Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Here is another photo of this Uro. It has two swollen feet. It was on coconut bark and walnut shells. I put it on a dirt/vermiculite/sand mixture...the dirt stuff I used is called Forest Bed (it expandes in water) it is the best I could do, not a place around here had any dirt that wasn't planting dirt. (Alaska-ground is quit froze)

I haven't gotten any fecal..and it seems quit lethargic. Not sure what to think. Called the local vets, not a one of them know a thing about reps. Problem with small town. I am just going to take your advice about the feeding and try the warm bath but in a couple days as it really hasn't eaten. I seen the food spread out when I came home from work today but it didn't look like a lot was missing.
Thanks for all the help. Oh yes, any recommendations on those swollen feet?

any competent vet (reptile or not) can do a fecal, and should know to base de-worming treatments around using Flagyl and Panacur. also, pick up a copy of Dr. Klingenburg's "Understanding Reptile Parasites", an excellent book for any reptile library, but specifically applicable to all these WC and sickly Uros. everyone on this forum should own a copy of this book. one of the very best books in our collection of hundreds.

you can get it at our site, or on the kingsnake classifieds.

as for the feet, if a better substrate doesn't address the problem within a week or two, that is also something that may require a med treatment, and once again, a vet.

vets may not specifically trained to treat reptiles, especially specific species, but they SHOULD be much better than you or i in looking at a problem from a medical standpoint, making a diagnosis, researching solutions, and taking the appropriate steps to resolution.

best of luck with your animals. i know personally how cold Fairbanks can get
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

Crushed walnut shells (especially) can easily cause intestinal
blockage with uromastyx. That's good you took it off of it.
Mixing coconut fiber with the walnut shell can only cause
additional problems IMO. The shells can not be thoroughly
digested and the amount that make it to the intestines will likely cause lesions to the intestinal wall. This combination
of substrate may be beneficial to other reptiles but may cause havoc with the uros digestive system. Uromastyx are creatures of habit and most are the messiest of eaters. They often eat amounts of their substrate when they scatter their food from their dish.

Not sure what the swollen legs issue is all about. I guess you
need to know some history on the husbandry of this uros prior
to your getting it. Could be due to a calc deficiency ... oh, possibly due to the lack of fresh UVB exposure. Might even be the early stages of MBD. Who knows for sure? Don't mean to scare you as I'm merely taking shots in the dark so to speak in trying to figure out how this came about. I suggest you take it to a vet for a check up. A fecal sample (which they'll be able to extract) may be a good idea. He can run a blood test and possibly know what's causing the inflammation. An X-ray may also be in order. The advantage of that is that they can easily see any signs of impaction but also help you resolve your primary concerns re eggs in her oviducts. An X-ray can show any retained eggs which she may have not been able to deposit ... possibly from last summer (laying season)?

Before you do this, please understand that these procedures can get quite costly. I just want you to be forewarned before you get into this way over your head.

Having said that, I wish you good luck with her. I say her only because I saw no signs of hemipinal bulges with the ventral view you showed. Also, femoral pores are often a toss up at this time of year for sexing some species of uros. The dorsal view of her could be male or fem to me. She could be a male mimic female which is not uncommon ... especially
with maliensis.

Sorry for the looong post,
John

Thanks John and no reply posts are ever too long.

The coconut bark was not fibers it was huge (large marble) size chunks. I am wondering if that didn't contribute to the sore feet. They do look to be caloused (sp?).

As well, the humps in the photo didn't show up. They are actually very large. By comparing it to my male Leo's there is no difference. It really does look male to me but I guess the only way to truely tell is seeing if the vet can tell me. The only reason I even care is the egg factor.

This Leo is 1 years old and was bought from a feed store here in Alaska. That is as much as I know on it's history. I have no Idea what kind of Uro it is. Can you tell just from photo's???

I will keep you all posted. As of yet it isn't eating and no fecal yet...but my Leo's have taught me not to panic in these situations...sometimes it takes time. I also did the bath (there is so much unshed skin clinging to the tail) I am hoping it will shed again here real soon and take that old skin with it.

Oh yes, one other thing. The tank temps are not high enough and I am wondering if this Uro isn't in a hybernation state. I want to bring up the temps slowly. I am going to have to take the top of the tank (it is melting)...Hopefully teh Uro can't get out. It is a 30gal long tank so the sides are real short but I made sure not to put any tall hides near the edges. Don't know how well these things are at stretching out but from what I haves seen I shouldn't have any worries.

Ok..sorry my posts get long too.
Tammy