The treatment of MBD

[Drayvan]

Well I asked on my other thread but it only started as a picture thread so not sure how many responses it will actually get. Basically a few days ago I bought an albino crannie, was told he didn't really eat much and all they could get him to eat was pinkies. I didn't see how he was kept, but as you can see he's had sand stuck to him (first picture) so im guessing he was kept a little dry.

Anyways! Since he's been here he was moved onto eco earth and then left alone to settle, with the odd locust thrown in for him to eat in his own time. Today I decided to try to get him to tong feed. After a little encouragement it turns out he has a voracious appetite, i'm hoping that means he's feeling better in his new home. Unfortunately when he was feeding his enthusiasm meant he grabbed the tongs, which is when I noticed his lower jaw was quite rubbery/soft. Other than that to me he looks ok, but do you think i've caught it in time and the correct husbandry will see him right? Or is there anything else I can do for him? I know not to overload him with calcium and D3 as thats almost as bad as none at all, i'm hoping slow and steady, consistent correct care will do him good, I just hope his internal organs are ok

Anyway, thanks for any help you can offer. The second picture is of him a few minutes ago, freshly shed and just eaten a few locusts and crickets.

[DVirginiana]

Glad you got him and are caring for him properly. While pinkies aren't good to feed more than once a month, they do have a fair amount of calcium and vitamins in them compared to crickets and other insects that haven't been dusted, so he may have gotten lucky there (since someone keeping one on sand probably wouldn't bother to dust the prey).

He may not even have MBD, or if he does it is probably really mild if all you're noticing is slight jaw weakness. Severe MBD usually has them having difficulty moving, unable to push themselves up and sit normally with their front legs, and they can't keep their jaws closed, so the bottom one kind of hangs open. As long as he's eating well and you're supplementing properly with calcium and vitamins, I think he'll probably be just fine.

[Drayvan]

Thankyou! That's really reassuring He's managed to shed so he's quite mobile although his hips look a little 'off' to me and a bit of an underbite, but that could just be because i'm worried and seeing what I think shouldn't be there. He can also support himself on his little front legs, in fact he's sat up, peering out at me right now. He's quite young still too, only about 2 inches, if that, so whatever bad keeping he's had, hasnt been for too long I would guess.

He is a little 'squishy' though compared to my other 2, almost like a water balloon but im thinking maybe thats just because I don't really feed rodents to my other 2 so he's bound to be a little flabbier than they are as he's eaten more fatty food.

[Thevacantface]

My girlfriend picked up an ornate from Petco with a droopy mouth around Christmas, just made sure it's had a proper dosing of calcium during feedings and all seems good now. I also adopted a Cranwelli from someone on craigslist at about the same time that was significantly malnourished, frog was said to be 6 months old and was barely bigger than a froglet. He's also doing much better with good calcium and vitamin regiment, still seems stunted in his growth and a severely hooked nose and poorly developed lower jaw that makes it a little tough to catch his dinner, but he does pretty well with a little help. Basically I'm saying that if you properly care for your frog now, he will do alright.

[Thevacantface]

If he is feeling squishy with a liquid feeling, I would be a bit concerned that he may have edema and should be examined by a herp vet.

[Drayvan]

If he is feeling squishy with a liquid feeling, I would be a bit concerned that he may have edema and should be examined by a herp vet.

It's not so much liquid feeling as just a bit baggy, if that makes sense? It doesn't feel like he's filled with water, it just looks a bit like it, although that was prior to him shedding... maybe it wassomething to do with that? I might take him for a check up regardless, just to put my mind at ease, I was going to anyway but because it's an hour away I wasn't sure if it would stress him out more than necessary.

[Thevacantface]

A good checkup is always a good thing, if he doesn't seem sick wait until he is well settled in because that will be a stressful day for him and it would be beneficial for him to have a familiar and safe feeling environment to come back to. They always do feel very squishy just before they molt, mine all puff themselves up really big for a few minutes, then deflate and peel off their old top layer of skin they just stretched loose.

[monster]

Hi, im thinking if he is only about 2 inches he still isn't very old. If it just feels soft and he is eating good im almost thinking maybe it just feels soft because it isn't fully developed yet. Maybe that's all it is, my baby ornate that's about 1 1/4 inches give or take at the moment when he grabs on to the tongs its nothing to crazy or force full. Its kinda of a soft bite to be honest and I know 100% my little dude doesn't have mbd. I could be wrong so don't take my word on it but you would think if hes still growing his bones would be abit softer then a juvenile or adult. Im editing this, but I forgot to mention that from the pictures you have posted IMO his mouth seems to look fine. But again im not a vet and if you think something isn't right I would agree with TheVacantFace that checkup never hurts any. Oh and the part when I said I could be wrong I didn't mean that I could be wrong about my guy haveing MBD, it was regarding the development part.

[Drayvan]

Thanks! That's good to know I don't mind helping him catch his food if it comes to that, as long as he's alright and not going to be suffering then i'm happy to do what he needs.