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 #1662772


Stubby1
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 Help me Save Baby Lenny

My baby Southern Alligator Lizard "Lenny" doesn’t look well. We caught him when he was just a baby...about a 1" long. We have had him for approximately 9 months and he is now about 4-5". Lately, he doesn’t seem to be doing well. He is very lethargic and looking thin. Can anybody advise how I can help him?

It would be much appreciated.
03/16/08  10:55am

 #1662851


Ameivaboy
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   Message To: Stubby1   In reference to Message Id: 1662772


 Help me Save Baby Lenny

how about a nice little low down on your set up?
including cage size,lighting,temps, diet, are you gutloading,using supplements etc etc etc.
With just your description (which is kinda vague) I would guess internal parasites. A fecal exam would reveal if there is or is not an overload of parasites in your animal.
03/16/08  11:55am

 #1663717


PrinceSushi
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   Message To: Stubby1   In reference to Message Id: 1662772


 Help me Save Baby Lenny

Something is really wrong if he is 9 months old and only 4-5". He should be closer to 10"

My guess is that you may be giving him the wrong diet or he has parasites. Also, what type of lighting are you using?
03/16/08  08:45pm

 #1670839


Stubby1
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   Message To: Stubby1   In reference to Message Id: 1662772


 Help me Save Baby Lenny

You are right...just goes to show how much I don’t know. Lenny shares a 17 " x 10 " tank (approx) with another alligator lizard. The tank contains reptile wood chips on top over dirt from my yard that has been sifted free from other rocks and debris. We have the tank sitting on a heating pad and we open the blinds during the day for additional heat and sun. We feed him meal worms and crickets.

We have moved him around a bit...changed homes and changed "tank mates"...

He seems a little better this week, but still does not seem happy. Maybe I should better ground covering and supplements? I will look into your suggestions regarding parasites. Thanks again.
03/22/08  12:43am

 #1670933


PrinceSushi
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   Message To: Stubby1   In reference to Message Id: 1670839


 Help me Save Baby Lenny

Sounds like you are relying on the light from the window to provide everything he needs. However, glass filters out UVB so he isn’t getting anything. Also, toss the heat pad. Alligator lizards prefer to take heat in from above. They like basking, it makes them feel good.

If you aren’t using a basking bulb and appropriate UVB, your alli could actually be developing MBD. Once advanced, most lizard with MBD have to be put to sleep. Even ones that develop it have to be constantly monitored to make sure they are getting enough calcium and UVB exposure.

I suggest a 60 watt basking bulb and reptisun 10.0 UVB T12.

The substrate is okay. You may want to remove the chips because they can cause scrapes and sores but most of the time they don’t. I personally use a mixture of 50% coconut fiber and 50% sand.

I would also suggest you purchase a larger tank. A single adult should be housed in a minimum of a 20 long. If you purchase a larger tank, say 40-55 gallons you can continue to house them together and they will have plenty of growing room.

Move them away from the window unless it is shaded. They could easily over heat and dehydrate.

Also, be sure to purchase a digital thermometer or temp gun to keep track of the tank’s temps. 90-95 degrees is the desired temp on the hot side.



03/22/08  03:25am

 #1671687


Muffin__WOman
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   Message To: PrinceSushi   In reference to Message Id: 1670933


 Help me Save Baby Lenny

The only things you may want to change around is the lighting, and the size on the enclosure, I house my little guy in a 20 gal, and excluding his tail he is about 5" long. So, since you are housing two in the same tank you may want to either get another tank the same size as your old one, or get a larger one that your little guy can grow into?

Just a quick question, do you know what the humidity of your enclosure is? Are you misting it twice or more a day? I know before I got a humidity gadge I never realized how much I needed to mist my cage to keep it at a healthy state. Before I got a soil substrate and the right humidity my lizard was sluggish, didn’t eat much, and had sheadding problems. So if you aren’t doing that it could be the cause? ;]
03/22/08  07:29pm

 #1672066


Stubby1
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   Message To: Muffin__WOman   In reference to Message Id: 1671687


 Help me Save Baby Lenny

Thank you all for your replies. We bought UVA bulbs today and all lizards and Lenny are loving it. Also, we purchased dusted crickets this time. I like the suggestion of the larger tanks. Have a great Esater.
03/23/08  12:51am

 #1672159


PrinceSushi
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   Message To: Stubby1   In reference to Message Id: 1672066


 Help me Save Baby Lenny

Do you have UVB? UVA and UVB are different. Each has their own benefits. UVB is the one that will prevent your lizard from developing MBD.



03/23/08  02:49am

 #1706219


Stubby1
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   Message To: PrinceSushi   In reference to Message Id: 1672159


 Help me Save Baby Lenny

Thank you PrinceSushi. What is MBD?



04/16/08  11:53pm

 #1706815


PrinceSushi
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   Message To: Stubby1   In reference to Message Id: 1706219


 Help me Save Baby Lenny

Link

That link sums it up nicely.



04/17/08  04:18pm

 #1708250


Rinmpit
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   Message To: PrinceSushi   In reference to Message Id: 1663717


 Help me Save Baby Lenny

all the lizard needs is natural sunlight
04/18/08  06:17pm

 #1708469


PrinceSushi
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   Message To: Rinmpit   In reference to Message Id: 1708250


 Help me Save Baby Lenny

Yes, if it is living in an open enclosure outside. In captivity it needs UVB. Glass filters out UVB so placing its tank outside or next to a window isn’t going to do anything and, constantly moving one around will just stress the poor thing out.

So far your posts have only given bad information or suggestions. Please do a little more research before posting about something.



04/18/08  09:25pm


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