she will be very clumsy, so I would personally put it in a KK and keep it from climbling too much.

PLEASE NOTE**I have only had cresteds for a couple years and am no expert. I used to breed Veiled Chameleons and it was a common thing to get them back from a buyer with swollen joints due to a lack of calcium. If they did not feed any CGD and they did not DUST the crickets, this would be MY opinion on what it is. \

Good luck!!

**lauraleellbp** · 04-06-2011, 01:55 PM

Swollen joints is one of the common symptoms of MBD (metabolic bone disease). It would take a vet and x-rays to confirm that diagnosis, but based on their improper diet to date if they were not fed CGD and only crickets, I think it's a very distinct possibility.

Posting pics may help members determine how severly swollen the joints are in comparison to "normal" and therefore how urgently a vet trip may or may not be needed. If you do take one in, I would go ahead and take them all in as they all came from similar conditions.

For future reference- I would avoid that "breeder" at all costs for the future, and next time research breeders very carefully to be sure that they are actually providing proper care to their hatchlings. It's possible that these youngsters may have sufferered permanent damage based on their malnutrition.

Another good resource to research breeders before buying to give yourself the best chance of buying healthy animals and not supporting unethical breeding is the BOI (Board of Inquiry) at www.FaunaClassifieds.com.

I hope I'm not scaring or discouraging you- but I'm someone who believes in preparing for the worst, while hoping for the best...

**peartato** · 04-08-2011, 12:21 PM

Thanks for the suggestions so far! I'm not sure if I'm making a big deal out of it... I'm just being careful.
Here are some pictures...

I got him to eat some CGD off my finger

You can see his knees a little better here...

And here's one of the other babies, for comparison... There's not TOO big of a difference, but it's obvious that the other guy has rounder, bigger joints compared to this dude who has very angular, perfect little knees.

So, his tail isn't kinked at all, his jaw looks fine, and he's happy to eat off my finger and is getting used to CGD now... does it look like he has a problem? Also, just to put it out there, this isn't their habitat, I put them in a plastic bin to take clearer pictures