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My first Lizard!!! Need some advice

emeraldman Feb 11, 2007 06:38 PM

Hello all, I was at the Grand Rapids rep expo today and purchased a young acanthosaura. Great sellers, major kudos to them, very informative. I have been researching them for about a month and finally purcased one. His full enclosure will be ready for him in a few days 4'x3'x20". But right now he's in a ten gallon. He is very calm (sleeping right now actually, he seemed pretty tired). Should I try force feeding/hydrating him tonight or should I just see if he will eat and drink tomorrow? Thanks for all your help, I can't wait until he is situated and comfortable. This is my first lizard so any advice is helpful. He has been dewormed (the seller told me last week, and that I should do it again soon, good advice) for your info.

Replies (2)

erinmarie Feb 12, 2007 01:14 PM

I wouldn't force feed him if I were you. He may need a couple of days to adjust to his new home before he will eat and drink, but that's totally normal for any herp. And I know that you said you've been doing research so I don't want to say to much, but make sure that you have a moving water source for him to drink from. MHDs won't drink standing water. An aquarium bubbler in his dish will be fine, but I really recommend getting a waterfall. As well, get him out of that 10 gallon as soon as you can.

j3nnay Feb 12, 2007 06:53 PM

When I first got my acanthosaura, he didn't eat much of anything for about a week, and then he started eating regularly and pooping. Mist it thoroughly and regularly, especially in the morning.

You should not have to force feed or hydrate your lizard at all if a) the seller was as great as he seemed and b) you get it into an appropriately sized cage asap.

If it was already deparatisized once I would not do it again unless you have your vet do a fecal and there's a reason to. Don't forget that worming medicine is poison, you don't want to give it to your lizard unless he/she needs it.

enjoy!

~jenny
-----
1.2 normal ball pythons (Cindy, Darwin, and Periscope)
0.2 rescue chinese water dragons (Yoni and Linga)
0.0.1 Mountain Horned Lizard
1.0 rex rat (Scurvy)
1.0 gerbil (Yerbul)
0.1 mice (Cute Girl Mousy)
0.1 bunny (Spazz)
1.1 betta fishes (Vicious and Killer)
2.2 great danes (Shasta, Odysseus, Merlot, and Watson)
1.0 fat fuzzy mutt (Smokey)
1.1 cats (Thidwick and Turtle)
3.0 horses (Buddy, Sam, and Scout)
1.0 goat (Billy Jack)
0.0.1 chupacabra (it ate our chickens)

jenny.thegreenes.org

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