Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am Librarian of a small rural library. Recently, a patron brought in an Eastern Collared lizard. It was injured, and they didn't know what it was, or what to do with it. I had the equipment to keep the lizard, so I took him. He appears to have injured his spine just in front of his back legs. He has almost no use of his back legs. I would have turned him loose, since they are native to the area, but with his limitations, he'dve been eaten fairly quickly. I kept him at home a couple months to ensure he was healthy. Last week, I moved him into the library. The children are currently having a contest to name him. We are going to give the winning child a gift certificate (to a bookstore).

This is our mascot lizard...

welcome and he is a nice looking male. he seems to be sitting up well, so he can't move his back at all or does he have limited movement? i have no remedies to tell you, just curious about how he gets along
-----
vonnie
***There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is in having lots to do and not doing it. Mary Wilson Little ***

He has very limited use of his back legs. He can lift himself on them, but he doesn't use them to propel himself. Otherwise he seems to be perfectly healthy. He eats well, and just finished his first shed since I got him.On the other hand, he has no problem chasing down crickets or grasshoppers and gobbling them down. The kids love him already, and I'm using him as a lesson on reptile care.

One of the parents suggested naming him "Tiny Tim", due to the back legs, which I loved, so I hope she got her kid to throw that name into the contest box.

Also, on occasion, he ends up falling on his back, slipping off a rock or something, and can't turn himself back over. So I need to help him back over.

He has metabolic bone diease, sometimes you will notice a bumb/ hump on the spine above the base of the tail between the hips.

I don't know how long he has had this, but even if you can not reverse it at this point, you can stop it from getting any worse. And may be able to help him somewhat.

Make sure you have a GOOD UVB light on him now for sure and I would suggest getting liquid calcium and starting him on that. Should have your vet look at him. I have one that was given to me a few years ago with MBD and he has the same problems to some degree.

Whenever they fall onto their back and can not turn over you can be pretty sure that is the problem. Who ever had him probably did not provide him with the proper lighting or calcium with D3 dusted on his crickets.

Left untreated they become crippled, almost like walking with rickets, and will evenually die.

He's a very pretty boy, I sure hope he gets fixed up as much as possible I'm sure the kids do love him,

Sorry to Bum you out, but thats my opinion from experience.
It's nice to have you with us, keep us updated on your little friend!
-----
PHEve / Eve

Contact PHEve

The people who had him found him in their yard the day they brought him to me. So, either someone else turned him loose, or he got metabolic bone disease in the wild. I don't find either to be likely. In any case, he has the proper lighting (Reptisun 10.0), and gets lots of vitamins and calcium in his diet.

He's a lucky fellow to have landed in your capable hands. I'm glad to hear you're keeping him.

élan
-----
3.6.0 Collareds
1.2.0 Leopard Lizards
1.0.0 Mali Uromastix
2.1.0 Green Anole
1.0.0 Chinese Dwarf Newt
1.1.0 California Newts
1.0.0 White's Treefrog
1.0.0 Fire bellied toad
2.1.0 Felines
1.2.0 Canines
1.0.0 Equine

Here is a pic of him enjoying an apparently tasty dandelion leaf...

He is beautiful. I hope he improves with your care.
-----
Valerie

We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now.
--Martin Luther King, Jr.--

God bless the USA

vrk.photosite.com

A couple of new pics of the Library Lizard...