Apparently I am quickly becoming an unofficial reptile rescue for my area -.- because of my love and knowledge of herps my coworkers are accepting relinquished animals that none of them even know what they are with the intention of having ME take them home.... which is all well and good except for that I can't really afford to be a rescue. Of course I don't mind helping out and for the people that are smart enough to give their animals to a pet store or rescue or what have you instead of releasing them or worse then I definitely want to be able to do what I can and encourage that behavior. For the time being though... I have asked them to stop accepting random animals thinking I will take them. I can care for them at the store until they get adopted no problem but I can't keep bringing things home to care for out of my pocket....not like any of them are really expensive...
I am sure I brought this on my self by always being willing to take on new critters and adopting a lot of unwanted animals from work but now I'm not really looking anymore. If we get in something cool and unique I will probably take it but other wise... needs to stay at the store.
So what brought this on is my recent acquisition of 3 new critters all in one day.
Yesterday, someone relinquished an "armadillo lizard" (I believe the scientific name is Cordylus tropidosternum, otherwise known as girdled lizard or dwarf sungazer as well as armadillo lizard). Today someone brought in a huge fatty leopard gecko and a very malnourished tiger salamander... all of which are now sharing my home. And of course ya'll know about the texas spiny lizard, Sparky. I don't really want to complain about the new critters because I, of course, love having them, i am just not really in a place to be getting so many more animals so I will probably be finding homes for these.
Sparky, the texas spiny lizard already has a new home at the college in the life science building, he/she will be going there once the semester starts. As per my Herp professors advice I am letting sparky hibernate in peace now as he was probably trying to do when he was found
The armadillo lizard will probably be looking for a home soon. If not I will probably try my hand at a desertish vivarium eventually
The leopard gecko....is huge... very well fed critter and appears to me to be a female even! (though I really am not much of a leopard gecko person) I honestly wouldn't mind holding onto her but I don't need to and probably shouldn't so i will be finding a home for her
and last... the tiger salamander. starting my new years resolution early as it would seem (to keep more amphibians) I am going to try and get this guy in better shape but as of now I have no idea why he is skinny.... no word as to what he was being fed or anything about his care. If I can get him to pull through I'll likely keep this one
He is rather active and seems healthy otherwise, just thin. Aside from crickets what else should I try feeding him? earth worms? wax worms? I should be getting roaches soon....
I am sure I brought this on my self by always being willing to take on new critters and adopting a lot of unwanted animals from work but now I'm not really looking anymore. If we get in something cool and unique I will probably take it but other wise... needs to stay at the store.
So what brought this on is my recent acquisition of 3 new critters all in one day.
Yesterday, someone relinquished an "armadillo lizard" (I believe the scientific name is Cordylus tropidosternum, otherwise known as girdled lizard or dwarf sungazer as well as armadillo lizard). Today someone brought in a huge fatty leopard gecko and a very malnourished tiger salamander... all of which are now sharing my home. And of course ya'll know about the texas spiny lizard, Sparky. I don't really want to complain about the new critters because I, of course, love having them, i am just not really in a place to be getting so many more animals so I will probably be finding homes for these.
Sparky, the texas spiny lizard already has a new home at the college in the life science building, he/she will be going there once the semester starts. As per my Herp professors advice I am letting sparky hibernate in peace now as he was probably trying to do when he was found
The armadillo lizard will probably be looking for a home soon. If not I will probably try my hand at a desertish vivarium eventually
The leopard gecko....is huge... very well fed critter and appears to me to be a female even! (though I really am not much of a leopard gecko person) I honestly wouldn't mind holding onto her but I don't need to and probably shouldn't so i will be finding a home for her
and last... the tiger salamander. starting my new years resolution early as it would seem (to keep more amphibians) I am going to try and get this guy in better shape but as of now I have no idea why he is skinny.... no word as to what he was being fed or anything about his care. If I can get him to pull through I'll likely keep this one
He is rather active and seems healthy otherwise, just thin. Aside from crickets what else should I try feeding him? earth worms? wax worms? I should be getting roaches soon....
