Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everyone,
I need everyone's advice on what to do. I went to a pet store today, one that I usually don't go to, to pick up some dirt so I can change my millipedes' tanks. I wandered down the reptile isle to see if they had any millipedes for sale, when I saw it. A very thin Indian (Hardwicki) Uro. It was stuck in a 15 gal. aquarium, with a UV light (don't know if it is the correct % UVB) and no heat lamp. The temp was 80F. There was a large water dish on one end, a log on the other (that it was trying to sleep under) and tons of crickets jumping around. No greens in sight. As if this wasn't bad enough, they were using crushed walnut substrate! The workers had no idea what it was (sex or species), and when I asked to see him they grabbed the poor thing by the tail and pulled it hissing out of the cage only to poke a finger in his face saying "you think you're a big guy, don't ya, hissing at me?" I grabbed it from the worker and tried to calm it down. It was freezing cold, and thin, even puffed up. I tried to tell the workers how to properly take care of it, but they just looked at me and said "whatever". I don't know what to do! Can I call someone? Should I buy it? It's $129, and I don't have a ton of extra money right now. I just feel so horrible about it. I found out later that the store had been under inspection due to their mistreatment of puppies, which they now don't carry. Needless to say they won't get any of my business, but I feel so bad for the uro. The workers said that they rarely get uros in (usually malis) and this is the first time they had seen a different species, so they may not just replace it if I did buy it. Please, everyone give me your thoughts on what I should do for the poor uro!
~Sarah
1.0 Mali Uromastyx (Draco)
1.0 Russian Tortoise (Pookie)
4.5.22 Millipedes (6 different species)

Don't buy it. Even if they don't replace it, they still get profit from it and will not change their inexcusable keeping practices. Call the local humane society and describe exactly what you saw. Ask them to inspect the store for inhumane conditions and animal cruelty. Give them a care sheet and photos of the species you think it is, in case they are not familiar with proper uro husbandry (which they probably aren't). Find out if there's anyone else in the area to call and call them. Force that pet store to improve conditions or stop selling reptiles they will not take care of.

If you need more info or examples of what to do, go to Melissa Kaplan's site - there's a whole section on how to handle this stuff. www.anapsid.org/pettrade/index.html
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Torey
1.1 Uromastyx Geyri (Joe and Arthur)
0.1 Anolis Carolinensis (Leeloo)
1.0 Betta Splendens (Mr. Miagi)
1.1 Felis Domesticus (Roscolux and Jenny)

Go to the ASPCA and tell them this animal is going to die. Even if it will possibly live. Tell them all the wrong conditions and then say you will adopt it if it becomes avalible this is what i did and now i have a 4 gram baby mali uro, who i must say is doign much better but STILL i think might have been a little stunted or affected due to the all cricket diet for the beginning of his little life. He hasnt gained any weight yet but does eat alot. I hope he does soon. Good luck. My local ASPCA wanted to give me all the lizards, 25 leos, 1 mali which i took, a AFT adult, 3 water dragons, 10 beardies and about 50 little anoles. But NO WAY can i A) afford them B) house them in a milion different enclosures and C) pay for all the vet bills they would have. But i was amazed with the actions they took.
Good luck again!!!
They are harder to come by too!
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Lauren
Leos and Uros
1.1 Saharan Uromastyx
0.0.1 Mali Uromastyx
1.1 Jungle Albino Leopard Gecko
1.1 Hypo/Baldy Leopard Gecko
1.1 Tremper Alibno Leopard Gecko