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I've been talking to someone who knows a lot about the short horned lizards but don't know if I can reach him tonight and this might be serious. If anyone can advise, please do so as soon as possible.

I was babysitting for my neighbor who picked up a couple of horned lizards in the wild and she no longer wants them. So until I can find a good home for them I'm trying to learn and take care of them. The little girl just shed yesterday and today. But her nostrils look like there's stuff in them and I can't get it out. I don't want to cause too much stress so I don't know how much I should handle with her to touch her nostrils. Should I mist them?? Should I leave them alone?? She hasn't eaten real well today. Normally about a dozen crickets and today about 6. She's not quite as peppy as normal even though she had a great time when I took her outside to get some sunshine on the grass (not fertilized yet). So, what should I do?? How can I help her?? Please advise if possible. Maybe the nostril thing is causing her problems with breathing.

Thanks!!

the nose stuff is normal, it usually is a slat deposit shich they expel through the nostrils. What specie is this and where was it caught. These lizards are diffucult to take care of, and their normal diet is ants and not jsut crickets. In fact 70 percent opf more of the diet is usually ants. Can you take a picture of the animals so we know what we are talking about and post it right away, we can then give you better advice. Also what state are you in?
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Phrynosoma.com

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signature file edited. [phw 11/14/04]

I don't really know how to post a photo on here so I put a link to my Yahoo photos and added about 7 of my 88 pictures of them on there!! (What can I say . . .they're adorable!!)

I know they need ants and I'm ordering them tonight. Just don't know if they'll eat Harvester Ants since they're Hernandesi Short Horned Lizards. I know, the hardest to keep alive in captivity. I'm in North Dakota and my neighbor got them from Baker, Montana. I'm going to try the ants though. Right now, they're eating 1/8 - 1/4 inch crickets.

Mick has really shared a wealth of information with me (I begged for his help!!) I've learned a lot, and he's worked overtime trying to get these kids back to Montana. I just can't do it myself. I feel I'd be leading them to the slaughter and they'd probably be eaten alive. If it wasn't for him, I'm not sure they'd be alive today. He's been a godsend. But sometimes I can't reach him (as in tonight) so I turned to this site for help. I am a self confessed "worrier" (is there such a word?) and as I told him, I once took my son to the emergency room for a sliver so you can imagine the stress I have with these guys knowing that they don't survive in captivity, esp with someone who has as little experience with any sort of reptile as I lack. It's been exhausting. But I'm doing the best I can until I can find a home for them. The zoo offered to take them but I was told that was out of the question. So . . . we're holdling on. The little guy is really active. Tail constantly wagging when he sees the crickets and he runs all over the aquarium adding a notch to his belt with each one he grabs (I think he thinks "he's the man" . . .doesn't realize the crickets are pretty much handed to him!) He's a funny little guy. The little girl usually eats well up until this thing with the shedding. She normally eats 12 crickets a day but today only had about 6. Anyway . . .thanks for all the help. And thanks again to Mick for being there for these little guys. They're pretty lucky to have you fighting for them!!!

Any advice with them is always greatly appreciated. Thanks Again!

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/nd924/album?.dir=/f502
Link

Yes these lizards are great looking, and they look healthy to me. These lizards do like a littlemore humidity than other horned lizards. Mick is very good in helping with husbandry.
If your going to keep them long term, what yo might ocnsider in your "arsonal" is a bugnapper from zoomed (about $30.00) that is a light bulb that attract insects at night and they fall into the bottom, you unscrew the bottom and drop the moths and other insects you catch at night. You also might try some wax worms-I think it's a good idea to occassionally vary the diet.
If your getting info from Mick then I assume you have the right lighting and right size cage. Glad to hear about the ants, sounds like they have a good home. I think Cable has some Hernansesi, you might want to talk to him as well, he's at the phrynosoma site.
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Phrynosoma.com

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signature file edited. [phw 11/14/04]

Thank you. Yes, Mick has helped a lot. The thing is . . .I really don't want to keep them long term. I'm afraid they'll die with me. I'm really kind of attached to them (never, NEVER thought I would get attached to a lizard . . . even took me almost a week to touch them (my son did all of that for me). But they just grew on me. Before you knew it, I had almost 90 pictures of them. Sometimes it seemed like they were posing for me . . . they'd come right to the glass of the cage and look straight at me, then the other one would push his way in and look too. They eat almost out of my son's hand (not quite) but they do start eating before he even gets his hand out of the aquarium. Just don't think I can do an adaquate job. I want them to live in a place safe from predators but where they have a shot to live out their lives. Just don't think I have the skills to do it. There's sooo many variables. You really have to know your Sh%# to provide a safe haven for these little guys. I'm real motherly toward them, and I'll do whatever I can to keep them safe and happy, but it takes more than that . . . it takes actual skill and knowledge. Mick mentioned they could have live births since one's a male and one's a female. Oh Lord . . . what in the world would I do with 15 little baby lizards!!!!!!!! They need to be with someone who really understands how to care for the many facets of their life. I'm just a little at a loss of where they should go and who will take them. And, no question, it will be hard to let them go. They're part of the family, you know!