Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I answered a flyer for"LEO Supplies" I told the man I was interested and I can be by tommarrow.He said ad's been up 2 weeks.The tank and stuff will be at the curb because he has to leave at 9am(they are moving out).If I find anything I want help myself or leave it for garbage men!!!
I got there at 11am .The tank was nasty!It was a fish tank w/ a full plastic hood,no UTH ,no screen top. It had fluffy stuff like hamster bedding as substrate and it was dirty.There were two boxes and a piece of sinder block(the rock hide I guess).One had 2 bowls(small cat food type bowls) and silk flowers.The other box broke my heart!!!It had a dried up carrot and a mess of wilted lettuce.The I saw them!!! 7 BABY LEO"S!!!I live in upstate NY and it's 36 degrees today.I started to pick them up one by one.2 were dead...3 were moving a little and two were breathing.THEY WERE ICE COLD!!! I stuck them in my shirt.It felt like ice cubes moving around in my bra.I cranked the heater in the car and raced home! I am so furious I cant see straight.I have given them a luke warm bath and 4 have responded.One more has died.He wasnt breathing by the time I got home! These are tiny leo's.He couldnt have had them long.They are only about as long as my index finger and soooo skinny.I'm heading out to get sm. crickets.What else can I do...please...is there something I can do to bulk them up quick.I know they might not make it but I'll be dammed if I'm not going to fight for them!!! The guy is sooo lucky he's moved or the ASPCA would be the least of his worries.Any and alll help is really appreciated!

That is just HORRIBLE! I can't believe someone would do such a cruel thing!

My suggestion is not to feed them insects right away. Force feeding them whole food could lead to permanent liver damage if they are dehydrated. The first thing you want to do is get them well-hydrated. I am a FIRM believer in human Ensure (vanilla flavor only). Buy the kind with extra calcium. Stop by a vet clinic and ask them for a small syringe to administer the Ensure to the little ones. This will provide them with nutrients, fat, and calcium, as well as safely re-hydrate them without damaging the liver.

Also, before you attempt to give them anything, make sure they are SLOWLY warmed up. Doing it too fast could also do them harm. A gentle, lukewarm bath followed with slow warming with a human heat pad should be sufficient.

I feel so bad for the little guys. I wish you luck with them!
Nicole
-----
0.1 Hogg Island Boa
0.3 Leopard Geckos (my very first reptiles-I've had them a LOOOOOOOOONG time!)
2.0 Wonderful Dogs

The first thing you can do is keep them as warm as possible, and take them to a vet, or the closest one you have around you. The vet may be able to direct you to a vet who specializes in reptiles. Try and give the ones that are responding the most a little baby food.. that may help. But whatever you do, KEEP THEM AS WARM AS POSSIBLE and take them to a vet!
-----
1 leopard gecko- corona
1 japanese chin pup- layla
1 kitty- libby
1 fishie- hoodlum

This may be a little late, but try not to warm them up too fast.
They do better if warmed up slowly, Like to room temp for awile.
If you already have them at proper temps don't worry about it now.

I would just try to leave them alone for awile and see what happens. They can be pretty resiliant, hopefully a few will make it. Do they look like they have other problems aside from beig almost frozen?

Also be sure to keep them quarentined from your other herps.
-----
Sarah H

www.fototime.com/inv/500FFD9910FF842
[email]ghia12345@aol.com[email]

Another thing, I woldn't rush to feed them right away, Let then get settled and hydrated first. Wait and see how they act before trying to feed them.
-----
Sarah H

www.fototime.com/inv/500FFD9910FF842
[email]ghia12345@aol.com[email]

o my gosh! id like to beat the crap out of this guy. did you say you called the spca? if not do so asap so they can find him. not only the spca but any humane society around you. tell them where he lived and where he said he was moving. what is a shame is that most places wont try that hard to find them for lizards. im not sure about places around you but for some reason around here they just dont seem to care about the small critters being abused. they are more concerned about cats and dogs but you can at least try. those poor babbies. thank you for saving them!
good luck! -brandy
-----
brandy

I'll fly across the country to beat the crap out of this guy or better yet make a tank big enough to house him and treat him the same way he treated those poor babies. I hate people that treat animals as if they're disposable when they leave. If you can't take care of them or don't want them then don't get them in the first place. I'd call the SPCA and keep on them to make sure this guy gets charged with criminal charges for what he did to those geckos. Nothing pisses me off more than people that won't take care of their animals and if it had been human babies no one would stand by and let that jerk get away with this. Take everyone's advice about slowly feeding them and making sure that they're healthy. I didn't have to force feed the one I rescued but I did have to feed her less than she wanted so that she didn't hurt herself by over eating. It killed me to watch her beg for more food but I knew that it was best for her and she's perfectly fine now. If I was you I'd hound the SPCA until they bring him up on criminal charges for this the laws for animal abuse have gotten a lot more strict and its a good thing because of people like him. I hope the rest of the babies make it. Please let us know whats going on with them.

It looks like everyone has given plenty of advice, but I want to vent on this one..

First thing.. Captive animals cannot choose how they live.. They can't control their environment whatsoever and us humans have to live up to that responsibility by owning them. It breaks my heart to read that someone could be so cruel to such innocent creatures.. Like a few other people said, don't let this BS slide.. Call the SPCA/Humane Society ASAP.

Second.. I'm so proud of you for what you did and I'm just hoping that some of the babies will survive, going on to live a happier life. Good luck with them and everyone is here to support you no matter what the outcome is.
-----
-Britney

2.4.1 Leopard Geckos: Ron, Raine, Dream, Tango, Go-Go, Johnneh and Salleh.
0.0.1 Bearded Dragon: Lil' Little.