Help! Fleamarket Resue. MBD.

[mtwilliams2448]

So I decided to go out to the fleamarket today to look around and see if there was any useless junk I could bring home . I stumbled upon a reptile vendor. Well last I had checked there were none they just opened a booth last weekend. I got to looking and saw that the snakes looked good and so did a few of the other reptiles that's when I looked down there was an adult male crested so I asked to see him. the poor guy had dry shed stuck to him in various spots, really bad mbd and what looks like a floppy tail.

I started asking questions and low and behold they knew nothing about him they said they had gotten him from a wholesaler that said he was the most healthy one they had . I continued to inform her about all of her reptiles she had I feel bad that I upstaged her in front of customers but it kinda had to be done. I found out she took over the guys booth who used to sell there and all of his contacts, care sheets the whole ordeal. She knew nothing about any of the reptiles but the snakes and that was because of her son who was working there with her he was 17 maybe 18 and he wants to be a herp vet. He knew a lot about snakes but that was about all. So I don't spend an hour explaining this in short I ended up getting this crested for free so I can rehabilitate him to the best of my ability after the woman said well he never moves I have checked every other day to see if he was Alive...Case in point.

So now he is home with me I gave him a sauna. crested gecko diet he has only ever been fed crickets. calcium. rubbed some of the dried shed off and set up an enclosure until I can get the rest of his stuff in there and hopefully he makes it. So my big question is do I drop his tail or not I couldn't get great pictures but I tried. He is kinda stressed because he has never been handled from what they know Warning there may be some slightly angry ranting. Thank you I will try to get better pictures later. he is just stressed and jumpy. I know you can't tell in the pictures that well but he has a horrible dip I feel so so bad for him.

 

[acpart]

Great that you were able to rescue him. My crestie experience is limited to one, but I would recommend a reptile vet who may choose to do an amputation rather than a home-grown version.


Aliza

 

[mtwilliams2448]

Ah I'm not to sure about amputation i have heard a lot of mixed thoughts about if it is better or worse than just letting them do there thing and drop it themselves. I just feel so sorry for the little guy. I just don't get it why sell animals you know nothing about. there are just those people in the world I guess.

 

[Aimless]

if you have to drop his tail, getting him to do it at home will be much less traumatic than surgery. if you do choose to do so, just keep it clean for a few days and it will heal up fine. they're designed to do this, after all.

I had a similar story around 5 years ago. I picked up a free "rescue" from a big box petstore because he had the most horrible case of MBD. he was a full-grown adult and I have no idea how old he was. his tail was very warped and twisted. I consulted with a friend who has a pretty large crestie breeding operation; I sent her both pictures of the warpage and a video clip of him walking. her recommendation (and granted this is not a vet, but she's a very experienced crestie keeper) was that encouraging them to drop their tail is warranted IF it makes a significant difference in their ability to walk. just a twist in the tail is a minor deformity and won't hurt the gecko.

Quasimodo's tail was very warped, as was his lower spine, and he had a pronounced limp. I dropped it for him. although usually a very sweet gecko, he turned and bit me then, and I didn't blame him one bit.

he healed up well and lived another 4 + years as a spoiled pet.

now, from your pictures I can't see if your gecko is that bad. they are not clear at all. once he calms down, can you get a better photo?

 

[mtwilliams2448]

thank you for the reply and I did get better pictures. his spine appears to be twisted he wont and cant lay straight how long should I wait to drop his tail?

 

[Aimless]

if it were my gecko, I'd leave it alone. just make sure he's getting proper nutrition. it's MBD, yeah, but it's not really that bad in terms of his spine, from your photos? this is the gecko I had. his spine warpage was pretty severe, and he had a significant limp. if yours walks all right, there's no reason to go through the trauma, IMO.

 

[mtwilliams2448]

I understand. He doesn't walk well at all his front legs are fine but his back legs he has to find his grip it takes him 4 or 5 tries before he can actually grasp the surface. it is like watching an old man or woman trying to feel where they are stepping and they shuffle. Thank you for the reference picture! I fear if he would have been left like that for a while longer that he would have looked just like that or dead . Thank you for the help.

I was just wanting input from someone who knew Bad MBD first hand. I am no stranger to Good nutrition. I have been in the hobby for over 7 years now and he is definitely not my first sick gecko I have taken in just the first one with this severe MBD. I planned on leaving it alone until he gets as healthy as possible and if his spine gets worse to decide from here it doesn't help he sleeps curled up.

 

[Aimless]

ah, I see. if you're feeding him properly (and it sounds like you've done your homework) he shouldn't get any worse. you might give him a dish of calcium powder for awhile, too, in case he feels like he wants more?

my Quasimodo lived in a much more horizontal setup than I use for my healthy cresteds, too. I never saw him fall, but was always concerned. he lived in a planted 15-gallon tall.

I hope he does well for you. I was actually rather surprised Quasi lived as long as he did; most of the various geckos and lizards that came through the herp society's rescue when I was involved that had serious MBD didn't make it out a year. you never know what that sort of external damage can correlate to on the inside

 

[mtwilliams2448]

Yeah I made sure there was a calcium dish as soon as I got his CGD in there and he has utilized it. I hope he makes it he sleeps a lot but can be very active when I get him out to check on him. i know he need to acclimate but I'm also trying to get stuck shed softened up and he doesn't really seem to mind being handled he doesn't fire up either so I'm sure that's a good sign.

 

[aquamentus_11]

could be good or bad i'd think. regardless, he's got a good shot now. poor little guy's had some hard times, but at least the rest of his life (however long that may be) will be spent in a caring home.

i'm not religious, but anytime something completely reliant and innocent gets treated this poorly, the only word that i can find to describe it is "sin". shame on whoever is responsible.