Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was visiting a local pet shop yesterday and I saw this animal called an Armadillo Lizard. They kept it on the counter in a medium Kritter Keeper and didn't have any lights or anything on it. It wasn't on it's night hours yet, they just didnt provide it with any lights at all. The shopkeep didnt know anything about it. He said someone gave it to them and now they are selling it for $25. I really feel bad for this thing. I considered purchasing it, because I know i'd be able to give it a much better home. But I dont know if its still healthy. What do you guys think I should do?

Pass on it.

I once bought a russian tortoise from a petsmart store. It was in a 20 gallon tank with several other russians and a few box turtles.

It looked OK for a couple days, then it was sick. I scheduled a vet visit, but it died in a few hours.

Not worth your time and the money it might cost to keep it alive. It's already wild caught, may have been kept improperly by the previous owner, and now it's getting poor treatment at the pet shop.

Consider finding a breeder either locally or online. Ask at your local herp club. Maybe they have a lizard you'd like up for adoption, or maybe one of their members breeds interesting species.

Petshops are often the worst place to buy herps.

Your very right brad. I have lost tons of money trying to save animals from petshops alot have lived and its and awesome feeling. But when they die its the worst feeling because you couldn't do anything to help it. Its up to you. If the animal looks perfectly healthy if you hold it and it has nothing wrong with then you might be able to take the risk of buying it.

If it were me I'd buy it simply because I already have a couple and I like them. Check him out, see if you can watch it eat. If it seems alert and active go ahead and blow the twenty five bucks and arrange for a Vet visit. JMO

Quig

Can you give me a link to a site with a good caresheet? I cant really find a decent one. One site said Armadillo Lizards grow 10-17 inches and 7-17 pounds. So that seems pretty off. I could be wrong.
I'm going to try to get back to that store tomorrow and take a better look at the poor thing.
This shop usually seems ok. I've seen some questionable things there, though. These was a 4 foot Iguana in a 55gal tank with no lighting.

Hey the iguana thing is horrible. But as for a link there I can help you.
Hope this helps

Although some may reach that size, in length at least, most average 7-10 inches. It's true there isn't much in the way of care sheets out there that don't conflict with one another. Biggest difference is in the basking temps. They are basically desert animals, so can tolerate pretty drastic changes in temps from day to night. I have an overhead lamp and a UTH in one end of the tank, a 30 gallon, where there is also some flat pieces of shale stacked in such a way as to allow them to crawl between the pieces. In effect giving them a temp variance in the hot side. The temp, top side, is right at 105. The light goes out at night, UTH stays on. Other side of the tank runs about 80 degrees, Night time temps are between 70 and 75. Also have a broken piece of field tile for a hide on the cool side. I use sand as a substrate, but you can use things like reptibark or indoor/outdoor carpet. Mine, at least, have learned to pick thier food up with a minimal amount of the sand, so no problem with impaction. They love mealworms, but should get crickets or even a fly or two just to vary thier diet. Dust them with a vitamin/calcium powder. Some will also eat greens. You will need a shallow water dish wide enough for them to soak in. For shedding purposes and to allow them to drink. They will soak almost daily. Sorry this was so long. If I left anything out let me know

Quig

Thanks a lot you guys. Now I guess it's on me. Whether I decide to try save the poor thing. I just don't know where to start. I have no experience with reptiles. I have frogs and Inverts, but they dont really require as much heat, and the complex lighting.

Well, there are things to consider here. So, if you're not sure maybe you should just pass.

Quig

Look if you want all of us will give you advice. Armadillo lizards should be treated the same as maybe a plated lizard. They both come from almost the same area.

People always have the best intentions when "rescuing" a neglected herp from a local petshop, but never realize that what they are doing is exactly the opposite of their own intentions.

By giving that pet shop your money for that oen animal, they will in turn go out and purchase two or three more of those animals with the money made from your sale(depending on the markup on live animals). So by 'rescuing' that one animal, you are condemning two or possibly even three or four more animals, and guaranteeing the same fate for them...

As sad as it is to see these animals whither away in terrible conditions, the best thing that you could do is ignore the shop, and not to give them your money.
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Treemonitors.com

I was just about to post that. I realized it a couple of minutes ago.

It really is sad. I called the shop today and asked if they still had the Armadillo Lizard and they didn't. I really don't think anyone bought it. I thank all of you for the advice you've given me.