Reptile Room

[Evergreen]

My class got canceled yesterday so I decided to kill time walking around instead of sitting at a computer. I stumbled upon a Gen. Biology room with the lights on and a LOT of terrariums inside.

I waited outside the door to see if whoever was in charge of the room was coming back so i could ask to look around. I think I lasted 2 minutes before I spotted the iguana and marched right in... there were a ton of different species from a boa to anoles to clawed frogs, snapping turtles and lizards.

I seen superworm, mealworm and cricket colonies and I'm sure there were roaches somewhere but I didn't see anything. All the tanks were very clean and they all had clean water and fresh food. I was very pleased with how everything was set up until I came to the bearded dragons.

These guys defiantly don't look good. The first one looked at me and seemed fairly curious but he was very skinny, looked dehydrated and with the strange shape of his legs I was thinking he might have MBD (although he was not twitching). That second guy is the one that really worries me. Looks like he's got mouth rot and very bad eyes. I even tapped on the tank to try and rile him up but he didn't move and did not seem like he could open his eyes any more then they are in the picture. His claws need to be cut and his tail and back legs look like they're burnt. These guys were in maybe 20L or slightly bigger tanks, housed by themselves and did have fresh veges available but I can't remember what kind.

I found out that there is one guy that is in charge of all the animals in the biology department (has to be over 100 tanks between all the rooms). I'm sure he has help and all the other animals appeared to be in great shape (the iguana above has some shed on his spines, maybe new but possibly old). I'm tracking him down this weekend and going to see if he'll let me help out. I think it's great that these animals are available but he clearly needs help or at least a second pair of eyes.

I just wanted to share this with everyone and possibly take suggestions. Their caretaker has a lot of animals to look over but it's also his responsibility to make sure they are all healthy. I first thought that he must have recently rescued the dragons but their name tag and bio indicated that they had been there for several years.

 

[Scales]

You are awesome for wanting to help. Warms my heart!

Amy

 

[Irwinshealth]

Definitely what Amy said

 

[Evergreen]

Thank you, but I am very new to the beardie world so I'll need as much help as I can get. I've read dozens of posts on the health and ER forums about several different kinds of problems so I'm hoping I can use that information to help these two dragons (assuming I can even get ahold of this person and they are alright with me helping out) I'm so grateful for these forums, there is just so much information and pictures for everything. Thank you so much to the people that made it, monitor it and help us newbies! :study:
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Has anyone ever soaked their dragon in warm water with oatmeal? It's supposed to be a great home remedy for people and as long as I made sure the dragon didn't eat any of the oatmeal do you think it could help ease that dry and crusty looking skin?

 

[Esther19]

It is wonderful that you want to help out. Forgive me for offering advice, but being an old grandma and a teacher, I can't not butt in. My approach to the person in charge of the Reptile Room would be that certainly he/she must be overworked/stretched too thin, etc., and perhaps would consider some assistance with the beardies? Maybe they would be receptive to your offer. Best of luck with your endeavor. I know you will undoubtedly help improve their lives and health.

 

[Evergreen]

No, thank you much for the advise Esther. It's very helpful as I was really trying to figure out what to say to him at this point since I really do just want to help. I'm majoring in Zoology and really miss working with animals directly. At my old university we worked with farm animals but this new school is smaller so this is probably my only chance to really get involved with what I love to do.

I'm thinking I should have posted this in the General section of the boards as this isn't just specifically about health... I'll see if I can find some way to move it myself but if a mod happens to read this and agrees then I certainly wouldn't mind it being moved elsewhere.

In addition to the rather random oatmeal bath question I would also love to hear opinions/experiences on live planted aquariums. Many of the aquariums that housed the tranchula, preying mantis and scorpions had real dirt and were planted with soil and living plants. It looked really neat and although it wouldn't really work for a bearded dragon I was wondering if anyone else used live aquariums for their snakes or lizards.

~Andi

 

[Drache613]

Moved by Moderator from Health to General

 

[Evergreen]

Moved by Moderator from Health to General

Thank you ^^

 

[TASTIGER]

they need to get off that sand ASAP!! the poor things i really hope he lets you help because they are really unhealthy

 

[saleen89559]

My class got canceled yesterday so I decided to kill time walking around instead of sitting at a computer. I stumbled upon a Gen. Biology room with the lights on and a LOT of terrariums inside.

I waited outside the door to see if whoever was in charge of the room was coming back so i could ask to look around. I think I lasted 2 minutes before I spotted the iguana and marched right in... there were a ton of different species from a boa to anoles to clawed frogs, snapping turtles and lizards.

I seen superworm, mealworm and cricket colonies and I'm sure there were roaches somewhere but I didn't see anything. All the tanks were very clean and they all had clean water and fresh food. I was very pleased with how everything was set up until I came to the bearded dragons.

These guys defiantly don't look good. The first one looked at me and seemed fairly curious but he was very skinny, looked dehydrated and with the strange shape of his legs I was thinking he might have MBD (although he was not twitching). That second guy is the one that really worries me. Looks like he's got mouth rot and very bad eyes. I even tapped on the tank to try and rile him up but he didn't move and did not seem like he could open his eyes any more then they are in the picture. His claws need to be cut and his tail and back legs look like they're burnt. These guys were in maybe 20L or slightly bigger tanks, housed by themselves and did have fresh veges available but I can't remember what kind.

I found out that there is one guy that is in charge of all the animals in the biology department (has to be over 100 tanks between all the rooms). I'm sure he has help and all the other animals appeared to be in great shape (the iguana above has some shed on his spines, maybe new but possibly old). I'm tracking him down this weekend and going to see if he'll let me help out. I think it's great that these animals are available but he clearly needs help or at least a second pair of eyes.

I just wanted to share this with everyone and possibly take suggestions. Their caretaker has a lot of animals to look over but it's also his responsibility to make sure they are all healthy. I first thought that he must have recently rescued the dragons but their name tag and bio indicated that they had been there for several years.

Please do what you can. The bearded dragon you are talking about with the mouth rot also has claws that are so long, they curve back 180 degrees from the dragons fingers. That dragon needs to see a vet immediately to determine its health problems. Being lethargic, it is hard to tell a lot of things. He could have parasites, MBD, or a host of other things. Also an age assessment should be looked into because if it has health problems and it is quite old, it might not survive any treatment. Also convince whoever is in charge to allow the cages to have their substrate changed, the beardie's swollen eyes could be due to debris in them.

 

[RandyMarsh]

This is Ri-****-ing-diculous. That poor little guy!! If nothing else you should print off this thread in totality and slip a copy under his door. Maybe that would make him feel bad enough to get some help caring for all those reptiles!! Besides, if he's a professor, where the hell are all the students in the herp program who should be assisting him?

 

[Zeusmybeardie]

Does the second one have a stub tail

 

[Evergreen]

They both have stubbed tails but the lighter dragon with the eye problem has more missing and its tail looked like it had a sunburn.

The man in charge of all the aquariums is not a professor but I seen a picture of him and I'm thinking he's either a student or recently former student. Ill try to contact him kindly and see if he will let me help out but if that doesn't work I will tell him what he needs to do for those very sick liards. If nothing changes after that ill contact the biology department and they will have no choice but to get them help.

I don't know for sure but I believe one of them was from 2002 and the other 2006so that would make them fairly old at this point. The room these animals are in is a biology room where nonmajors take their required courses so unless some were herp people by hobby chances are no one has reported their condition. Although it doesn't take a biology major or even an interest in reptiles to know that something is wrong with them.

EDIT: Im working on an email now and would love some imput since I really only have one shot and am relying on him agreeing to let me help...

Hello, I was waiting for my Gen Bio II lab this last Friday and noticed an iguana in the room across so my curiosity got the best of me and I took a look around. I think I spent an hour looking at all your different set ups and species, I've never seen a planted aquarium before and I thought the community tank with the anoles looked fantastic. My professor later told me that you were in charge of all the aquariums in the biology department but she wasn't sure if you needed or were looking for any help.

I am majoring in Zoology and I would really appreciate the opportunity to work with the different reptiles you have, whether that's helping with the regular feeding, cleaning or general maintenance. I've had experience with Leopard Geckos and currently have a Bearded Dragon but could easily catch up on the others as well.

and that's as far as I am at this point

 

[AHBD]

You might start off suggesting that the beardies need a soak [ supervised , esp. the ailing one] They probably don't get any soaks, and the only hydration they get may come from their food. They would probably drink quite a bit. That, and he could also spray gently with a spray bottle every few days on the tip of their nose, this can get them to drink. The keeper there may not be aware that most beardies won't drink from a bowl.

 

[lauraj1055]

Please go and steal those beardies.. I don't care that stealing is wrong.. Animal abuse is more wrong.