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Reptiles/Questions Answered by Expert Mick
| Subject | Date Asked |
| snake/mice | 11/29/2011 |
| Q: Hey there, I have a ball python, And I am thinking of giving him to a good home. I would like to get ... A: You can rationalize it all you wish, but coming here and using the words you used (get rid of) and ... | |
| snake/mice | 11/29/2011 |
| Q: Hey there, I have a ball python, And I am thinking of giving him to a good home. I would like to get ... A: This usually happens when you're feeding technique is wrong and you have conditioned the snake to ... | |
| snake/mice | 11/26/2011 |
| Q: Hey there, I have a ball python, And I am thinking of giving him to a good home. I would like to get ... A: There are plenty of other reptiles that would eat rats, but I'm sure you can find that easily ... | |
| Desert Horned Toad | 11/15/2011 |
| Q: Desert Horned Toad, 20 gallon tank, fine reptile sand found at the pet store, humidity is low but ... A: I will cover more later. Go to the link to my website which I gave previously. All the instructions ... | |
| Desert Horned Toad | 11/14/2011 |
| Q: Desert Horned Toad, 20 gallon tank, fine reptile sand found at the pet store, humidity is low but ... A: Actually, you've come to the best person you could ever have for this. What is the name of this ... | |
| snakes | 11/13/2011 |
| Q: I was wondering what would happen if I put my ringneck snake in a tank with a baby corn snake? A: The Ring-Neck is likely to eat the Cornsnake. That's what will happen. No knowledgeable reptile ... | |
| Gecko Not Eating for 4 Weeks | 11/9/2011 |
| Q: I have an albino leopard gecko who I rescued from someone whose rat bit him (this was months ago and ... A: The Leopard Gecko is not an amphibian at all. It is a reptile that lives in the deserts of ... | |
| curly tailed lizards | 11/2/2011 |
| Q: I think my lizards are mating. What should I expect eggs or live birth and how long after they mated ... A: This is a very broad question and most of the information very general and can be found by web ... | |
| Baby Leopard Gecko | 9/21/2011 |
| Q: Here recently I bought a baby leopard gecko. It eats fine, and its certainly a feisty little thing, ... A: Follow the directions and follow up with the information you were directed to provide when you were ... | |
| bearded dragon hit by car | 9/10/2011 |
| Q: Last Thursday I found dragon on busy road in northern Victoria. It could move but had a little blod ... A: Send me both pics and video of the dragon moving, eating, and of this growth in the mouth. Don't ... | |
| snake identification | 6/14/2011 |
| Q: I live in England and i am not sure if this site is still up and running or not ?? Anyway my ... A: I would have to save these individually and open an editing program to enlarge them. I just don't ... | |
| snake identification | 6/14/2011 |
| Q: I live in England and i am not sure if this site is still up and running or not ?? Anyway my ... A: I'm sorry, these just aren't going to do. I thought you were going to remove the snake so that I ... | |
| snake identification | 6/13/2011 |
| Q: I live in England and i am not sure if this site is still up and running or not ?? Anyway my ... A: If you have not been bitten to this point, I see no overwhelming need for concern now. Though I find ... | |
| snake identification | 6/13/2011 |
| Q: I live in England and i am not sure if this site is still up and running or not ?? Anyway my ... A: Not sure if the site is still up? The page displayed? My first question would be: why would you ... | |
| rattlesnake | 6/12/2011 |
| Q: I found a longitudinally striped snake about 18inches long with 2.5 buttons on its tail. it had a ... A: Pictures for this sort of thing work much better. I am unaware of any rattlesnake which has ... | |
| Fitting bearded dragon | 6/5/2011 |
| Q: I have a bearded dragon, who is about 8 months old. He has a very large vivarium, with lots of ... A: Now, the size of the crickets? Gastric difficulty and neurological symptoms can be seen in dragons ... | |
| Fitting bearded dragon | 6/5/2011 |
| Q: I have a bearded dragon, who is about 8 months old. He has a very large vivarium, with lots of ... A: Your information was not complete. You did not state the size of the terrarium, nothing about the ... | |
| Bearded dragon | 6/1/2011 |
| Q: My bearded dragon is about 4 months old and when I got home the brand of UV light felt on his left ... A: I suggest you see a vet, quite quickly, of course. It is clear that there has been some eye trauma ... | |
| URGENT: Bearded dragon may be dieing? | 5/30/2011 |
| Q: Just today my 1 year old female beardie is not moving at all! she is barely opening her eyes and she ... A: I don't accept private messages here, so I am changing this to public. If you knew what you were ... | |
| Bearded Dragon on antibiotics | 5/26/2011 |
| Q: I recently took my bearded dragon to the vet because of a swollen toe. The vet said he has an ... A: I think the vet is probably wrong unless there was an open wound in the toe or he did a culture for ... | |
| Texas Spiny lizard? | 5/25/2011 |
| Q: My son found this lizard on a pallet at work. Can you identify it for us so we can make sure it gets ... A: Yes I know its not a lizard native to your area and that it would spell doom, which is why when you ... | |
| Texas Spiny lizard? | 5/24/2011 |
| Q: My son found this lizard on a pallet at work. Can you identify it for us so we can make sure it gets ... A: If you want the "proper care", take it back and let it go. Yes, color changing like you described ... | |
| URGENT: Bearded dragon may be dieing? | 5/23/2011 |
| Q: Just today my 1 year old female beardie is not moving at all! she is barely opening her eyes and she ... A: Start by getting her to a vet, because this is not the place for questions in an emergency. Then you ... | |
| Diamondhead/rattlers/ electrjc-current | 5/20/2011 |
| Q: If bitten, by a rattlesnake, and you have car jumping cables, then placed the positive/negative onto ... A: I think you mean Diamondback rattlers. The procedure you describe was taught to me when I was in the ... | |
| Bearded Dragon | 5/19/2011 |
| Q: Hey, My name is amber and I'm very concerned about my friends bearded dragons he takes them to bed ... A: This is not a good idea. He may love his dragons, but this is dangerous. There are fall hazards, not ... | |
| bull snakes vs rattle snakes | 5/10/2011 |
| Q: I have looked on-line, and none of the sites seem to include an actual pictoral comparison of the ... A: Go right to my snake page on wichitafallsreptilerescue.webs.com and you will see plenty of ... | |
| curly tailed lizard care | 5/5/2011 |
| Q: I recently purchased a curly tailed lizard from a local, reputable pet store that specializes in ... A: The internet is a wonderful resource, but do not misinterpret. My critique is with just going to any ... | |
| curly tailed lizard care | 5/5/2011 |
| Q: I recently purchased a curly tailed lizard from a local, reputable pet store that specializes in ... A: "Reputable" is a highly subjective term for any pet store I have found. Most are not, and if you ... | |
| russian tortiose | 5/3/2011 |
| Q: can i give my russian tortiose tomatoes, gave him a bite and he loves tomatoes i just wanted to ... A: Yes, as long as they are your standard for human consumption tomatoes, but they should be washed ... | |
| Horned Lizards | 8/19/2010 |
| Q: I would like to be a member of The Society for Horned Lizard Preservation. However I can't seem to ... A: At this time, the only way is to apply for membership to the horned lizards yahoo group listed on my ... | |
| Bearded Dragon Lighting | 8/14/2010 |
| Q: I have a bearded dragon. He is 3 months old. Hes in a 20gal long tank. Hes on rep safe carpet. His ... A: I don't know what value other beardie owners opinions might be, since I don't know their background. ... | |
| unusually calm crested gecko or sick? | 8/9/2010 |
| Q: species: crested gecko habitat size: large critter keeper substrate: paper towels humidity %: misted ... A: I don't believe in calm or lazy explanations. Reptiles are too instinctual and always act for a ... | |
| Sick MHD and company | 8/5/2010 |
| Q: I did very much research before buying my first male MHD(Rubin). I take extremely good care of him ... A: You missed some essentials though, and I will require those before we move on. Please see the ... | |
| Green anole eggs/hatchlings | 7/21/2010 |
| Q: I have two green anoles (female and male). They live in a 29 gallon tank. I have a outdoor screen ... A: I have never seen a reported case of eye irritation from linear tubes if they were mounted the ... | |
| Green anole eggs/hatchlings | 7/20/2010 |
| Q: I have two green anoles (female and male). They live in a 29 gallon tank. I have a outdoor screen ... A: Taking this one item at a time, from the top: Get rid of the UVB coil lamp and do not use those or ... | |
| lizards | 7/17/2010 |
| Q: Can you please help me? A: I am a wildlife rescuer. My opinion is to not catch and keep them at all. They are wild animals and ... | |
| Water Moccasions | 7/14/2010 |
| Q: I read your answers to the questions on moccasins. I no longer kill snakes--period. But I used to. ... A: Water "moccasin" I thank you for not killing any more snakes. Even snakes have a rightful place in ... | |
| green anoles | 7/13/2010 |
| Q: i was wondering why one of my female anoles is bobbing her head up and down swelling her body up and ... A: You sure you have all their genders worked out anyway? Males or females may display for a variety of ... | |
| harvester ants | 7/10/2010 |
| Q: i have a baby horny toad, and i was told that it will die without the vital harvester ants... and ... A: See my webpage at wichitafallsreptilerescue.webs.com and email me from there. I will need to see ... | |
| water dragons and calote | 7/9/2010 |
| Q: I have 2 water dragons and one calote all in a 20 gallon high tank.I bought them all from a local ... A: "They seem to get along fine together"...unless you know what to look for, you won't know whether ... | |
| odd lizard on my Alabama tree | 7/4/2010 |
| Q: I live in Alabama and have never seen this lizard before. Can you identify? Thank you for your time. A: This is a gravid (pregnant) female Sceloporus undulatus Eastern Fence lizard (Spiny/Fence/Swift ... | |
| hermit crab | 7/3/2010 |
| Q: i have found a hermit crab and i Im wondering if i could keep it?? wat is a hermit crab a wild ... A: Hermit crabs are found in the wild, and I would recommend releasing it if you do not know how to ... | |
| what reptile | 6/20/2010 |
| Q: im looking a for a small lizard maybe a gecko im out the house from 7 am to 5pm so i need one that ... A: I usually don't recommend pets to people who don't have time for them and have to rely on others to ... | |
| what should i feed my turtle? | 6/16/2010 |
| Q: i have a small palm size box turtle that my cousin found on the highway... what should i feed it?? A: You should not feed it. You should return it to where your cousin found it, well off the road. This ... | |
| My Baby Painted Turtle | 6/12/2010 |
| Q: I have 2 baby painted turtles and i dont know if its a male or female, i would like to find out, but ... A: You just asked the question today, and I am to expect that on a Sat, in the last couple of hours no ... | |
| My Baby Painted Turtle | 6/12/2010 |
| Q: I have 2 baby painted turtles and i dont know if its a male or female, i would like to find out, but ... A: Suggestion to do "if" you "want him to live"? I guess that really shows where your brain is. I can ... | |
| Thermal burns on uromastyx | 6/6/2010 |
| Q: she also appears to have thermal burns but im not sure here is a picture can you tell me if it is ... A: One, you didn't follow directions at all, which required you to provide detailed background, ... | |
| blue tail skink | 6/4/2010 |
| Q: I found a blue tail while repotting a large planter. I released it in my garden, then found a clutch ... A: No, any reputable pet store would not want them, and if they did they would sell them. Best thing ... | |
| Turtle | 2/1/2010 |
| Q: Ok so I'm a fish keeper and now have an extra tank(30g) I'm now looking into turtles so my question ... A: Well, you type like a young person (lack of capitalizing "I" when referring to yourself for ... | |
| Turtle | 2/1/2010 |
| Q: Ok so I'm a fish keeper and now have an extra tank(30g) I'm now looking into turtles so my question ... A: Despite what you may feel a "part answer" is, I really don't have much comment here because I don't ... | |
| Red-Eared Slider Turtle | 1/27/2010 |
| Q: I have a red-eared slider turtle that I have had for about 5-6 months now. His name is Norman and he ... A: I wasn't mean. I am direct. There is a difference. I also have rules, and they state clearly that I ... | |
| crested geckos sick? | 1/27/2010 |
| Q: I just acquired 2 crested geckos 2 days ago. They were abandoned in a closed restaurant for about a ... A: No that's not all you can report. If you want a decent answer you need to provide more background. ... | |
| possible gravid leopard gecko | 1/26/2010 |
| Q: i own 3 leopard geckos that are housed in a 55gallon tank with reptile carpet as a substrate i have ... A: No, you can't ask a question unless you answer the questions. Everyone needs to get out of the mode ... | |
| bearded died want to know why | 1/23/2010 |
| Q: I got a baby bearded dragon about 3 weeks ago. i have perfect lighting and temps. this past weekend ... A: Really without a necropsy this is a guessing game. It sounds like symptoms that fit several ... | |
| bearded died want to know why | 1/21/2010 |
| Q: I got a baby bearded dragon about 3 weeks ago. i have perfect lighting and temps. this past weekend ... A: What calcium dust were you using? Did you use it every time? What size were the crickets? What size ... | |
| bearded died want to know why | 1/20/2010 |
| Q: I got a baby bearded dragon about 3 weeks ago. i have perfect lighting and temps. this past weekend ... A: You need to follow the directions and provide the information I require first. The possible causes ... | |
| Choosing a reptile. | 1/17/2010 |
| Q: I am 13 and have a short experience with reptiles. I have had green anoles and snakes,a ball python. ... A: I'm really not big on recommending reptiles at all for young people, but if I have to give an ... | |
| Can a Schneider Skink and Yellow Throated Plated Lizard live together in the same tank? | 1/14/2010 |
| Q: Strange situation...my daughter had a Schneider's Skink (not sure of the sex - pet store thought ... A: The skink is from NW Africa. The Plated Lizard is from S. Africa. Though they are often found in ... | |
| young savannah | 1/11/2010 |
| Q: My husband recently brought me home a young sav. She is about six to seven inches. She is in a 30 ... A: The best course is x-ray to check for issues related to nutritional MBD, and possible gastric ... | |
| Axolotl | 1/6/2010 |
| Q: I've had my axolotl for about 3 years now. He suddenly developed some swelling around the neck area ... A: This animal is a little outside my expertise, but I will try. Can you provide a better picture? This ... | |
| Crocodile Gecko | 1/5/2010 |
| Q: I recently purchased a crocodile gecko for my birthday. I was wondering what watt of heat bulb I ... A: Didn't follow my directions. This is really something you could have answered yourself with a ... | |
| leopard gecko | 12/31/2009 |
| Q: the second grade class in my school had leopard gecko for a pet in their classroom. The kids were ... A: Honestly you need to wake up and mature a bit. You have "become attacted" to her and won't part with ... | |
| leopard gecko | 12/31/2009 |
| Q: the second grade class in my school had leopard gecko for a pet in their classroom. The kids were ... A: Are you a student or faculty or parent? Please contact me by email at my website, ... | |
| Red-Eared Slider Turtle | 12/9/2009 |
| Q: I have a red-eared slider turtle that I have had for about 5-6 months now. His name is Norman and he ... A: Actually the delay in answering was not due to the length, it was due to the content, much of it ... | |
| rescued a beardie | 10/2/2009 |
| Q: we got two bearded dragons from a friend at work. he couldn't take them with him while moving. they ... A: You only like the best for them...but you "got rid" of the male who needed a caring home? Was that ... | |
| Releasing a red ear slider | 8/31/2009 |
| Q: Mick, We have a red eared slider that keeps ending up in our pool. I think he came from a farmers ... A: I have received more than a few reports of turtles getting into people's pools. Is it a salt ... | |
| chameleon help asap | 6/20/2009 |
| Q: my chameleon isn't even a year old yet. his eyes are always closed and i tried spraying getting ... A: I will tell you just like I tell everyone. First, I have rules for asking me questions like this. ... | |
| climbing | 6/18/2009 |
| Q: Hi I bought a 6 ft tank mabe by cages by design online it has rock wall shelves with bushy vines ... A: Try using a little punctuation next time, so I don't have to figure out the run on sentence, ok? ... | |
| blinded bearded dragon | 6/17/2009 |
| Q: tomorrow i'am going to pick up a bearded dragon and the guy says she is blind and i just want to ... A: So did the vet find any obvious trauma to the globe? What is his prognosis and what is he ... | |
| Anole bumps | 6/16/2009 |
| Q: I have about a 6 inch green hat lives in a tank with tree,bush and climbing sticks. I do have sand ... A: Yes, have it looked at. Sounds like mites or some other cutaneous parasite. I can't say without ... | |
| i think i found an egg... | 6/15/2009 |
| Q: i am 10 years old, i have 2 anoles, one brown anole, one green anole and they live toether happilly, ... A: First don't touch it. If the egg is fertile you could kill it by moving it. Next, you need to do ... | |
| blinded bearded dragon | 6/14/2009 |
| Q: tomorrow i'am going to pick up a bearded dragon and the guy says she is blind and i just want to ... A: She could live a healthy life. Not normal though. She is blinded. Being able to find food will be a ... | |
| frilled lizards | 6/13/2009 |
| Q: Can a male (2years of age) be housed with a female frilled lizard? I have a vivaria that is 4 feet ... A: You may want to check with a website that deals more with frillies on that dimension. That is ok for ... | |
| Leopard Gecko problems | 6/12/2009 |
| Q: My Leopard gecko is about a year old and male . For a while he was shedding alot more than usual , ... A: Then...take...it...to...the...friggin...vet!!!! I swear. With all the "I love my pet, please do ... | |
| snake identification | 5/31/2009 |
| Q: Attached is a photo of a snake who has been hanging out in my yard the last few weeks. I have been ... A: Unfortunately, this is one of those rare times where a lay-person does not mis-identify every snake ... | |
| My geckos skin went in her eye | 4/2/2009 |
| Q: My two year old leopard gecko shed her skin recently and I noticed some of it got stuck in her eyes. ... A: Look at the eye under magnification and lighting. Irrigate any foreign debris with saline. If ... | |
| Bearded Dragon | 4/1/2009 |
| Q: my bearded dragon seemed fine after so i put him back in the cage and acouple days later he started ... A: A vet, and that's all there is to it. Reptiles feel pain to, get it? And if he's getting worse this ... | |
| Leopard Gecko | 2/1/2009 |
| Q: I have a leopard gecko that is about 6 years old. I have taken really good care of him his whole ... A: You didn't include the particulars I asked for in the rules, so I can't, no will I, venture wild ... | |
| my snake wont eat | 1/31/2009 |
| Q: my red tail boa has not ate in 4 week it is the first time this has happened and this is my first ... A: You didn't read the instructions. I have no background here from you on what you are doing with this ... | |
| BEARDED DRAGON | 1/1/2009 |
| Q: WE BOUGHT A BEARDED DRAGON ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO, HE IS ABOUT 2 MONTHS OLD, WHEN WE 1ST BROUGHT HIM HOME ... A: Take him to a vet that specializes in exotics immediately. There is far too much that could be ... | |
| Armodillo lizard | 12/2/2008 |
| Q: I have recently purchased an armadillo lizard from a local pet store, they had originally told me ... A: I would be concerned about what other bad advice you got from that pet store. A crocodile lizard ... | |
| indian star tortoise | 12/1/2008 |
| Q: i would like to know whether the existing animal welfare legislation of this tortoise adequately ... A: To what particular legislation are you referring, and are you asking a general question about ... | |
| chameleon tree frog | 10/1/2008 |
| Q: I have a tree frog,actually a pair,and when they are on the siding of the house,which is white,they ... A: I'm not much of a frog expert, but many herps have the ability to slightly change their coloration ... | |
| Fire belly Toad and Swelling! | 8/18/2008 |
| Q: My fire belly toad is all swelled up. Stomach, legs, neck.....I am concerned that he has an ... A: I'm afraid toads are not my strong area, however being gravid or a systemic infection ( sepsis ) ... | |
| gecko | 8/17/2008 |
| Q: Today i noticed my 8 month old female gecko licking her behind. As she would lick it, a red baldge ... A: I think you need to double check with someone who knows reptiles ( not with the idiots at those ... | |
| Eastern box turtles | 8/16/2008 |
| Q: I have had a box turtle that I found about a year now and recently a friend of mine found another ... A: It's called mating behavior if one is male and the other female. If the setup is too small or he ... | |
| Lizard | 6/25/2008 |
| Q: I have a lizard living in my garden in Spain and I have no idea what type it is/whether it will ... A: Nobody can tell you what it is without seeing a picture. Many lizards do quite well in gardens and ... | |
| turtles | 5/28/2008 |
| Q: My mom found a turtle and it had a red belly. I looked up on the Internet what kind it was and i ... A: It said it was from Minnesota? Wow, that's a smart turtle! I couldn't tell you what kind it is on ... | |
| everything about chameleons | 5/28/2008 |
| Q: Im looking for a bright color chameleon that changes colors and that fits my price range which is ... A: Ok, well if he was a little old when you got him, then you didn't keep him his "whole life span". ... | |
| Turtle Co-habitation | 5/27/2008 |
| Q: I have a 1-2 month old musk turtle who is doing fabulous, and then a friend of mine rescued a yellow ... A: Depends. There is more than one genera of Musk turtle and several species at that. They can be shy ... | |
| injured ball python | 5/27/2008 |
| Q: while feedng my bp yesterday he struck at the mouse and missed but afew minutes later caught and ate ... A: He may be lethargic due to the meal if it was unusually large, but of course this glass strike could ... | |
| My Beremese | 5/26/2008 |
| Q: I have a 6 yr old 15 foot female bermese. And in her last two feedings (rabbits), she did not digest ... A: First I would like to say that you should be using frozen/thawed pre-killed. It is more humane for ... | |
| Water dragon | 5/26/2008 |
| Q: i want ot know how often juvenile water dragon eat,i had gotten one two days ago and i dropped 3 ... A: For that he is going to need a vet to get that eye flushed and some antibiotics prescribed at the ... | |
| bone indentification | 5/22/2008 |
| Q: I found a vertebrae in a bag of peanuts and am curious as to the animal it belonged to. A: I'm afraid identifying a single vertebrae to a specific animal based on a picture alone is not my ... | |
| everything about chameleons | 5/22/2008 |
| Q: Im looking for a bright color chameleon that changes colors and that fits my price range which is ... A: I'm sorry, I don't make recommendations on reptile pets without knowing what your level of reptile ... | |
| prolapse??? | 5/21/2008 |
| Q: we have had our lepoard geko for about a month, we bought it from a private adds, she told us she ... A: Sounds like a neurological illness or injury, or perhaps impaction on substrate or improper prey, or ... | |
| lighting | 5/20/2008 |
| Q: ok i just bought a leopard gecko, i think it is a female. i am just curious about the lighting, what ... A: You can use either red or blue night light, but blue in my opinion provides a more natural level of ... | |
| bearded dragon | 5/18/2008 |
| Q: My bearded dragon has been unwell for about two weeks,we are not sure of his age but we have had him ... A: You never posted a follow up. I cannot help if you don't follow up with the information so that I ... | |
| Drooling Savannah | 5/17/2008 |
| Q: 3 days ago my monitor starting drooling and I don't know if he's sick, or even if it's a a he. At ... A: Nobody can tell you that based on two sentences. What are your temps, substrate, humidity, lighting, ... | |
| emergency/sick bearded dragon | 5/15/2008 |
| Q: My bearded dragon turned jet black from under his chin to the end of his neck;is listless and won't ... A: Does it sound "fixable"? I realize that this situation might have already resolved one way or the ... | |
| Day Gecko swollen neck | 5/9/2008 |
| Q: I have a Madagascar Day Gecko who has just recently started showing what looks like swollen glands ... A: Your question was sent to the pool. Though I am not sure which Madagascar species you are ... | |
| Length of incubation of eggs | 5/9/2008 |
| Q: I have a group of the Texas Spiny Lizards (five to be exact) and two of the females just laied eggs, ... A: Give me the details listed in my instructions first. Are these wild Texas Spiny's that were ... | |
| Water dragon | 5/9/2008 |
| Q: i want ot know how often juvenile water dragon eat,i had gotten one two days ago and i dropped 3 ... A: Just depends on how large the WD is. How big is he? 20 gallon is going to be way too small unless ... | |
| Water dragon | 5/8/2008 |
| Q: i want ot know how often juvenile water dragon eat,i had gotten one two days ago and i dropped 3 ... A: A juvenile should eat every day. Every other day at latest. But, GET RID of the mealworms! That's ... | |
| Bearded Dragon toe swelling | 5/7/2008 |
| Q: I have a young adult male BD with at least one toe on each foot that is very swollen at the distal ... A: Sounds like possibly gout or pseudogout, due to excessive animal protein or excessive calcium and D3 ... | |
| terrapin behaviour | 5/7/2008 |
| Q: They were well cared for and fed,and kept in the proper conditions[light ,water filter ,heater ... A: Your question was sent to the pool. Territorial aggression is possible, but highly highly unlikely ... | |
| bearded Dragon | 5/6/2008 |
| Q: I have a hypo-orange bearded dragon that is about a year and a half old.I have had him for about a ... A: Ok, I can help you, but you have to follow the instructions just like I laid them out. Don't just ... | |
| Bearded Dragon | 5/5/2008 |
| Q: Our beardie is about 3yrs old and he is acting very lathargic. One eye seems to be difficult for ... A: Yes. Lethargy and refusal to keep eyes open are 2 definite symptoms of illness, and it only gets ... | |
| Strange liquid | 5/5/2008 |
| Q: Species:Leopard Gecko Habitat:26 Gal. tank Size: Large Substrate: Calcuim sand Humidity- N/A Vet ... A: It sounds as if she may be egg bound and had more eggs that did not pass. When this happens they ... | |
| Bearded Dragon Attack | 5/3/2008 |
| Q: I own 3 one year old bearded dragons, 2 males and 1 female. I have them all housed together in a 100 ... A: Most people don't understand how much space a Bearded dragon really needs. In this case, 100 gallons ... | |
| Red Ear Slider | 5/2/2008 |
| Q: I have a young red ear slider with a pink inflammation that appears to be an ear infection. I have ... A: Yes, there is a medicine and treatment. You need to go to a vet to get it. It needs to be examined ... | |
| HORSFIELD TORTOISE | 5/1/2008 |
| Q: MY 5 YEAR OLD TORTOISE HAS BEEN TREATED FOR A SEVERE EYE INFECTION BY THE RSPCA. THEY HAVE TRYED EYE ... A: More specific. You have not answered all that I ask in my instructions. At this point if you do not ... | |
| What are the symptoms of an infection my tortoise. | 4/29/2008 |
| Q: I need some information about my tortoise, she is a kinixys Belliana aprox 2 years old. She has not ... A: Everything you described is a sign of illness, but not necessarily infection. It could be many ... | |
| gecko | 4/28/2008 |
| Q: what do gecko's eat? also,do they drink water and how much? A: Please see google for these answers. It is best you research for webpages to answer these basic ... | |
| green anole | 4/28/2008 |
| Q: My sons green anole seems to have something stuck in its throat, I believe it is a piece of bark--it ... A: Any vet can handle this. It doesn't have to be a reptile vet. Just take it in at any vet office and ... | |
| ILLNESS | 4/28/2008 |
| Q: I Have a bearded dragon and have found her this morning looking black on her chest area and puffed ... A: Best thing for you to do is vet obviously, since you don't know what this is. Dark coloration ... | |
| Bearded Dragon lizards symptoms of dying | 4/28/2008 |
| Q: I have two bearded dragon lizards that are just short of four years old. I keep a diary of daily ... A: You need a vet, because you aren't going to solve this by back and forth consultation by internet ... | |
| eggs | 4/27/2008 |
| Q: i have 2 breaded dragons 1 male an 1 female i always wanted them got them about 4 months ago they ... A: You need to get an incubator, but first thing, do not move them until you mark them on top with a ... | |
| baby bearded dragon. | 4/26/2008 |
| Q: A few weeks ago i went a bought a 6 week old bearded dragon. She's had alot of diarrhea lately, and ... A: Possibly gastric parasites. You should get a vet check up and a dose of Panacur for it. Parasites ... | |
| agressive iguana | 4/26/2008 |
| Q: my boyfriend and i have had an iguana for about 1 1/2 years so im guessing the iguana is close to 2 ... A: Yes, male Iguanas tend to be more aggressive toward females, particularly during that time of the ... | |
| Lizards... | 4/25/2008 |
| Q: Is there a Medicine which will help lizards not enter my house? We have been facing a lots of ... A: No, not really. Lizards in your house means that you have a source of food for them in your home, ... | |
| Beardie question | 4/24/2008 |
| Q: I have a 6 year old bearded dragon, he is in a 6o gallon tank with shelf paper as substrate, ... A: Sorry for the delay, but I've been dealing with some medical problems. Thank you for providing the ... | |
| chinese water dragon | 4/14/2008 |
| Q: do I keep the basking light on all the time or do i turn it off once and a while? A: "Once in a while"? The sun doesn't stay out 24-7, so don't do that to your water dragon. You'll ... | |
| Red Tail Boa Refuses To Eat | 4/13/2008 |
| Q: I have a red tail boa who is about 6 months old. She is a little longer than when I got her before ... A: Well that's sad. The vet couldn't take her because she was really dehydrated? I don't understand ... | |
| Red Tail Boa Refuses To Eat | 4/11/2008 |
| Q: I have a red tail boa who is about 6 months old. She is a little longer than when I got her before ... A: Ok, if you want my opinion on this you're going to have to follow the instructions to questioners ... | |
| Fire bellied newt not eating | 4/9/2008 |
| Q: She also took him to New Zealand and he said that apparently sometimes newts just won't eat and he ... A: Ah, it just sounds to me as if these vets are just not resourceful enough or don't care. I could ... | |
| red ear slider turtle | 4/9/2008 |
| Q: I found my turtle in my swimming pool. he crawled out of his pond and into the pool. how harmful is ... A: Probably not very harmful short term unless your chlorine levels were very high or you frequently ... | |
| Anole's eye | 4/8/2008 |
| Q: I have two anole's, and my smaller of the two has a pink bump over his left eye and he can't open ... A: Then you need to take him to the vet. There's not a debate here. You don't know what to do, and I ... | |
| hova bator | 4/6/2008 |
| Q: i recently purchased a hova bator and my room temperature is about 60 degrees. However, when i try ... A: Yes, did you really read the instructions?? Repeat the room temp back to yourself that you gave me. ... | |
| Possible Sick Leopard Gecko | 4/4/2008 |
| Q: I have a leopard gecko thats a couple years old that I've only had for a few months but all of the ... A: Vet. You can't do anything if you don't even know where to start. It is too time costly for the ... | |
| Plumed basilisk, boy or girl? | 4/4/2008 |
| Q: I purchased a plumed basilisk from a herp convention approximately five months ago. The lizard was ... A: I'm afraid I don't have experience actually keeping Basilisks. But I do know that generally with any ... | |
| gecko and forced hybernation | 4/3/2008 |
| Q: about 5 weeks ago, while I was asleep, my heat lamp for my leopard gecko burned out and I didn't ... A: I just wanted to note here about the UVB, a warning to stay away from the repti glo 10, or any ... | |
| snake | 4/2/2008 |
| Q: the tip of my corn snakes tail is coming of is it bad or ok A: Bad. The circulation was probably cut off due to an incomplete shed. You may have to take him to the ... | |
| so. California lizard-Blue belly? | 4/2/2008 |
| Q: I have found a lizard with a broken leg.I live in Southern California it does have a blue belly, but ... A: I can't really tell you what it is without seeing a picture. It may be some species of Spiny or ... | |
| canebrake hybrid | 4/1/2008 |
| Q: What is the largest canebrake hybrid that you have heard of? How long is it? Can you tell me what ... A: I think you are probably wanting to talk to a hobbyist breeder rather than a field guy like me. I'm ... | |
| bearded dragon | 4/1/2008 |
| Q: my bearded dragon is 7 months old, and I got creative and fed him lubber grasshoppers I fond in my ... A: Never feed stuff you find outside if you don't know exactly what you are doing. Insects found around ... | |
| green&brown anoles | 3/31/2008 |
| Q: my son picked up my anole it stays brown my son puts it down it turns green for a minute then brown ... A: It turns brown because it is stressed by handling. Dark color change is what the reptile does when ... | |
| bearded dragon | 3/29/2008 |
| Q: I am thinking of buying a dragon for myself and need to know a list of the heating and lighting i ... A: First, I caution you that in my opinion with 20+ years experience in reptiles, that Bearded Dragons ... | |
| Fire bellied newt not eating | 3/29/2008 |
| Q: She also took him to New Zealand and he said that apparently sometimes newts just won't eat and he ... A: The person who told you that some "just don't eat and need to be put down", is probably someone who ... | |
| snake has mites | 3/28/2008 |
| Q: My snake has mites, I think he/she had them when I got it. (I went to the pet store a couple days ... A: Over the counter solutions have varying effectiveness. If you are gong to use one, I recommend ... | |
| i think my beardie is sick. | 3/27/2008 |
| Q: my name is mark and in january i bought two baby beardies. one at a pet store and one at an herp ... A: I'm a bit perplexed. Do you not know whether your Beardie was missing an eye at the time you ... | |
| Problems with my Green Anole | 3/26/2008 |
| Q: I need help... I found a Green Anole in my home and it seems to be paralyzed; it doesn't use its ... A: It sounds as if it was injured by a predator ( cat etc ), or fall, or pinned behind something, and ... | |
| Rattlesnake | 3/25/2008 |
| Q: What kind of rattle snake is this? I found this snake in my 4 year olds closet. A: The image is far too small for me to make a positive ID. I can't even see it's head or end of the ... | |
| MY IGUANA | 3/24/2008 |
| Q: HE IS ALSO VERY SKITTISH. I HANDLE HIM A FEW TIMES EVERYDAY AND LET HIM SOCIALISE WITH ALL VISITORS ... A: You did not provide the information requested in the instructions! This hinders my ability to answer ... | |
| leopard gecko | 3/24/2008 |
| Q: Why is my leopard geckos feet going darker? she hasnt been eating very much lately, because she ate ... A: You just need to take the Gecko to the vet. Eating of rocks can cause a fatal gastric impaction that ... | |
| incubation for leopard geckos | 3/23/2008 |
| Q: My female leopard gecko is pregnant and i am feeding her very well. However, i have a question about ... A: 60-70% sounds fine. I have never paid much attention to very specific humidity measurements though, ... | |
| gecko and forced hybernation | 3/21/2008 |
| Q: about 5 weeks ago, while I was asleep, my heat lamp for my leopard gecko burned out and I didn't ... A: You need to take this gecko to the vet. If it was improperly allowed to hibernate without being ... | |
| my bearded dragon is not looking to good | 3/16/2008 |
| Q: We have had him for about two weeks. but just yesterday i came home from work and he was just laying ... A: If he's still alive to this point, then you need to take him to a vet. That's a no brainer. He is ... | |
| my 12 week old bearded dragon | 2/16/2008 |
| Q: i am really worried i got my beardie 2 weeks ago it had a slight hard lump near the back of his head ... A: Certainly without knowing what it is, the potential is that it "could" be life threatening. It ... | |
| mating behaviour | 2/14/2008 |
| Q: I have a female beardie and a male rankin dragon housed together. They have been getting on well but ... A: Anytime a male is excessively harassing a female and causing her physical injuries, you need to ... | |
| Please help! | 2/14/2008 |
| Q: I've had my leopard gecko for almost 4 months and he has only eaten once since I got him. He didn't ... A: I was on vacation when this was asked, but had I not been I would have responded promptly. "if at ... | |
| Help please with my Leopard gecko. | 2/13/2008 |
| Q: I bought two baby leopard geckos (or so I assumed, since they were only about 3 inches long) from ... A: Your question was sent to the pool, and unfortunately I'm answering it so late. I would appreciate ... | |
| My Bearded Dragon | 2/13/2008 |
| Q: I have had my one bearded dragon, Ambulance (male), for about three years now and about half a year ... A: I'm not sure why your question was sent to the pool and wasn't answered before, because it is very ... | |
| Bearded Dragon URGENT PLEASE HELP | 2/13/2008 |
| Q: I noticed my bearded dragons throat was bulged and the crickets i gave her and the lettuce i gave ... A: If you don't know what is going on, then you need to see a vet. We can't see the condition in person ... | |
| Hibernating Frogs | 1/10/2008 |
| Q: then he started to move so i was wondering......Do American Green Tree Frogs Hibernate???? A: Of course. Most reptiles hibernate or aestivate. But I wouldn't assume that it just decided to ... | |
| Snakes | 1/9/2008 |
| Q: Me and my girlfriend each got a Arizona kingsnake and we don't know male from female can you let me ... A: There are several species of kingsnake native to Az., and "Arizona kingsnake" is a general term that ... | |
| no feling in legs | 1/7/2008 |
| Q: For a couple of days my bearded dragon has not been eating or anything and I think it has no ... A: This is a health related question. I have a very visible set of instructions which lists the ... | |
| bearded dragons | 1/1/2008 |
| Q: i have a year old bearded dragon thats restless in his vivarium and wont eat and hasnt been for 10 ... A: First post a follow-up on this question and include the required information in the instructions. ... | |
| i think something is wrong with my bearded dragon !!?? | 12/31/2007 |
| Q: my bearded dragon is spreading his back legs out and then twitching and i thought it was weird! he ... A: Yes, the crickets that you used could be too large for him. That will cause this. It is known as ... | |
| African Clawed Frog | 12/29/2007 |
| Q: i just got 2 African clawed frogs for Christmas and my mom don't like them but i love them, she says ... A: No, this is absolutely not true. They would have to have "warts" to give you in the first place, and ... | |
| western fence lizard | 12/20/2007 |
| Q: how big do they get too. A: "Western Fence Lizard" is a common name only. There are a lot of species that fall under that ... | |
| Green water dragons | 12/19/2007 |
| Q: i have a green water dragon, the vivarium is of a large size but was hand built by my partner. just ... A: Specific to Water Dragons I'm not sure, but in general you want to stay away from all types of cedar ... | |
| my lizard wont eat | 12/19/2007 |
| Q: I've had my leopard gecko for about 9 months now and for the past 3 weeks he hasn't eaten and wont ... A: Of course you should take him to see a vet. This is a no brainer. There could be substrate or a ... | |
| graid beardies | 12/17/2007 |
| Q: I am emailing you to ask about my female beardie.I have had her for about a month now I put her ... A: She very well could be gravid and most pet store employees don't know what they are talking about. ... | |
| Leopard Gecko | 12/17/2007 |
| Q: I just purchased a Albino Leopard Gecko at petsmart. She is eating ok i havent seen her poop (only ... A: Leopard Geckos are nocturnal and should always sleep during the day. The shaking could be due to ... | |
| breaded bragon got lazy | 12/15/2007 |
| Q: he is about 9.5inc long and normal quite active but the last few days he doesn't bother with his ... A: I'm glad to see someone responsible enough to take your Beardie to the vet. Most people asking ... | |
| blisters on the skin | 12/13/2007 |
| Q: We've had a pretty good sized uromastyx (10") for about 3 months. We bought her from a pet store. ... A: Are you using a UVB source? You should be. But if you are, then it is likely you either have moved ... | |
| Bearded dragon | 12/13/2007 |
| Q: I have a 10 month old bearded dragon and for the last few weeks he is > not eating, not even his ... A: You need to take the Beardie to the vet...bottom line. No matter what this is, it is going to end up ... | |
| Bearded Dragon... | 12/12/2007 |
| Q: I have two bearded dragons and about 7 months ago one of them developed a small lump above his eye, ... A: Yes, get a second opinion for sure. The vet should not discount anything unless he has done a ... | |
| bearded dragon with a kink in its tail | 12/11/2007 |
| Q: hoping you can help ive only recently purchased my beardie its 4 months old and ive noticed a kink ... A: That depends on what it is. It could be a break and the end if the tail may fall off and later ... | |
| lethargic bearded dragon | 12/11/2007 |
| Q: hey, my bearded dragon has been acting weird lately. She is very lethargic, and does not appear ... A: A lethargic Beardie is a sick Beardie. A six year old Beardie should also see a vet if she hasn't ... | |
| 2 Female Leopard Geckos. | 12/11/2007 |
| Q: I literally just bought a small female leopard gecko. I am interested in breeding it with my male ... A: I'm not sure on some of the information you give here, like "mature size" and all. At 3 years old, a ... | |
| Housing Bearded Dragons | 12/10/2007 |
| Q: What size cage should I get for a breeding pair A: Something VERY large in my opinion. Too many people know too little about Beardies and their natural ... | |
| sick SA turtle needs immediate help! | 12/9/2007 |
| Q: I live in Albany, New York. About 14 months ago, I bought two Snapping Alligator turtles, they were ... A: I am sorry I just found your question in the pool. I am sorry if nobody else was capable of helping ... | |
| Wild box turtles in inherited field | 12/9/2007 |
| Q: I am including the requested info, even though this is about wild box turtles, not my pets. I have ... A: Linda. By general location, I just kinda meant what state you were in. You can contact me at my ... | |
| Golden Gecko's and hybernation | 12/9/2007 |
| Q: DO Golden Gecko's hybernate? If so how do you tell they are hybernating and not dead? A: I don't think being native to SE Asia that they do hibernate, as it probably never gets that cold ... | |
| Maturity | 12/8/2007 |
| Q: leopard geckos in the same tank is okay cause I'm not sure what would happen now or in the ... A: Your question is not clear. Are both immature? If there is little size difference between them then ... | |
| Wild box turtles in inherited field | 12/8/2007 |
| Q: I am including the requested info, even though this is about wild box turtles, not my pets. I have ... A: for having enough concern for their conservation to ask about it. It's more than most people would ... | |
| bearded dragon dead or brumation | 12/7/2007 |
| Q: my female betty boo is 18 months old.this afternoon i went to feed my dragons (i have two other ... A: Your Beardie is not in brumation unless you keep her in a refrigerator. That gasp is the final gasp ... | |
| Baby lizards | 12/6/2007 |
| Q: They had been doing great for 6 months. Then last night we were so sad to find two of our babies ... A: Can't know that without knowing what you mean by "too hot". Of course it could be, but we need a ... | |
| My Baby Bearded Dragon! | 12/6/2007 |
| Q: I have had my baby bearded dragon for about 3 weeks-a month at first he was eating normal: lettuce, ... A: You've had them for about a month, and they were the same size when you got them, but now one of ... | |
| My Baby Bearded Dragon! | 12/5/2007 |
| Q: I have had my baby bearded dragon for about 3 weeks-a month at first he was eating normal: lettuce, ... A: So in other words he stopped eating about a week after you got him? You can't give me more detail? I ... | |
| Beardie question. | 12/4/2007 |
| Q: Hey my beardie just layed non fertile eggs like 2 weeks ago. I have male and female about a little ... A: No, going multiple weeks in between egg laying is not normal. If she still has eggs and does not lay ... | |
| komodo dragons | 12/3/2007 |
| Q: are komodo dragons used to make medicine? A: Since the Komodo Dragon possesses a deadly cocktail of over 40 different bacteria in their mouth to ... | |
| Anoles and other reptiles | 12/2/2007 |
| Q: I have a huge tank that used to house my old iguana who died a couple of weeks ago, now i am looking ... A: I'm sorry about your Iggy. Be sure to disregard all substrate, disinfect and rinse the tank and any ... | |
| african fat tail gecko | 12/2/2007 |
| Q: i have an african fat tail gecko and around his lips are really red almost like the outer skin ... A: Yes, this is called stomatitis, or "mouth rot". It usually happens from biting people handling them ... | |
| Short neck turtle illness | 11/23/2007 |
| Q: My short neck has developed a swollen body cavitiy,which is pink in appearance.He is weak and i have ... A: Not enough information to make such a diagnosis. Could be environmental chemical exposure, pathogen, ... | |
| Questions | 11/19/2007 |
| Q: I am looking at Bearded Dragons, but am not completely satisfied. I am trying to find another type ... A: There is actually no question here. This is mostly a matter of preference and your herp experience ... | |
| my first gecko | 11/17/2007 |
| Q: I am getting my first leopard gecko at christmas.How far should the light at the top be away from ... A: Depends on what kind of light you are talking about, and the substrate you use. I recommend you ... | |
| bearded dragon | 11/16/2007 |
| Q: I have an 8 month old bearded dragon he ate a mouse 2 days ago and now he is twitching and shaking ... A: Your Bearded Dragon probably has ataxia from being fed prey that was too large for him. If he is ... | |
| Blind bearded dragon? | 11/9/2007 |
| Q: My boyfriend and I have a two month old bearded dragon. We recently tried a new product called vita ... A: Your question was sent to the pool, but I will answer it: Honestly, Bearded Dragons aren't for ... | |
| weird behavior | 11/9/2007 |
| Q: I have had my beardie for about a year but this is my first winter with him. He has been displaying ... A: Your question was sent to the pool, but I will answer it for you: Your Beardie is obviously ... | |
| My baby BD | 11/7/2007 |
| Q: ..i just bought a baby bearded dragon last week thursday,its wednesday today...he was already about ... A: Kristi sent you question to the pool, but I will answer: First, I don't know what "standard fish ... | |
| leopard gecko | 11/5/2007 |
| Q: I have had a leopard gecko for 9 months now, she is 1 years old. Her eating habits were perfectly ... A: Your question was sent to the pool, but I will answer it: You need to see a reptile vet about this ... | |
| my beardies | 11/5/2007 |
| Q: Ok so I have a 2 year old beardie that I have had for about a year and recently I acquired a 6 month ... A: Your question was sent to the pool, but I will answer it: All head bobs do not indicate dominant ... | |
| Bearded Dragon | 11/4/2007 |
| Q: We have a bearded dragon who is 3 1/2 - 4 months old and is 8 inches long. He lives in a tank 60cm ... A: Your question was sent to the pool, but I will answer it for you: No, this sounds a bit small. ... | |
| Ceramic Heat Emitter | 11/3/2007 |
| Q: I have green anoles and I am getting a ceramic heat emitter for them. It will be located about 6-10 ... A: Your question was sent to the pool, but I will answer: That depends on how big the tank is and what ... | |
| bahaman anole | 11/2/2007 |
| Q: a few weeks ago i cleaned out my reptile's cage. (i have a house gecko and a bahaman anole) when i ... A: Your question was sent to the pool, but I will answer it for you: Yes, this is a situation for the ... | |
| leoparad gecko | 11/2/2007 |
| Q: I was informed that I need to get a mixture, or slug of some vitamins to give to my gecko through a ... A: Your question was sent to the pool, but I will answer it for you: I don't know where you heard this ... | |
| BD health care | 11/1/2007 |
| Q: My Bearded dragon recently went through a shed and during the shed she closed her eyes and hasnt ... A: Your question was sent to the pool, but I will answer it for you: If you had taken the Beardie into ... | |
| My beardies mouth | 10/30/2007 |
| Q: I have a 3 year old male bearded dragon. He is fat and healthy with a great appetite. However he ... A: Your question was sent to the pool, but I will answer it: Yes, your Beardie has stomatitis, ... | |
| bearded dragon | 10/30/2007 |
| Q: do you think an 8yr., (with help), is old enough to take care of a bearded dragon? also, is ... A: Your question was sent to the pool, but I will answer it: No...flatly not. A Bearded Dragon is not ... | |
| leo | 10/29/2007 |
| Q: "Hye, i was just wondering, how do you gutfeed mealworms? Is it okay if i just keep it in a box of ... A: Your question was sent to the pool, but I will answer it for you: Yes, on the mealworms. In fact I ... | |
| bearded dragon | 10/26/2007 |
| Q: I bought 2 baby bearded dragons two weeks ago. They are in a 20 gal tank with reptile carpet on the ... A: Sorry for the delay, but I have been very busy lately. Thank you for you attention to detail in ... | |
| bearded dragon | 10/24/2007 |
| Q: my bearded dragon has a eye problem but i cant explain it it looks swollen and u can se alot of red ... A: Did you read my instructions before asking this question? There could be explainable reasons the ... | |
| turtles feeding habits | 10/23/2007 |
| Q: i have a pair of slider turtles. they seem to be very fussy about their food. when we first bought ... A: Well I can't help you very much since you did not give me any of the background information on your ... | |
| Bearded Dragons | 10/20/2007 |
| Q: I live in the staye of illinois and I was wondering if you have to get a license to sell baby ... A: your question was sent to the pool, but I will answer. You are going to have to check first of all ... | |
| Change in Beardie's Behavior | 10/19/2007 |
| Q: We have a bearded dragon here at our museum. We acquired him in March 2007 when he was still very ... A: Relative size, his age, and whether you are using UVB lighting is important to know. And in regards ... | |
| painted turtle not eating think hibernating | 10/18/2007 |
| Q: We have a painted turtle (daughter caught when a baby - now approx 4 inches in diameter) We bought a ... A: This is somewhat confusing, but I will try to wade through it. Why do you say you can't release ... | |
| wild box turtle hibernation in my open garage | 10/16/2007 |
| Q: In 30yrs living on my 10 acres of nature-heaven I've never had this happen. An ornate box turtle ... A: I am the co-founder of Wichita Falls Reptile Rescue in Tx. The first thing we need to do is ... | |
| Beared Dragon: is he okay? | 10/15/2007 |
| Q: My bearded dragon is inactive and wont eat very much, he also is looking very black in color and he ... A: You did not include any of the environment/background information laid out in my instructions. Did ... | |
| Western Bearded Dragons | 10/14/2007 |
| Q: I bought a bearded dragon for my son on Tuesday having been told they are low maintanance creatures ... A: OK, I'll give you points for effort, but you really didn't provide all the information I asked for ... | |
| help | 10/7/2007 |
| Q: my name is amber and I got a question for you. Today I went to go check on my leopard geko and as I ... A: For this reason, reptiles are for observing, not handling. They should not be handled unless ... | |
| my leopard geckos | 10/6/2007 |
| Q: One of mine has red looking things in the vent and still eats fine.the other one doesn't eat and ... A: Go to the vet. You should not have bought them if you had not the money to take them to a vet if ... | |
| tortoise or turtles | 10/5/2007 |
| Q: how can I understand my pet is a tortoise or turtles? A: You will just have to search for pictures in order to identify. I do not have a picture of your pet, ... | |
| ornate box turtle hibernation | 10/3/2007 |
| Q: I have an ornate box turtle I'm not sure if it's ready to hibernate I'm afraid to hibernate it not ... A: Where and when you acquired the box turtle is important, just as what it has been fed while you have ... | |
| Beardy's | 9/28/2007 |
| Q: i have read your instructions and i have researched on the topic but i just wanted to know your ... A: Well Danny, it sounds like you are off to a good start. Not knowing your level of experience, I will ... | |
| Bearded Dragon advise please | 9/27/2007 |
| Q: I have a 9 month old female dragon, I have had her for 5 months now, She gets handeled enough, n ... A: I don't know what "correct lighting" means, or what your other conditions are, such as habitat and ... | |
| snake | 9/24/2007 |
| Q: do snakes drink milk A: No dear. Not unless they were severely dehydrated and just maybe found a puddle of milk instead of ... | |
| Lighting-Leopard Geckos | 9/22/2007 |
| Q: I recently have gotten 2 Leopard Geckos. I have been dealing with reptiles for a couple years but ... A: My wife has had her 2 Leos for 10 years, and they are very easy to maintain if you maintain them ... | |
| snakes | 9/21/2007 |
| Q: i just want to ask if you know what a baby snake is called? its my son's assignment and i cant find ... A: Yes, I know what they are called, but at the risk of doing your son's homework for him; I will have ... | |
| My anole needs help! | 9/19/2007 |
| Q: My anole has this round red ball (looks like blood) near it's tail. Its not a liquid. It has had ... A: Your Anole needs a vet. This sounds serious, and it sounds like it could be many things. But, you ... | |
| Yellow-throated plated lizard | 9/2/2007 |
| Q: We have a yellow-throated plated lizard. He is ~4 years old, is ~15 inches long and we have not ... A: So you are not sure if he has eaten in weeks, and you don't know whether he has lost his eyes...and ... | |
| restless leo | 8/31/2007 |
| Q: My leo is restless. She (I think) is ~5 or 6 months old. She was so tiny when we got her from the ... A: Well, you haven't followed my instructions for asking a health related question either, so what you ... | |
| how to and how long | 8/30/2007 |
| Q: how do i take care of my one hermit crab? how long do they live if i take the best care of Sweets ... A: Hermit crabs are a wee bit off from being reptiles you see. But it just so happens that you are in ... | |
| ID type of snake | 8/29/2007 |
| Q: PLEASE...help. A fourth snake has decided to visit me. I have a picture this time. No ... A: Might have just been a diamondback water snake, but I will have to see the pictures. There are about ... | |
| i think my baby iguan is sick | 8/28/2007 |
| Q: This is my first pet i had it for 31/2 months and recently i noticed one of its legs looked bigger ... A: You followed absolutely none of my instructions for how to ask such a question, but since the life ... | |
| Box turtle | 8/27/2007 |
| Q: I wanted to know if box turtles need to see a vet or have there nails trimmed? He looks heathy and ... A: Box turtles, like any other reptile, should always have an initial exam when you get them. I would ... | |
| Native North Texas Lizards for Yard/Garden | 8/25/2007 |
| Q: I live in Parker County, Texas (North Central Texas) and have a well kept yard/flower garden with ... A: No need for directions. I'm in Wichita Falls. We get rained on at the same time practically, so I'm ... | |
| Mali Euromastyx- skin hardening | 8/25/2007 |
| Q: ..I was just wondering if you could help me out a little bit. I noticed my euromastyx's skin ... A: Your question was sent to the pool but I will answer it now. Get some shed ease or soak in warm ... | |
| Aggresive beardie | 8/25/2007 |
| Q: I have an around 8 month old beardie that is very aggressive to me. I did a lot of things that ... A: Your question was sent to the pool but I will now answer it. Who told you to stuff greens in his ... | |
| Antibiotics | 8/23/2007 |
| Q: I put my geckos into care while I went on holiday, when I came back they are now not eating/going to ... A: Antibiotics and other drugs should be used with caution, and not given willy nilly as a knee jerk ... | |
| bearded dragons | 8/23/2007 |
| Q: hello i have a baby bearded dragon which i bought of someone who found it its 5 months old but very ... A: Follow up: Yet another example of someone who does not know enough to answer her own question, yet ... | |
| Texas Spiny Lizard Age | 8/23/2007 |
| Q: I am a teenager who currently lives in Texas. A few days ago, I discovered a Texas Spiny Lizard who ... A: Follow up: You are yet another example of a poor keeper in the making who is miffed at being given ... | |
| what species | 8/23/2007 |
| Q: hello i live in orlando florida near lake apopka area we are about 1/2 a mile away from the lake and ... A: There is just far too many snakes that this could be. I would have to have pictures. It could have ... | |
| Beadred dragon | 8/22/2007 |
| Q: Me and my husband brought a bearded dragon from a reputable breeder 5 days ago we have been feeding ... A: Your question was sent to the pool, but I will answer it. This could be anything from improper ... | |
| A Wild Frog | 8/22/2007 |
| Q: I have a backyard pond and I go to a local pond where I catch frogs and bring them back here for the ... A: Your question was sent to the pool but I will answer it now. It is nice to want to care for ... | |
| Identifying my snake. | 8/22/2007 |
| Q: I recently bought a baby snake in a pet shop, and i know it the snake is a sub-species of the milk ... A: Determining subspecies can be quite difficult without knowing what geographic location it came from, ... | |
| Not Eating | 8/21/2007 |
| Q: FULL STOP! I have given him crickets, silent browns, hoppers, worms, vege's, i have also given him ... A: "Essay"? People need to get past the e-etiquette about summing everything up into 2 sentences. Most ... | |
| leopard geckos | 8/21/2007 |
| Q: I have two leopard geckos about 2 years old. Today I came home to find a white egg like sac in the ... A: Your question was sent to the pool but I will answer it. It may be too late now, but it sounds like ... | |
| Which Lizard? | 8/20/2007 |
| Q: I would like to own either a Bearded Dragon or an Anole but which lizard would be better? I would ... A: To be quite honest, coming from 20 years of herp experience, if you want something you can handle ... | |
| armadillo lizard health | 8/19/2007 |
| Q: my armadillo lizard has a bumb/soar on the underside of his mouth and has had it for a while now it ... A: Your question was sent to the pool but I will answer it. I am not sure what a "bumb/soar" is but I ... | |
| bearded Dragon | 8/19/2007 |
| Q: I recently purchased a bearded dragon and was wondering if they would get along with another type of ... A: No, reptiles of different species and geographic locations should not be kept together. That is how ... | |
| ASAP | 8/19/2007 |
| Q: i just got a green anole and i hate crickets so i am wondering if there is any other thing i can ... A: You should feed what is best for the animal, and if you can't handle the prey, then don't have the ... | |
| green anole | 8/19/2007 |
| Q: can i feed my green anole fruits and vegetables if so what types A: Anoles are pretty well strictly insectivores and you can't get around feeding them insects. However, ... | |
| Swollen eye of a Brown Anole | 8/18/2007 |
| Q: I have a brown anole that I recieved a year and a half ago from a friend, since then he has been ... A: Your question was sent to the pool but I will answer it. If this condition still exists then you ... | |
| Bearded Dragon | 8/18/2007 |
| Q: I just received my mega ray uvb lamp 100w. I also put by beardie in a new 40 gallon tank. ... A: The Mega Ray is the best UVB lamp on the market in my opinion. Do you have the SB100? I need a ... | |
| my new green anole | 8/17/2007 |
| Q: During our recent trip to North Carolina my two sons caught and decided to keep their new lizard. I ... A: Unfortunately, this is the breaks of catching and keeping something from the wild. You must catch ... | |
| bearded dragon | 8/16/2007 |
| Q: When my bearded dragon poops it sometimes has an orange color mixed in. I make him a salad of mixed ... A: Your question was sent to the pool, but I will answer it. First thing I notice is that you are ... | |
| sick mountain horned lizard | 8/15/2007 |
| Q: i bought my son a mhd a month ago, he's supposedly 4 or 5 months old. He was doing ok, but yesterday ... A: Follow up: RUDE?! I had the decency to not call names as you did, so take from that what you like. I ... | |
| Baby beardie ate calcium sand | 8/13/2007 |
| Q: my six and a half inch bearded dragon ate some calcium sand should i be worried? A: Probably not if it was only a little sand. Pure calcium sands are touted by pet stores to have ... | |
| tortiuse | 8/12/2007 |
| Q: we recently moved and our tortoise keeps pushing through the fence is he trying to return to our ... A: He could be trying to go home. Sulcata are highly intelligent and he is probably stressed and all ... | |
| Bearded Dragon | 8/12/2007 |
| Q: I've had my bearded dragon for about 8 months and just recently I took him out of his cage and set ... A: Head bobbing is normal, but uncoordination and loss of balance is a very common, and commonly fatal, ... | |
| Box Turtle | 8/8/2007 |
| Q: I live in NW Arkansas (Benton County)and am having some trouble finding detailed care sheets for box ... A: I applaud you for doing research and preparation first. The mark of a responsible herp keeper. In ... | |
| New Owner Worried about Bearded Dragon | 8/3/2007 |
| Q: About 3 days ago I purchased a "yearling" bearded dragon from a local pet store. He was eating ... A: Follow up: Take caution with vitamin/mineral supplements. That is a common mistake and many less ... | |
| bearded dragons | 8/3/2007 |
| Q: what age can female bearded dragons breed up to send back a.s.a.p A: I always send back a.s.a.p. But just as an aside; lack of planning on someone else's part, does not ... | |
| Bearded Dragon | 8/2/2007 |
| Q: I have 2 bearded Dragon's.. One is 3 years old and the other is a year old.. I have them in the ... A: You see, just a couple of details can make all the difference in the world about what something ... | |
| Bearded Dragon | 8/2/2007 |
| Q: I have 2 bearded Dragon's.. One is 3 years old and the other is a year old.. I have them in the ... A: OK, well I'm sorry. It just doesn't sound like a very well constructed care sheet which doesn't ... | |
| Bearded Dragon | 7/31/2007 |
| Q: I have 2 bearded Dragon's.. One is 3 years old and the other is a year old.. I have them in the ... A: Do not force them to interact. You did not state their sex, nor size relative to each other, nor ... | |
| New beardie | 7/31/2007 |
| Q: I have had my Male bearded Dragon for about 3 years now and we just got him a 1 1/2 year old female. ... A: Well if he's actually copulating with her, it will be unmistakable I think. There may be some signs ... | |
| bearded dragon injury? | 7/28/2007 |
| Q: my female bearded dragon layed eggs along with some yellow stuff ate one of the eggs and now has a ... A: I'm sorry this question was not answered for you. I hope someone helped you as this sounds like a ... | |
| Bearded Dragon | 7/27/2007 |
| Q: I understand that you are not a vet and am in no way holding you accountable; I am just looking for ... A: I would like to help, but I'm afraid if you don't ask this question again and include the relevant ... | |
| geckos and food | 7/26/2007 |
| Q: my pet shop has ran out of crickets and my snow leopard geckos are refusing to eat the worms I need ... A: All my answers are as prompt as can be in light of the fact that I run a reptile rescue, and a ... | |
| Axolotl | 7/23/2007 |
| Q: 1. I was wondering if you can tell me what is a great size habitat for 1 axolotl? 2. Do they need ... A: I'm afraid I'm not that familiar with Axolotls. Although I try to know something about amphibians ... | |
| Leopard geckos | 7/21/2007 |
| Q: Theres a reptile show coming up in my city in september I would like to get several leopard geckos ... A: Normally, sexing any kind of baby reptile is difficult without some experience. I have found that it ... | |
| pet snakes | 7/21/2007 |
| Q: does having a snake for a pet cause a health risk to pregnant women? A: That depends on the species of snake. A venomous snake could pose a significant health risk...hehe. ... | |
| bearded dragon | 7/20/2007 |
| Q: My so has had a bearded dragon for about two weeks. It is 5 months old. They are both at Grandma's ... A: This is not likely to be hypocalcemia ( calcium deficiency ) unless you are not using UVB lighting. ... | |
| Ratle snake? | 10/20/2006 |
| Q: I found this snake near malibu, it seems to be young. it ratles its tail but it has no ratle and it ... A: Sorry your question has not been answered sooner. I just joined the experts a few days ago, but I am ... | |
| Box turtle hybernation | 10/11/2006 |
| Q: I have a box turtle in an outside enclosure. How do I make sure that the enclosure is fit for it to ... A: Sorry your question waited so long. I hope you got an answer in the meantime. I just joined here as ... | |
Reptiles
Answers by Expert:
Mick
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
NO PRIVATE QUESTIONS! YOUR QUESTION WILL BE REJECTED IF YOU DO NOT PROVIDE THE INFO REQUESTED IN THE INSTRUCTIONS!. I can answer questions related reptile husbandry, field ID (esp. in Texas and the SW), legal aspects, and intermediate-advanced level medical care. I am the director of Wichita Falls Reptile Rescue (TX), a founding member of The Society for Horned Lizard Preservation, a member of the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Assoc, and a subscriber to the International Veterinary Information Service. I do most of my own veterinary care in-house, including minor surgery and necropsy. I am most experienced in Chelonia with box turtles and common smaller tortoises; and in Squamata with everything from Anoles, Geckos, Beardies, and Monitors, to venomous snakes. I am most known for my expertise with horned lizards (Phrynosoma). With snakes, my primary expertise is in Crotalids (rattlesnakes), but I can answer a broad range of questions about various species. I am not aware of any reptile related question that I would not be able to provide some reasonable answer for. I have a direct style and may tell you something you did not want to hear; but the welfare of the animal comes FIRST with me, and I will always reflect that position in my answer, despite how it might make you feel.
Experience
I am a non-academic herpetologist with 25 years experience with reptiles. I am a reptile rescuer, rehabilitator, and subscriber to the International Veterinary Information Service. I have medical and scientific resources available, and I perform in house reptile veterinary care for my rescues. I am not a vet, but I read from the same materials and have had to correct a few in the past. The average vet is not well versed with reptile physiology and medical treatments.
I am currently the caretaker of 11 Horned Lizards, 22 Box Turtles, 30 aquatic turtles, 7 fire Bellied Toads, 3 Green Iguanas, 1 Spiny Lizard, 1 Bullsnake, 20 Eastern Ratsnakes, 1 Albino Great Plains Ratsnake, 1 Massasauga Rattlesnake, 1 Leopard Gecko, 8 Fox Squirrels, 7 Deer Mice, 2 Hispid Pocket Mice, 4 Merriam's Pocket Mice, 1 Cotton-Tail, 1 Former racing pigeon, and 1 Budgie. Previously: Leopard Geckos, Golden Gecko, African White-Spotted Wall Gecko, Mediterranean Geckos, Bahama Anoles, Ca. Kingsnake, Brazilian Rainbow Boa, Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes, Gartersnakes, Long-Nosed Snakes, Russian Tortoise, Savannah Monitor, Chinese Water Dragons, Bearded Dragons, Jeweled Curly-Tailed Lizards, Long-Tailed Grass Lizards, Asian Forest Scorpions, and Eastern Cotton-tail rabbits.
Organizations
Co-Founder: Wichita Falls Reptile Rescue
Founder: Horned Lizards YahooGroup
Member: National Wildlife Rehabilitators Assoc.
Founding Member: The Society for Horned Lizard Preservation
Publications
The Horned Lizard Husbandry Manual - self published 60+ pages of care information on genus Phrynosoma.
Wikipedia entry "Horned Lizards" - contributed to a majority of the content.
allexperts.com, and various reptile related forums and email lists under the handles "fireside3" and PhrynosomaTexas".
Education/Credentials
My hands-on field and husbandry experience beats a PhD any day of the week.
Past/Present Clients
I was requested to provide my care manual on the Desert Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma platyrhinos), for the Montreal zoo. My manual is also used by several other zoological institutions in N. America.
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