I just thought that is might be of interest to you all. I have two leopard geckos that are approximately the same age (about 18 months)
The first gecko (ms. cleo) was kept under ideal conditions and fed well and had perfect husbandry. She was only turned over to me because the owner felt she didn't have the time for her while she was in school.
Case number two, Scooter. Scooter is a male leopard gecko who is aboutt he same age but spent the first 10 months of his life without a heat source, he was being fed crickets but obviously was not digesting them do to the lack of a heat source. He also had no supplimental calcium. This resulted in severe Metabolic Bone Disease.
After 7 months in my care the differences between the two geckos is amazing. It just goes to show what proper husbandry can do.
Top: Ms. Cleo
Bottom: Scooter



Bear in mind these pictures are not to scale you need to look at the numbers on the rulers to get the full impact.

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"What is now proven was once only imagined." - William Blake

~*~Lacey~*~

My Photos

I had the same case with a colleague of mines son. Their Bearded Dragon was almost a year old and very undersize. I told them to check their temps assuming they were too low after they told me he ate 3-4 crickets a day. A jump of 15 deg and he started a growth spurt. These circumstances would probably be why many herps die with in a few years at the hands of inexperienced herpers.

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Mike
"Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you." - Mother Teresa

Yeah Scooter has grown almost 2 inches and he's defiitely fattened up since I got him, but he's still going to be deformed because somebody didn't car eto take the time to learn how to properly care for him and then when he was almost dead they decided to 'sell' him. My friend talked him into giving him to her, then he wouldnt eat or drink for her and I ended up nursing him back from death.

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"What is now proven was once only imagined." - William Blake

~*~Lacey~*~

My Photos

This is a story with a happy ending, sadly unlike many other cases, but well done in your work for these guys Lacey, particularly Scooter. He'll always be affected by his poor start in life, but I'm sure in your capable hands he will thrive. Beautiful geckos, well done with them

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"If you know everything you may as well blow your brains out because the reason for existence is to learn more everyday." - Mark O'Shea, 2004

Awesome job Lace....Great to show what incorrect houseing and husbandry does to a reptile...which proves the importance of research before buying..

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MARSHA

:D I'm smiling because I have no idea whats going on!

Yes Marsha it does. It drive me nuts when I mention to someone that "this" or "that" might be better for their herp and they say,"he's still alive isnt he?" like thats all that is necessary. My pets are spoiled rotten and im crazy about them, i'll admit it, but still atleast providing the bare essentials is key to a reptiles survival I would think that if peiople were going to keep them as a pet they would atleast out in the effort.

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"What is now proven was once only imagined." - William Blake

~*~Lacey~*~

My Photos

Nice pics.

I was in one of those stores a few weeks ago that sells a little bit of everything, but doesn't really specialize in ANYTHING, and they have a small "pet" section. It is mostly small snakes, tarantulas, rats, gerbils etc. But they do have a few iguanas, skinks and on this visit a beautiful black and white Tegu.

Anyway we happened to be there at feeding time one day and the person in the pet section was feeding the Tegu white mice (very cool to watch BTW) This woman was standing there watching and she says "I'm glad my Iguana only eats lettuce" I just looked at her and then back to the Tegu, I guess she thought I didn't hear her because she said it AGAIN.

So, I asked her how big it was, how long she has had it etc. After she gets finished I tell her how bad lettuce is for her iguana and that she is pretty much starving it, she gets this indignant look on her face and tells me HER iguana is fine and she KNOWS what she is doing. I just shook my head and walked away.

Ugh! People like that make me want to grab a rusty icepick and go to town. I HATE opeople who ask your opinion on their husbandry and then argue, they are right up there with people who give bad information. I think that you SHOULD have to be licesned to own ANY animal, right down to a goldfish!

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"What is now proven was once only imagined." - William Blake

~*~Lacey~*~

My Photos

Hm, licenses for all pets.. a ctually, that's not a bad idea. Sure it'll make it a pain to get pets, but if you want the pet THAT bad, you'll get the license :P

That said, I'm glad you got ahold of Scooter

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~My Petses, Preciouss...~
0.1.0 (Dementedly Happy) Standard Poodle, Atashi
1.1.0 Housecats, Bilbo Aragorn Tubs and Demeter
0.0.1 ANCIENT Comet Goldfish, Platesy (I was 4 when I named her :P )
1.0.0 Adolescent Chinese Water Dragon, Heebeejeebee
0.0.2 Ryuken Goldfish, Forksy and Spoony (named to go with Platesy<3 )
0.0.2 Golden Dojo Loaches, Jack and Anamaria

Yeah I wasn't expecting him to make it so my parents got a little peeved that he did because they keep saying "No more pets!" But what can I say? I have a 100% sucess rate with rehabs so far.

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"What is now proven was once only imagined." - William Blake

~*~Lacey~*~

My Photos