Metabolic Bone Disease in Captive Reptiles

[Catherine]

Reptiles are not that difficult. If you buy from a proper store they have the right lighting for whatever reptile you choose and they have the right foods and supplements. People run into trouble when they buy a reptile from the internet (Kijiji, Craig's list etc.)
Under those circumstances they are not going to get the information they need.  There is information on the internet, but it isn't always good.

Someone bought a water dragon and online she was told to give him a much bigger tank even though he was still a baby.
She wasn't told to increase the strength of his heat light. It was the right size light for his smaller tank. It wasn't enough for his big tank. He died.

We are trying to save a chameleon right now. Somehow the person found something online that said he didn't need a UVB light.
His bones have become quite soft and deformed. He can no longer climb. We may be able to recalcify his bones, but they are deformed. I feel sad for him. He is a beautiful lizard and he should be in his prime right now.

Of course some people don't know how to feed themselves either so I shouldn't be surprized they fail to feed their pets.