Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i got my new mali from a pets shop on the 28th they told me he was wild caught but he seemed pretty tame and he couldnt have been in the wild for too long because hes about 6 inches so i dont think hes too old

anyways i promised the forum i would put some pics of him up and as i was going to take the pics i notices he had a claw missing on one toe and it looked like it was pretty high up that it wouldnt grow back as if some of the toe was missing to, it lookes completely healed though and i wonder if that is something serious

and another thing about the fecals does anyone know how they look in comparison to a leopard geckos because i dont know if his is proper

and is it ok if part of the basking area is above 130, will he know when he is to hot or when he is burning

there is a picture of the little guy below, i need to know if i should take him back because of the toe, i only hae 1 or two days left to do so, i will try to get a pictured of the toe as soon as possible

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delbalso

I would be less concerned about the toe and more concerned about that, at least in the picture, he looks super-thin and possibly dehydrated...Is he eating well for you?

SR

thats what i thought but the guy at the store said thats how they are when they are young(this is my first uromastyx) i dont know how to tell if hes eating well because at the end of the day the vegetable are pacted in the bottom because of the heat, his fecals are very small less than an inch long that is what i am worried about, if he is dehydrated how do i nurse him back to health

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delbalso

Honestly, if I were you I'd take that baby back to the pet store, get my money back, save or borrow a few more bucks and buy a nice, plump healthy CB baby from a reputable breeder.

If you're determined to save this one, I'd make an immediate appointment with a good reptile vet and take both the baby and a fecal sample with you when you go. In the meantime you could try soaking him in very warm, very shallow water for 20-30 minutes at a time once a day; you could also buy Pedialyte (in the baby section at most supermarkets or big pharmacies), warm that up and soak him in that...If the soaking triggers him to drink the Pedialyte will replace salts, sugars and electrolytes...

Good luck...

SR

I phoned them up and told them i wanted to return it because of the missing toe and they said there is only a health warranty so only if it dies or it is something to do with the health of the animal i didnt want to say its was too skinny or something because i did not know how to say it and i didnt want to blow my chance of returning it

Can someone help me? What do i say? how can i convince them?PLZZZZZZZZ
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0.0.1 leopard gecko--Yoshi
0.0.1 Mali Uromastyx--Bowser

delbalso

I don't know what to tell you as far as getting them to take him back. But since he's wild caught, he's probably got parasites, which could explain being very skinny, etc. If you can't return him, get him straight to the vet with a fecal sample. If he's got parasites, the vet will help you get him clear. Mine both had two different kinds and were very thin. Now they're both STILL gaining weight.

Just be sure to keep his cage safely sterilized during treatment to prevent him re-infecting himself.

Don't worry about the toe. It's likely a cosmetic thing only. Just be sure he sheds completely there and on all his toes.

Normal poo looks kind of like very dark toothpaste. There's also a white part that's the urates. None of it should be runny or very smelly.

Good luck!
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Torey
1.1 Uromastyx Geyri (Joe and Arthur)
1.1 Anolis Carolinensis (Bowser and Leeloo)
1.0 Betta Splendens (Mr. Miagi)
1.1 Felis Domesticus (Roscolux and Jenny)

Oh dear...First of all, find out exactly what the store's return policy on livestock is...it should be written on your receipt or other paperwork you got with the lizard...sometimes its posted in the store...If their policy is they will only give refunds on sick animals, then you're probably going to have to take the lizard to a vet; have the vet give you a written report on his findings, making sure he notes that the lizard was clearly sick (or in poor condition) before you got it and didn't become sick after you purchased it...Take the vet report and the lizard back to the store and ask for a refund...If they're still not helpful, ask to speak to the owner or manager--If it's one of the big chain stores, ask for the phone number and/or address of the regional manager's office...

If you can't afford to do this then I'm afraid you're probably out of luck...other than learning first hand what the phrase "buyer beware" means...I hope everything works out for you...

SR

Depends which country you're in, but in England they would have to take him back, having said that I always get instantly attached to the animals I buy so I would always take them to a vet before I did anything else. Remember to be assertive though if you really think they have deliberately sold you a sick animal insist on speaking to the manager and tell him or her that you want to exchange him for another. I'm sorry if we've all made you feel bad, it's possible that your lizard will be fine with some tlc.

n/p
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0.0.1 leopard gecko--Yoshi
0.0.1 Mali Uromastyx--Bowser

delbalso

this has nothing to do with anything, but aren't your lizards names characters in a video game The green lizard yoshi and the turtle bowser. Mario brohers or something like that?
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Mike
1.1.3 maliensis (Spike, Marshmellow, Brown, Green, Orange)
0.2 Female U. Acanthinurus-Werneri x
0.1 Pit Bull/German Shephard/ Lab/ ect. mix (Kodak) - looks like an over grown toco bell dog.

Ya actually they are, the game used to be my favorite when i was little so my friend suggested naming them accordingly lol
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0.0.1 leopard gecko--Yoshi
0.0.1 Mali Uromastyx--Bowser

delbalso

You should be able to see if he's eating or not by checking his dish regularly, and even though the required heat does cause the food to wilt remember there should be a slightly cooler area where he can go if he gets to warm, why not put his food there? I agree with the last message, he doesn't look very healthy to me, I have three Giant Saharans who are also youngsters and they eat constantly and are fat and active. I'd forget about the toe and worry about his general health.

n/p

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0.0.1 leopard gecko--Yoshi
0.0.1 Mali Uromastyx--Bowser

delbalso

If he's alert and active, it could just be parasites. If he's lethargic and "dull", you could have a problem. If that's the case, make a bigger fuss and they'll probably take him back - but focus on the lethargy, etc rather than the toe. They might just think you're being a snob about his appearance. If he's alert, I wouldn't worry about it so much - take him to the vet for treatment of parasites and a checkup, keep him warm, and feed him well and he should hopefully be fine.
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Torey
1.1 Uromastyx Geyri (Joe and Arthur)
1.1 Anolis Carolinensis (Bowser and Leeloo)
1.0 Betta Splendens (Mr. Miagi)
1.1 Felis Domesticus (Roscolux and Jenny)

I got my mom(the queen of negotiations) to phone them up and tell them that the uromastyx has parasites, i guess i forgot to mention to her that i wanted a return and not the problem to be fixed because when she got off the phone she said u might have to keep it there for a day or two, i think this means they are going to try to fix it, is this worth it? should i get them to fix the parasites or just return him? wwhat should i do to then enclosure if i get them to fix it? how do i steralize it? What else should i know? Please help

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0.0.1 leopard gecko--Yoshi
0.0.1 Mali Uromastyx--Bowser

delbalso

you can't go to a junkyard, buy a wrecked car, and then try and take it back later and say "hey, this car is wrecked, and has dents" and expect them to give you a refund...

i certainly wish retail stores had higher standards, and didn't sell wild caught junk, but at the same time, YOU didn't do your homework, apparently didn't make much effort to deal with an actual breeder, and it isn't like the animal was in a grab bag labeled "5 bucks" and you didn't know what you were getting. YOU SAW THE ANIMAL, said ok, and then paid. crappy store or no, i don't think they "owe" you anything.

this is a HUGE part of your responsibility as a reptile owner and hobbyist. you bought a crappy wc animal, now it is your responsibility to take it to a vet, and go through whatever steps, and expenses, are required to bring that animal around. with the proper care and setup, it will probably be fine. and in the end you will probably end up paying the same or more that you could have paid to buy a great captive bred baby direct from the breeder, which in turn supports something positive.

you took the shortcut, knowingly or not, you can't blame someone else now for your bad choice.

it isn't a scolding, it is just that this is a cycle of blame and impulse purchasing that MUST be broken, might as well start with you, right?

do the right thing, see a vet, do what needs to be done, and spread the knowledge to others so they don't make the same mistake.
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

i cleary asked the guy, if it is wild caught wont it have parasites he said no this one does not, so he lied to me therefore he is responsible
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0.0.1 leopard gecko--Yoshi
0.0.1 Mali Uromastyx--Bowser

delbalso

but it LOOKS like junk, very scrawny, clearly, your eyes shouldn't lie...
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

Im sorry but i thought that was how skinny they were when theyre babies
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0.0.1 leopard gecko--Yoshi
0.0.1 Mali Uromastyx--Bowser

delbalso

I read that if there is a lot of rice-like pellets in the fecals than this is a sign of parasites. Bowser has a lot of this. Is this a true symptom? What are the other symptoms?
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0.0.1 leopard gecko--Yoshi
0.0.1 Mali Uromastyx--Bowser

delbalso

I'm the last thing in the world resembling a vet, and that the symptoms will differ depending on the type of parasites. Mine were both very thin and the poo smelled more rank than it should - it's a very distinct smell that I wish I could describe. Mine behaved normally.
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Torey
1.1 Uromastyx Geyri (Joe and Arthur)
1.1 Anolis Carolinensis (Bowser and Leeloo)
1.0 Betta Splendens (Mr. Miagi)
1.1 Felis Domesticus (Roscolux and Jenny)

Rice-like pieces are most likely tapeworm segments. Their are other parasites that cannot been seen with the naked eye. Listen to Robyn and do the right thing. You took responsibility for this animal when you bought him, now it is time to live up to that responsibility. According to our signature you have other animals, if the spine was sticking out on your other animals wouldn't you think something was wrong? This animal is in need of help and it depends on you to get it that help. It may be as simple as rehydration and deworming. Make an appointment ASAP, don't let that animal suffer anymore.
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Stacey

did you not inspect this poor creature before you purchased it?
I'm at a loss how you could not notice a missing toe, let alone the fact that this poor baby has no meat on him.
I do not own a uro, nor have I ever owned a uro. BUT...I have been reading this forum for almost a year now, and even being a non owner, I know that a healthy uro should have a nice plump tail, and a round, full little belly.
I know when I acquire any animal I inspect it thoroughly...it's eyes (making sure they are not sunken, or have any discharge), the nose...again checking for unusual discharge, I also always check an animals behind, looking for signs of diarrhea, or blood or inflammation (in this case I am primarily referring to warm blooded animals), I also feel the animal all over, checking for deformities, or irregularities.
It also helps to give an indication of the animals alertness. Does he just lay there like a blob...or does the animal resist my physical exam (resistance is good...it shows that the animals has the strength and the will to protest)

The missing toe is the least of this animals problem, but it should of been noticed long before now. It should of been noticed by you before the money ever exchanged hands to purchase this uro.

He's yours now...and you really need to take care of him. Take him to the vet, and get him healthy again. Unfortunately, it may end up being a hard lesson learned for you. But, for now, stop focusing on his toe, and start focusing on the fact that he appears (in that picture) to be very malnourished.
You need to watch him...and make SURE he's eating. Not just guessing about it.

I hope it all works out for the best for everyone...especially Little Bowser.
Good Luck to both of you,
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Kim