Help please.

[SerpentLust]

Hey everyone,

My friend got a job at one of the pet stores in town, and they never carry reptiles. But they just decided to bring in a Leopard Gecko. They're calling it a Tangent Gecko.

Anyways, it's underweight. It's not gross and sickly, but definately not the picture of health either. The tail isn't as thick as I would keep a gecko at for starters and you can see the spine.

This thing pounds down mealies and supers like no tomorrow. But refuses to eat crickets. As a result, his poo is all mealie shells which cannot be good for him. (I'm thinking it would be like us eating sunflower seeds shelled and whole as a staple diet and trying to go to the bathroom, not fun).

Anyways, that's the first problem that needs a solution.

Secondly, they don't have any calcium suppliment, however I orderred him to pick some up immediately. The gecko looks like he could use all the help he can get and Calcium sups are pretty basic.

I have very little experience with Leos and other geckos. Is there anything else I can advise him to do?

Jenn

[BoidsUnlimited]

My friend based his Adult Leos diet on Mealies, Wax, and Silk (considering he wouldnt eat them either!)

They are nice and healthy. I'm sure with some supplements, and a VARIED diet of Mealies, Supers, Wax, and Silk...it should do fine.

Are they offering the crickets that move around? I use to pinch the legs off and put them in the bowl with the mealies and such, maybe give that a try!

Thanks,

B.U.

[SerpentLust]

OMFG! I just called him and suggested those things. I said, "Well there are always waxworms and silkworms, you can try those" and he said, "Yeah it's not in the budget" and I said "Well ok, it's also been suggested that you should try taking the legs off the crickets and mixing them with the mealies" and he was like, "Nah I don't see me doing that either, I'll just let him eat the Supers and if he dies, he dies"

What the **** kind of attitude is that?

And then he went onto say "But if he starts dying, I'm making him lose his tail, I need to see how this works!"

ARGH!

Jenn

[BoidsUnlimited]

Um...where is this? Is it up for sale?

I can give it a better life than this person...maybe you should offer to take it.

And they hired this kid?

[SerpentLust]

It's in my city, I can't say the name, we aren't allowed to on this forum. They're selling it for $150.

I told him to either write it off as dead and let me fix him up, I'll at least get him fattened up properly. Or let me take him to fix him up for resale.

He said the only way he's leaving this store is if he's purchased or dead.

And yes they hired this kid (who happens to be my ex) because the owner is just as idiotic.

[HeatherRose]

Jenn, that sucks :(

Unfortunatley I don't see much that you can do, other than buy it, but of course we know that this just perpetuates the cycle...

It's a petstore. It's not going to go out of its way to save one gecko. This situation is everywhere, sadly.

The only way anything positive could come about is maybe taking another shot at convincing your friend? Use excessive force if needed ;)

[BoidsUnlimited]

OUT of budget! Wax and Silks? What kind of a store is this? LOL

If they CANT feed it...WHY do they have it.

I would call:) But then again, I'm arrogant and compassionate enough to take an ear-full from a friend.

[SerpentLust]

This "friend" is the one begging me for help. This guy is afraid of raccoons! He's my ex and he had specifically asked me to help him care for any reptiles that come into that store. Now he's not listenning to me.

Who would MAKE a sick gecko lose its tail because they want to see it happen! Honestly!

I'm furious atm, if you can't tell *sweet smile*

[Shad0w]

Jenn,

Since you cant name the store, pls feel free to email me or PM me... I would be more than willing to name names for you... I could promise you not to say anything and then just have someone post this info on the BOI ;)

Uggg.. this makes me so upset!
BTW.. someone needs to give this boy a LUMP on the head... can I volunteer?!?!?!

[Kurzix]

LOL this boy has needed more than a lump on the head for ages. And to Jenn, honestly what do you expect of this "friend" he's been that way as long as I've known you. He's not gunna change the way he is toward animals now.

anyways hope something good comes of all this.

peace!

Jay

[SerpentLust]

KURZIX - Hehe remember the raccoon incident!? Honestly, how can a person like that be assistant manager in a pet store!

[Shad0w]

Hmmm... this wouldnt be ****** *** ***** in North Bay, ON. would it??? ;)

Ive heard some nasty stuff....

-edited by Heather- (no mentioning names! :p)

[V.hb]

to my understanding superworms are fine. If he's eating them, and temps are right and hes still skinny and not gaining weight it could be crypto.

If he's releasing undigested superworm shells; chances are he needs more heat.

[clint545]

The fact that they're going (sorry - willing ) to let an $150 leo just die is sick. Excuse me, even if it was free , it's just disgusting. But you see so much of this kind of thing in pet stores it's sickening.

Kinda like a pet store in my town that had a care sheet on a leo cage saying to feed them prepared foods and fruits. When I approached the staff about it , I got the old blank stare and shrug.

Jenn, have you tried approaching the actual owner of the store about this situtation?

[SerpentLust]

The owner of the store has the same mentality as my ex.

They would have no way of knowing if the temps are to high/low, they have a UTH but no thermometer. That's another thing I brought up.

Honestly, if they aren't prepared to care of the animals they bring in, they shouldn't bother

And Shad0w!!! LOL! Nice try!

Jenn

[RepTylE]

It makes me sick when I hear store owners and/or employees talking about animals as mere commodities. They are living feeling creatures.

I'd call the Humane Society on them. That would fix them good and if the story hits the papers (likely) the store won't be around for long. People like that count on people doing nothing about the horrors that they see in their stores. Buying the animal perpetuates the cycle true but not speaking out and hitting those people where they live (profitablility) does the same thing.

[Buddha]

if cost is a problem for calcium supplement he could even you cuttle bone as a calcium based powder and its very cheap and if its a pet store that sells birds than they should have some in stock. (cuttle bone is that white thing birds trim there beas with) use it all the time for my turtles.

[peterm15]

some breeders use mealworms as a main diet.. it prob needs more heat.... id say call the local humane socity..... pm me with a name and ill do it for you if you want... even cal shouldnt cause that much of a prob... ive been to about 100 pet stores in my area and all of them take very good care... even if they dont know what there doing.... mostly the chains have un edcated staff.... at the pet store in yorkdal mall( sorry if thats not allowed) the is one guy that works there that if theres a snake or lizard that isnt doing well or isnt being sold for various reasons(aggression, ect) he takes them home and keeps them.... he told me that every chair table and smoth surface has a tank on it... thoes are ppl you want working at pet stores...

[SerpentLust]

That's what I did when I was working at the pet store. I had brought home sickly snakes and geckos and tried to aid them in recovery.

I contacted the humane society and they said they "don't really deal in reptiles"...

I can't wait to get out of this city.

[RepTylE]

That is really upsetting, "they don't deal in reptiles" what is that????? They only concerned about the welfare of doggies and kitties??? If you aren't concerned about the welfare of ALL animals then you aren't really concerned about any of them in my book. Sorry, I am really steaming here.

[herpslave]

One thing you could try is taking a pic of the animal and him... Kind of like intimidation and showing animal cruelty agencies how this shop is treating their animals...

[Manitoban Herps]

There has to be some one you can contact to take care of this problem. In the "Leopard Gecko Manual" it says there study proves leopards can live constantly on meals, they have one that was feed meals from birth and is over 20 years of age :)

If it is eating like crazy on meals then it shouldn't be skinny, it must have a parasites then.

Sad either way....