This is why you do your research BEFORE getting a pet

Animal Nursey · 5th November 2008, 08:45 PM

These are just two of the pitiful things Tom nurse back to health. They were supposed to be a "breeding pair"- they were two females, and one was so sickly and small any egg laying would have killed her. This dragon was young, about 1 1/2- 2 years, and was really just a sack of bones. Tom had to force feed her crushed crickets and nutrobal with a syringe, and at one point considered whether or not the kindest thing would be to put her to sleep. This is the pitiful state she was in:

Animal Nursey · 5th November 2008, 08:46 PM

And this is her friend she was rescued with. Not as skinny, but was very dehydrated and had severe MBD and was missing a few toes

wayne · 5th November 2008, 08:47 PM

So many people buy on instinct, without actually realising the commitment these reptiles require. Well done Tom.

Animal Nursey · 5th November 2008, 08:51 PM

Here's the two of them together - Tom did try separating them to intensively nurse the smaller one, but she refused to eat when housed on her own

I later rehomed these two; the skinny runt was called Flower, and the larger girl was Stumpy. There are pictures of Stumpy now in the photography section. Photos of Flower are in the RIP section - unfortunately, after 6 months with me, she laid a clutch of infertile eggs, and died a week later. The last photos I got of her were of her coming home after a day of monitoring at the vets, bright as a button, saying hello to everyone at my local - she was such a friendly, cuddly dragon. She's now buried in my garden under a yellow flower, which represents her and how gorgeous she was (she was a beautiful yellow hypo). Rest in peace baby

And to anyone thinking of getting a reptile - DO YOUR RESEARCH!!!!!!!!!!

RHAC ST3R · 5th November 2008, 09:02 PM

this should be a sticky, great thread, but sad aswell

Tom · 5th November 2008, 09:04 PM

good point.. do your home work, reptiles are not toys, and are not for the "cool factor".. they grow, require more work, require time, and above all, alot of attention, maybe not pysicly, but in terms of commitmnet, and care.

wayne · 5th November 2008, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomAshby

good point.. do your home work, reptiles are not toys, and are not for the "cool factor".. they grow, require more work, require time, and above all, alot of attention, maybe not pysicly, but in terms of commitmnet, and care.

Agreed, just to clean all the vivs. in our hose takes a day. Feeding takes at least 2 hours, then you need a capable person to look after your reps. when going on holiday.

Animal Nursey · 5th November 2008, 09:16 PM

I'd love to have more beardies, in the future I may even be able to run a small rescue home for them, but for now, when I'm not dealing with the animals at work, I'm at home with my dogs and my two beardies - if I had anymore reptiles right now, I wouldn't be able to give them the attention and fuss they deserve. Maybe when my life is less hectic and my animals are all sorted out (Bonnie currently has just started medication for Cushing's disease, may be hypothyroid, has a heart block and respiratory allergy/chronic bronchitis, Jess has a food allergy which is well controlled, but has somehow hurt her foot and is going into work tomorrow for investigation, Stumpy has lost a hell of a lot of weight - over 100g - after laying 50 eggs in two months, and Tango has pinworm, which I believe she had when I got her, but has quite a large burden so it's taking a while to get rid of), I'd be able to think about finding room for another viv and another beardie.

I'm on holiday for two weeks, and I've already been in work once this week with one dog, and I'm going back in tomorrow with the other!!!

Poizon · 6th November 2008, 10:05 AM

couldnt agree more, its so sad to see them get in a state like that isnt it

repkid · 10th December 2008, 10:42 AM

Shame to read this but well done Tom and animal nursery.