Reptile & Amphibian Forums

If you read the below post about LLL Reptile sending me a sickly lizard you'll know how I feel. I bought a blizzard for 65 bucks from them with shipping and all. But they sent me a very dark skinny leo with a kinked tail. I'm really disappointed and I wonder why no one else has had this problem. I emailed them and asked them why I got a poor quality leo and they told me that I did it to the leo that they certainly didn't send me a leo looking that bad! Can you believe that?! Then they sent me a picture of a beautiful white blizzard juvenile that they had, saying that all their blizzards look like that. I'm really mad about the whole thing, I've wasted my money and now I'm stuck with a leo that might not make it. :*(

well, if it does make it, its a midnight blizzard and thats more rare than a reg blizz, be happy about that. but thats my oppinion

I'm not trying to be rude here, so please don't take it this way.

I remember reading below that the leo was shipped to your friend 2 weeks ago, and you only just now got it. So your friend was caring for it, yes? Did the friend never notice that this leo was so sickly looking? Why not? Why didn't your friend say anything before the refund time was up? Are you sure that the leo was being properly taken care of? I know that my Patternless male would always turn REALLY dark when he was stressed out.

Now, I can't see the photo below - the links and the img source code don't work anymore. So I can't see HOW sickly this leo is. These are the concerns that came to my mind when you said your friend had it for 2 weeks before you picked it up. A lot can happen in 2 weeks.

~~Dusty Windom
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So Many Alleles, So Little Time...!
@
~~The Gecko Barn~~

I have to say I agree with dusty. How exactly was this animal carred for by your friend? The photos are now working for me. Honestly, besides the kinked tail he really doesn't look too bad. The kinked tail is something you should have been told about. Then again, buying from a very large breeder of animals at cheaper prices (although $65 seems pretty high for them), you really can't expect the cream of the crop. It's almost like buying from a pet store without seeing what you get first. His colors are normal for a blizzard, some are bright white, most are light grey. Also, their colors change quite a bit depending on their moods. Mine becomes bright white when she is uncomfortable and grey when she is comfortable, most do the opposite. Yours really isn't that dark for a blizzard.

He's yours now, there is really nothing you can do now but care for him. He looks like he'll make it to me, unless he has other symptoms. I would first get a fecal to the vet to make sure, then do your best to fatten him up on good gutt loaded food. Good luck.

Lisa
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0.1 Hypo Leopard Gecko
0.1 Albino Leopard Gecko
0.1 Blizzard Leopard Gecko
1.0 Albino Pacman Frog
1.0 Lovebird (Tony)
1.0 Elkhound Cross (Otto)
0.1 Malamute Cross (Paris)
6.0 Bettas

My friend has taken care of leos before and he started the leo out on a diet of crickets and mealies. He thought the gecko was really skinny when he got it but he didn't know if I would like it or not so he kept it, he did say something to me about it but I didn't realize how bad it was until I received it. I was really disappointed like I said...and it was too late. He has told me that if I will take the leo to the vet to check the feces that he would buy it from me so I can get the one I want from somewhere more reliable. So I know that he will take good care of it. The leo's appetite isn't doing so well now. His color doesn't change with mood it seems, although my patternless changes colors all the time.

Like liza said, it doesnt look that bad. I think just a good feeding or two will help him out. As for the kinked tail, I dont really know what health effects it has on the lizard, but I do know its possibly a genetic trait, but it sounds like you arent planning on breeding her now. See what the vet says, and keep up updated

Michael

I had a friend who "saved" leos from a closing store that were in terrible condition. There tails were stiff, and looked like they would break of, but after a month, it got really healthy and fat.
Done feel bad for yourself. Also this leo is a living creature, and by paying for it, u really could save this creatures life.
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1.2.1 Leopard Geks
1.0.1 High Yellow, 0.1 Blizzard, 0.1 Normal
1 crested gecko
2 White's Treefrogs
2.1 Fire Bellied Toads
0.0.2 Red Eared Sliders
Fish:
0.2.1 Parrot Cichlids
1 Upside Down Catfish
0.0.2 Bullhead Catfish
1 Geophagus jurupari
4 Goldfish
3 koi

Herpin since 93'

It looks fine - the tail's not skinny (not so skinny that it'd be classified as UNhealthy). Possibly a midnight blizzard.

As for the kink, it happens a lot with inbreeding, I've noticed. Yes, inbreeding - with the morphs, most people will "line breed" the offspring back to the parent to get the morph they want. The kinks happen a lot in patternless leos & hets - at least the ones I've had.

I'm not sure what's so wrong with yours, though, other than the dark coloring?

~~Dusty Windom
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So Many Alleles, So Little Time...!
@
~~The Gecko Barn~~

I think most of us on this site have seen geckos look MUCH worse than the one you showed us. Would you put your kid up for adoption if he/she poped out ugly? I know it's a dramatization, but you sound like someone who would, sorry. Pat your friend on the back for me. If you are looking for a very white blizzard, good luck, but you may be dissapointed agian. I really haven't seen too many. Blazing blizzards look quite a bit whiter than normal ones, but they cost more.

Lisa
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0.1 Hypo Leopard Gecko
0.1 Albino Leopard Gecko
0.1 Blizzard Leopard Gecko
1.0 Albino Pacman Frog
1.0 Lovebird (Tony)
1.0 Elkhound Cross (Otto)
0.1 Malamute Cross (Paris)
6.0 Bettas

actually, blazing blizzards aren't necessarily any whiter than normal blizzards, just lighter. i would think this is because people haven't really been selective with regards to coloration, when producing blizzards, they just go after the genetics. blizzards are also known for lightening/darkening in response to temperature and mood change, if i'm not mistaken. and i have yet to see any blazing blizzards (tremper or las vegas) for sale to the general public yet, though crested gecko mentioned they would entertain offers (for their las vegas ones).
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marla
currently: 0.1.0 axolotls, 0.0.9 catfish, 0.1 ferrets, 1.6 leopard geckoes, 0.0.20 oriental fire-bellied toads, and 0.2.0 sugar gliders

Hey Marla, you are right, I apologize. I have just been hearing so much about blazing blizzards lately. I also just read a post about one being hatched in Canada. I guess I thought if there was any up here, they would for sure be available in the US. The ones I have seen have been quite stunning, no black at all.

My blizzards color changes drastically with mood and temp changes. She also has quite the temper, definitely the meanest of my little ones. She is in fact, the only one that has ever hissed and ever tried to bite me.

Lisa
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0.1 Hypo Leopard Gecko
0.1 Albino Leopard Gecko
0.1 Blizzard Leopard Gecko
1.0 Albino Pacman Frog
1.0 Lovebird (Tony)
1.0 Elkhound Cross (Otto)
0.1 Malamute Cross (Paris)
6.0 Bettas