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ChiiChan   Aliceinwl   PrinceSushi   ChiiChan  
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 #1695685


ChiiChan
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 Unusual behavior?

i’m kinda new to this thing and was hoping i could get some help QUICK! i caught an alligator lizard about 2 weeks ago..almost 3 now. I have a bit of research as to determine his sex (which he is a male), at least i think he is. o_O

so this is my problem/concern: he wasn’t hard to catch AT ALL! he wasn’t aggressive and did not bite anyone that held/played with him. after buying him a tank and some decors...he was usually hiding or hanging out in his fake tree thing..and he seemed to like it a lot.(now we did buy him calcium sand..and i know that’s not such a good thing?) but now..i’d say 2 days ago he avoids his tree and is very frequently wanting to climb the walls and digging? i discovered he had mites and read up on how to take care of that. bought Jurassi-mite spray and have tried putting him in water. both techniques helped with removing mites...but not all..i did have to use tweesers to remove the ones under his scales that i could see. he’s not scratching as much. but they do keep coming back! i use the spray daily because its what’s in the directions for heavy infestation! i haven’t observed him eating for at least a day now and im afraid he’ll die!!! we take him out sometimes cuz we think it’ll relieve his anxiety maybe? ..ok well it seems as thought he just ate the small cricket that was in his tank for a day...but i’m still concerned about his behavior.

he has a 10 gallon tank...small maybe? but he didn’t seem to care very much? maybe this behavior is normal because he’s getting used to his settings and frequent contact with people? or maybe he doesn’t like his house and the mites are affecting him? PLEASE HELP!!! i really don’t want him to die!!!



04/09/08  01:36am

 #1696955


Aliceinwl
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   Message To: ChiiChan   In reference to Message Id: 1695685


 Unusual behavior?

Since you have a wild caught adult I’d recommend quarantining in a large critter keeper, with paper towel substrate, a water bowl and a hide for at least 2 weeks. Apply a thin coat of vegetable oil (make sure you don’t get it in the eyes or nose) to smother any mites it may have. Stop with the sprays. Check for mites and ticks regularly and remove any you find. If you find mites, re-oil every 3 days until the lizard is mite free for at least a week. Then, place it in its permanent tank. Prior to replacing the lizard wash the tank with a 10% bleach solution. Any furnishings will also need to be washed with the 10% bleach solution and porous furnishings will need to be baked at 250 for about 15 minutes or boiled. This will kill any mites or mite eggs they’re harboring.


For proper care you’ll need:

20 gallon tank

UVB producing fluorescent

50 watt spot light (you’ll need a basking site 95-100); you may be able to get by without this but they do enjoy a warm spot to bask on occasion

Digital thermometer with probe or temp gun to make sure you have the right temps (basking site of 95-100 and temps in the low to mid 70s in the rest of the tank)

Repti-bark substrate or one of the coconut fiber types (I find the coconut fiber a bit too dusty)

water bowl (you may need to mist until it learns to recognize the bowl)

hides

calcium supplement with vitamin D3

crickets (they should be gut loaded with a nutritious diet such as fish flakes and orange or carrot slices for 24 hours before they’re dusted with calcium and offered to your lizard)



04/09/08  10:59pm

 #1697411


PrinceSushi
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   Message To: Aliceinwl   In reference to Message Id: 1696955


 Unusual behavior?

Good advice Alice.

Substrate is a bit of a personal choice. I use a 50/50 mix of sand and coconut fiber. I’ve noticed it holds moisture well but also allows drainage. For me, repti-bark never held moisture very long under a 95 degree basking spot. Just by whats available to you, as long as it is safe.Definitely throw out that "calci-cat litter" and don’t use full sand either.

Also, a 20 gallon is good, but a 20 long is best. Alligators rarely climb up to high so the extra floor space is more useful to them.
_______________________________________________________________________

I have a feeling he is so tame because he may be cold or ill. Even a "tame" allie should be nervous at first and possibly bite. Take him to a vet and have a fecal done, its generally cheap. All you really need to do is take some fresh feces in, but since he also has mites, go ahead and take him along to be examined.

Depending on the size of his last meal, he may not eat for up to two days. Every once in awhile my allie will stuff his face with 3 crickets(w/o tail he must be 3 inches long. not a big boy yet) and then he just lays in his basking spot to digest everything for a day or two before eating again. As he learns that food is always in supply, I hope he stops this habit. Try giving your lizard a warm bath and then feed him afterwards.

Alligator lizards don’t enjoy being touched, especially a new one. Taking him out of the cage is most likely just stressing him out at the moment. Maybe at one point he won’t mind crawling on you, but now is the best time to avoid touching him unless necessary.



04/10/08  10:30am

 #1697862


ChiiChan
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   Message To: PrinceSushi   In reference to Message Id: 1697411


 Unusual behavior?

thanks you guys! i’ll try your advice and hopefully everything gets better! as far as updates since the message..his behavior seems to be getting better. he hides in his rock cave thingy and is currently chilln’ on his tree. i haven’t sprayed him for a couple days now but i am keeping a close eye on him for visible mites. i’ll try the oil thing tonight..and he seems to like it when i pik the mites off of him too! and you’re probably right about the eating thing...cuz now that i think about it he did have a pretty big cricket the other day. but toay he did eat 2 smaller ones! =D i fialed to mention that we did have a basking lamp for him...but it’s odd because he doesn’t seem to really..’bask’ under it.
anyway...thanks again for the advice and i’ll keep updates on his condition and hopefully get some pictures up soon! =) THANKS AGAIN!
04/10/08  05:31pm


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