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I broke one of the golden rules and bought three scawny male collards at the Oregon show that were part of a tank full of males, kept under a Powersun bulb. I was told by the owner they were captive hatched, but I doubt that given their condition. I have always wanted these guys, and I have never seen them available up here (Pacific Northwest) before.
I have put the three of them (maybe 4- 5 inches total in size) into a 60 gallon set up on newspaper with several rocks and climbing branches. The three seem to get along fine, and have each one taken over a section of the tank. They have two bulbs on them, 150 ceramic and 100 UVA heat bulb. They also have a tank long UVB florescent. High end is 82, hot spot 105.
However, two have dried up tails and all three are far too skinny.
I am not going to subject them yet to parasite treatments as my reptile vet warns against treating new animals too soon as it contributes to their shock.
I trickled fitered water into all three mouths. One threw up mealsworms on me. One (could be the same one) then turned dark and looked very poor so I force fed him super mealworms. He threw up once and kept it down the 2nd time, yesterday. He looks a little better today. I switched them over to sik worms today to try and fatten them up. I also added a bowl of salad mix which they either dumped over or are eating. Finally, I added a bowl of water for a day then took it out. Will add again this weekend. Also, sprayed down the tank a couple of mornings.
Any other advice on keeping?
They are not my only lizards.
I also keep:
2:2 San Esteban Chuckwallas
1:1 Calico chuckwallas
1:1 Common chuckwallas
1 Bearded dragon
I would like these three to make it so any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

norm

>>I broke one of the golden rules and bought three scawny male collards at the Oregon show that were part of a tank full of males, kept under a Powersun bulb. I was told by the owner they were captive hatched, but I doubt that given their condition. I have always wanted these guys, and I have never seen them available up here (Pacific Northwest) before.
>>I have put the three of them (maybe 4- 5 inches total in size) into a 60 gallon set up on newspaper with several rocks and climbing branches. The three seem to get along fine, and have each one taken over a section of the tank. They have two bulbs on them, 150 ceramic and 100 UVA heat bulb. They also have a tank long UVB florescent. High end is 82, hot spot 105.
>>However, two have dried up tails and all three are far too skinny.
>>I am not going to subject them yet to parasite treatments as my reptile vet warns against treating new animals too soon as it contributes to their shock.
>>I trickled fitered water into all three mouths. One threw up mealsworms on me. One (could be the same one) then turned dark and looked very poor so I force fed him super mealworms. He threw up once and kept it down the 2nd time, yesterday. He looks a little better today. I switched them over to sik worms today to try and fatten them up. I also added a bowl of salad mix which they either dumped over or are eating. Finally, I added a bowl of water for a day then took it out. Will add again this weekend. Also, sprayed down the tank a couple of mornings.
>>Any other advice on keeping?
>>They are not my only lizards.
>>I also keep:
>>2:2 Angel Island Chuckwallas
>>1:1 Calico chuckwallas
>>1:1 Common chuckwallas
>>1 Bearded dragon
>>I would like these three to make it so any help or suggestions would be appreciated.
>>
>>norm

I think its a case of swings and roundabouts when people buy sick animals, because the money goes towards buying more, but then again those few you have might not have had a life without your attention, so I commend you, lol (I've done the same thing myself on several occasions).

Re the feeding issue, I think that if they have not been eating, and are actually eating their greens you might find this causes them to have a runny gut, with the mealworms, if they have an empty gut and putting something in there that isnt the easiest to digest ie a hard exoskeleton, the reflux might cause them to throw it back up. Personally I'd use wax/silk worms for now, soft and not so heavy on the tummy. Also fattening, full of moisture and easily digested. A friend of mine has a collared that is reluctant to eat, sounds gross but he is feeding it liquidised pinkies, using a pinkie "press". Apparently the equivalent to a packet of butter.

Hopefully they will pick up, I wonder when you say their tails are dried up, is this through bouncing around or are they looking like they are about to drop off?

I sincerely hope they get better, there has been far too much of it going on, its really sad, hopefully your ending will be a happy one, just bear in mind that if they pull through they will need to be separated at some point as they grow before they start fighting over territory.
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Kel

www.collaredlizards.co.uk
0:0:1 Timor Monitor
2:2 Collared Lizards
1:6 Green Anoles
1:0 Dune Scorpion
3:0 Imperial Scorpions
2:0 Desert Hairy Scorpions
0:1 Mexican Red Knee Tarantula

Sorry you found a tank full of collareds in that kind of shape, but at least three have a chance now

They sound pretty thin and dehydrated, that's probably why the tails are dried up. If it were me, and I have had some pretty bad off wild caughts, I would first leave a shallow saucer of water in ther tank at all times. Maybe leave small puddles of water on a basking rock, or something flat too.

The water is really important now, but sometimes they are more attracted to dripping/ moving water, so you can attact them by letting an ice cube melt on the top of screen lid, and let it drip down into their shallow saucer of water you put in. Or use a paper cup on top of screen filled with water and put a pin hole in the bottom of cup and it will act as a slow drip also.

You should notice them drinking but if they still do not, you will have to use an eye dropper and put drops of water into the side of their mouth, slowly (dont' choke them)

I take guys like these and put crickets or small superworms, especially the ones who are moulting(white and soft) right into their mouth, even if you have to break the worm and put a smaller piece way into the collareds mouth.

I feed skinny sick collareds small but frequent meals, at least 3- 4 times a day. Have even used small amounts of gerbers baby food in a jar, chicken and vegtables, mixed with some canned dog food (some dog food is for anorexic dogs) and works well. Also can crush dry dogfood and add this to the babyfood, make a soupy kind of mixture and give with your dropper.

Have found it helpful to leave some heat on even at night,when they are sick. Seems to help them gain their strength faster.

Make sure you dust their food with some calcium /d3 powder.

I'm sure others will have some thoughts too, this is just some things I have done with sick, emachiated lizards that works for me.
I wish you the best with these guys and hope they all will do well, and soon after they gain their strength back you will be able to treat them for parisites later. Let us know how they do, Norm.

Glad to have you here with us!
Collareds/ Care/ and More

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PHEve / Eve

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