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I went to my local reptile shop today. This is the only pet store I will do business with. I saw the most pitiful sight in there today, though. They had the tiniest baby bearded dragon I have ever seen. I swear, this baby looked like it JUST hatched. It is probably even smaller than some hatchlings. I wanted to bring it home so bad, but I can't afford it right now. I talked to one of the employees that I like, and he was concerned about the baby, too. He said he didn't think he would even sell it to anyone because it is too small. It was housed with only one other baby (not too much bigger) on paper towels. They are feeding it pinheads. He told me he is paying close attention to this one and making sure it gets its share. He also said that if he didn't see any improvement in a day or two, he would remove it to a tank of its own.

It seems to me that they are doing everything like they should. The only explanation I got for the small size was that they had been too crowded. Now they have all been separated out into more tanks. I am not lying when I say that this baby couldn't have been any bigger than my pinkie (not mouse, finger!!). They want $50 for it. I really don't think it will make it, though. How sad.

Then, the next store I went to (will remain unnamed) had the saddest looking leopard gecko I have ever seen. They had a baby in with an adult, and the adult bit the baby's tail off. This is what i got from the pimple-faced 16 yo that helped me. I know the tail will grow back, but he just looked so miserable. On top of his tank was a tank full of mixed lizard species. A Clark's spiny lizard in the tank had some awful looking nasal discharge. The others weren't even moving. I had to look closely to see breathing.

Well, it's been a bad day cruising the local pet shops. Deathco also had horrible conditions. Most feed dishes were full of pupated mealworms. Not a mealworm in sight, just pupae. Ugh! I need to go to bed.

Laura

>>I went to my local reptile shop today. This is the only pet store I will do business with. I saw the most pitiful sight in there today, though. They had the tiniest baby bearded dragon I have ever seen. I swear, this baby looked like it JUST hatched. It is probably even smaller than some hatchlings. I wanted to bring it home so bad, but I can't afford it right now. I talked to one of the employees that I like, and he was concerned about the baby, too. He said he didn't think he would even sell it to anyone because it is too small. It was housed with only one other baby (not too much bigger) on paper towels. They are feeding it pinheads. He told me he is paying close attention to this one and making sure it gets its share. He also said that if he didn't see any improvement in a day or two, he would remove it to a tank of its own.
>>
>>It seems to me that they are doing everything like they should. The only explanation I got for the small size was that they had been too crowded. Now they have all been separated out into more tanks. I am not lying when I say that this baby couldn't have been any bigger than my pinkie (not mouse, finger!!). They want $50 for it. I really don't think it will make it, though. How sad.
>>
>>Then, the next store I went to (will remain unnamed) had the saddest looking leopard gecko I have ever seen. They had a baby in with an adult, and the adult bit the baby's tail off. This is what i got from the pimple-faced 16 yo that helped me. I know the tail will grow back, but he just looked so miserable. On top of his tank was a tank full of mixed lizard species. A Clark's spiny lizard in the tank had some awful looking nasal discharge. The others weren't even moving. I had to look closely to see breathing.
>>
>>Well, it's been a bad day cruising the local pet shops. Deathco also had horrible conditions. Most feed dishes were full of pupated mealworms. Not a mealworm in sight, just pupae. Ugh! I need to go to bed.
>>
>>Laura

I know how you feel. I work at the only "good" pet store in town and would am sure their reptile section would be crap with out me. When I started working there they did not carry baby bearded dragons because they would all die, they also had problems with baby leos. I started to order them in and when I put paper towls on the bottom of the cage the owner said I should you sand! I told him that was his first problem with them, they also did not use a uvb light or feed them enough. Now I take proper care of them and even feed them baby food with an eye droper untill I am sure they are eating on their own. We have only lost one since I started to work there and I think he was just two stressed during shipping. It really makes a big diffrence if you go to a store where the employees know what they are doing! Later, Jake.