I'm ashamed to be a human!
I went into my local REPTILE only shop today to see if they had silkworms because my boys (Bert and Ernie) haven't been eating their feeders...
As I was looking around I noticed a tank with 4 ADULT dragons in it. The tank was about 18 in by 18 in. 3 of the dragons were active and glass dancing which is what drew me to the tank but the 4th one was very dark in color just laying flat with his eyes closed. I called the owner/manager over and said - something is wrong with him I think he's dying - he went and got the keys and opened the tank up and put the dragon on the ground - totally nonresponsive - wouldn't open his eyes - he said this was the first time he'd seen the dragon- some other kid came in from the back and the owner asked him about it and the kid said someone had traded him in yesterday (and if by traded him that means they gave this owner a healthy rep I'll be so MAD) - anyway I picked up the dragon - he opened his eyes a bit - one eye is dark/damaged looking and he had a HUGE chunk missing from his tail - his nails were long - I asked for a pair of clippers to cut them and did.
Anyway I eventually got the guy to give the dragon to me. I was asking him if he had the time to care for him etc. I asked if he ever took them to the vet - his response was that the vet was too expensive and they didn't know what they were talking about half the time anyway. He said oh well his tail will just fall off in a few weeks that's no big deal and I'll just give him some antibiotics. I played nice so that I could get him to give me the dragon.
As soon as I walked out the door with the dragon I started bawling! I called my vet - thank god the GOOD reptile vet was in - but only until 2 pm (this was 1 pm when I was calling) - I explained my emergency and the vet said to bring him in. He stunk so bad - between the rotting tail and his whole underside being caked in poop.
Anyway - she gave him IV fluids, amputated his tail and sent me home with 3 medications - 2 antibiotics and 1 antinflammatory/pain med. She thinks the darked eye is just damage from a fight. She thinks he's about 3 but couldn't be sure. He weighed 398 grams - not sure what his length was prior to amputation. She wanted me to bathe him when I got home which I did. He smells better but still a little stinky - I think his scales are also stained from whatever substrate he used to be in.
I have a question about the "holes/dots" that run along their back legs though - what are those? ON my 2 dragons they are flat - slightly raised but on this guy one is like sticking out - not to be gross but almost looks like a big pimple that oozed
I'm praying this guy will make it. Even though the last thing I need is another dragon but I couldn't leave him like that. I wouldn't have been able to forgive myself! I've cried on and off several times since I first walked out of that store today!
Such a sad day for me today.
I went into my local REPTILE only shop today to see if they had silkworms because my boys (Bert and Ernie) haven't been eating their feeders...
As I was looking around I noticed a tank with 4 ADULT dragons in it. The tank was about 18 in by 18 in. 3 of the dragons were active and glass dancing which is what drew me to the tank but the 4th one was very dark in color just laying flat with his eyes closed. I called the owner/manager over and said - something is wrong with him I think he's dying - he went and got the keys and opened the tank up and put the dragon on the ground - totally nonresponsive - wouldn't open his eyes - he said this was the first time he'd seen the dragon- some other kid came in from the back and the owner asked him about it and the kid said someone had traded him in yesterday (and if by traded him that means they gave this owner a healthy rep I'll be so MAD) - anyway I picked up the dragon - he opened his eyes a bit - one eye is dark/damaged looking and he had a HUGE chunk missing from his tail - his nails were long - I asked for a pair of clippers to cut them and did.
Anyway I eventually got the guy to give the dragon to me. I was asking him if he had the time to care for him etc. I asked if he ever took them to the vet - his response was that the vet was too expensive and they didn't know what they were talking about half the time anyway. He said oh well his tail will just fall off in a few weeks that's no big deal and I'll just give him some antibiotics. I played nice so that I could get him to give me the dragon.
As soon as I walked out the door with the dragon I started bawling! I called my vet - thank god the GOOD reptile vet was in - but only until 2 pm (this was 1 pm when I was calling) - I explained my emergency and the vet said to bring him in. He stunk so bad - between the rotting tail and his whole underside being caked in poop.
Anyway - she gave him IV fluids, amputated his tail and sent me home with 3 medications - 2 antibiotics and 1 antinflammatory/pain med. She thinks the darked eye is just damage from a fight. She thinks he's about 3 but couldn't be sure. He weighed 398 grams - not sure what his length was prior to amputation. She wanted me to bathe him when I got home which I did. He smells better but still a little stinky - I think his scales are also stained from whatever substrate he used to be in.
I have a question about the "holes/dots" that run along their back legs though - what are those? ON my 2 dragons they are flat - slightly raised but on this guy one is like sticking out - not to be gross but almost looks like a big pimple that oozed
I'm praying this guy will make it. Even though the last thing I need is another dragon but I couldn't leave him like that. I wouldn't have been able to forgive myself! I've cried on and off several times since I first walked out of that store today!
Such a sad day for me today.