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Animal mom Melissa_Duke Bluuki Animal mom Bluuki Bluuki RedGator Animal mom Bluuki RedGator |
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Animal mom View Profile |
Injured Alligator Lizard Baby
We live in southern CA. I looked online and it appears to be a pretty young alligator lizard - dark underneath and 1/2 up sides of body and bronze color on top. We put him in a makeshift container with leaves, shallow lid with water and borrowed some mealworms from a neighbor. But the worms were so large, I didn’t think the lizard would be able to eat them. It curled up under a leaf and I was afraid it would be gone by morning. To my surprise, it’s still alive, fairly active and the mealworms are gone! I assume I need to get very small crickets for it to eat going forward. I’ve read several websites re: this lizard. Some say it’s illegal to catch and keep - even for rehab. Others say it’s good to keep it protected until it recovers and can be released. Others say they’re great pets. Some say the foot will regnerate; another says it needs vet care. I’m at a complete loss here. I would appreciate any suggestions on how to care for this little guy and keep him alive. Also any insight on legalities you might have. My son feels really bad about injuring it and would love to keep it. Thanks, Animal Mom |
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| 09/16/09 12:23pm |
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Melissa_Duke View Profile |
Message To: Animal mom In reference to Message Id: 2072505 Injured Alligator Lizard Baby
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| 09/16/09 01:41pm |
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Bluuki View Profile |
Message To: Animal mom In reference to Message Id: 2072505 Injured Alligator Lizard Baby
If I were you, I’d keep the little guy, and help him out. Of course this does cost a LOT of money. If you’re going to care for him, you should do right and try to recreate his ideal habitat as much as possible. Again, it’s kinda pricey so if you cannot afford it just let him go. Also, as far as legal issues go, it really doesn’t matter because what are the chances that someone will go into your home and report you for keeping a lizard illegally... assuming you only invite people whom you trust. Well, onto how to care for him 
Health: -Since he is injured, I would rinse his wound every few days to keep it clean. No soap though! It would do more harm than good. Also if it isn’t obvious enough, remember to hold him veeeery gently =] -Check him for mites or ticks. They are dangerous to lizards and hard to get rid of. If he has mites, regularly soak him in lukewarm shallow water each day for 4-7 days. This will drown the mites. I would also suggest rubbing some olive oil on him after each bath. You could also buy mite-removers from your local pet shop although this should be used as a side solution not the main solution for getting rid of mites. You will also need to disinfect the cage by soaking it in bleach for 30 minutes (taking the lizard out for 3-5 hours) Also wipe down the cage with olive oil or water afterward. Bag up all substrate and items in his cage (they could be contaminated) and replace them when the cage is ready. Feeding: -Crickets are MUCH better than mealworms. Mealworms are harder to digest, and may cause impaction. This doesn’t mean that you cannot feed him mealworms. They are very high in protein and help somewhat. Just be careful how much you feed him. -Feed him 2-5 crickets each or every other day *and one mealworm once a week (optional) -Make sure that you dust the crickets in phosphorus-free calcium powder right before you feed them to him. Crickets are high in phosphorus, and serving them "plain" may ultimately cause metabolic bone disease. I would suggest using: Link ~Just a bit of advice; DO NOT get sprayable supplements. They are very messy and smell awful. I found this out through personal experience =[ -You should try gut-loading your crickets. I like to use Link. -Be sure to keep the crickets well fed and that they are given enough water. I like to use Link because your crickets won’t drown and they are fed at the same time. -Also, I like to feed my lizard in a large plastic container so that she does not accidentally swallow her substrate (dirt) This can help prevent impaction, and also allows you to monitor his diet. -Buying crickets gets expensive so here is an article for breeding them: Link. A very useful piece of info. Be sure to give your crickets nice housing. (a tank if possible. Clean it regularly) They should be treated just as kindly as your lizard. General Care: -Some people say not to hold wild animals for at least a week after getting them. I personally think that it’s a bunch of BS. All of my pets are either strays or wild. They accept me as much as they do because I have given them enough attention to make them trust me. Lizards are no different. Be sure to hold him at least once a day and take him outside or something. I take mine out in the morning for some fresh air, and in the afternoon so that she can escape the heat of her cage and eat. I have only had her for a week, but she has already gotten accustomed being held. She’ll walk onto my hand and flick her tongue. -Aside from that, lizards are generally very independent and do not require much attention. They are all alone from the time of their birth. However, for the sake of "domesticating" him, you may give him some attention. Just don’t overload him too much (like holding him 20 times a day) This can cause stress which can lead to other issues such as shedding problems. -Speaking of shedding, be sure to maintain a humidity level of 50%-65% This will make it easier for him to shed and will prevents shedding problems. It is also good for respiratory health. I would also suggest keeping a very shallow dish of water for soaking purposes. Some allies enjoy soaking during shedding days. Water: -Provide a source of water. My lizard only drinks from droplets that I spread around her cage, but most will drink from a shallow dish. -Clean out the water once a day. "Fun" things build up quickly 
Cage: -I currently have (temporally) a 20 gallon fish tank that I found at a thrift store for $12. Lucky me. I would not suggest something like that for permanent housing. I would have gotten an actual reptile terrarium, however, me being only 14, has limited funds, and it will take a while to earn enough money for a large cage. It seems like, (I could be wrong) you do have a job, and might be able to afford a terrarium. If this is the case, then don’t hesitate to start looking on Craigslist or Ebay. You should get a cage that is at least 20 gallons large. I am saving for an 8 by 8 foot cage. They are very expensive, but I do not feel comfortable with keeping my allie in a cage that is barely larger than her. Keep in mind that they can grow as large as 24 inches! Most only grow to only around 13 inches or so, but it is always good to prepare. -They cage does not have to be very high. Just high enough to hold 2-3 inches of substrate and have enough space to keep the lighting around 6 inches away from your lizard. -Be sure that the cage is appropriate for holding a UVB light on top of it. Meaning, if the top is glass then please do look at other options. -Glass terrariums are nice for viewing your lizard, but screen terrariums are better for air flow. They can be harder to clean, but do a better job in maintaining an appropriate temperature that is not too hot or too cold. -Be sure to clean the cage every few months. This will keep your lizard happier and healthier. Just stay away from chemicals, and remove your lizard for 3-5 hours while it is disinfecting. -Here are some good cages: Link Small but, nice. Link Large but VEEERY expensive. Substrate (Dirt): -Zoo Med coconut fiber is my personal favorite. One warning about it is that it is not a good substrate for those who feed their lizards in a cage. The lizard may accidentally swallow the substrate and cause impaction. Aside from that, the substrate is soft and holds in moisture. It is also great for digging
-You could also use almost any other kind of substrate including paper towels. DO NOT use sand. It is not correct for your lizard’s habitat and can be swallowed thus causing impaction! -Replace the dirt when you clean his cage or replace the paper towels each day. -You have an option of growing plants in his cage, but this can get messy and they might bring in unnecessary "guests". Habitat: -I like to put in fun things like sturdy sticks for climbing and little burrows to hide in. I even built a little rock mountain for my allie. Try finding out what YOUR lizard likes most, for instance, mine enjoys climbing and digging. Try not to put anything up too high as it might fall on the lizard or the lizard might fall off it and get another injury 
-Things from outside are BAAAAD! They can carry in mites which will infest your lizard and its cage. If you are really tempted to bring in something from the great outdoors, disinfect it first. Meaning wash it off or soak it in water and follow by baking it until you know for sure that everything has died. -Provide enough hiding places. Alligator lizards like to hide from the sun and predators for most of the day. This means that you should give it things like log huts or rock dens to make it feel comfortable. It will prevent stress and your lizard will be happy (for the most part) -Be creative. A few rocks and a stick will cause a boring life for the lizard. Also keep in mind that ALL animals including humans are more intelligent when they have many activities such to participate in and enough attention. For instance a kid who grew up alone and neglected compared to a kind who went out to play each day and spend time with family will most likely develop more mental issues. Many of my cousins grew up in a neglected environment and ruined their lives by doing dumb things. I on the other hand have not experienced the same severity of neglect that they have, and I am already in college and finished with high school. I am not saying that you lizard will be dumb if it does not have enough activities, but just mentioning that it can increase the lizard’s awareness of its own world. Lighting: -Provide UVB lighting approx. 6 inches away fro the highest point in the cage (dirt, climbing area, etc) The light is required to provide D3 which regulates your lizard’s metabolic rate and helps prevent metabolic bone disease. Sunlight provided through a window is nice but not sufficient in providing enough vitamin D. -Keep up a regular light cycle. This means that lights go on at sunrise and off at sunset. Doing it any other way will mess up the poor lizard’s internal clock. Heat and Moisture: -Keep a humidity gauge and thermometer in his cage to make sure that the levels are correct. -The temp. should range from 70-80 F at nighttime and 80-95 F during the day. If it gets too hot take him out and cool him down by soaking him in water. If it gets to cold, whip out a heat lamp and keep him toasty 
-The humidity should be at 50-65% You can regulate it by using a mister which can be bought at most pet stores. -You may use a heat lamp or heat pad, but don’t overdue it and turn his cage into a 100 degree nightmare. -Provide a basking spot and cool hiding place to escape the heat when needed. _______________________________________________________________________________________ Well, that is all that I could think of at the moment. Just have fun and keep him happy. I found a baby alligator lizard just two and half weeks ago, and so I immediately researched as much as I could. I hope that what I gathered is accurate and helps you out. If you have any questions feel free to ask me. I am still a newbie, but I know quite a bit and would love to help ^_^ I may post more info on this page later so be sure to check back
Thanks for reading, and good luck! _______________________________________________________________________________________ Extra: I will post pics of my lizard, Kaida, later when I can. I would like to see the pics of you’re little guy too if you have the chance =D Also I did not have time to check for any grammar errors (I have a midterm exam next Wednesday to study for) so my apologies if some sentences came out "sloppy". Again, thanks for reading! |
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| 09/16/09 09:32pm |
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Animal mom View Profile |
Message To: Bluuki In reference to Message Id: 2072682 Injured Alligator Lizard Baby
Thanks for all the GREAT info. I can see we have a lot to do if we hope to keep the lizard (which, of course is what my son wants). I have to say I was shocked when I read that you’re only 14. Congrats on your personal and academic achievements. You’ve done a great research job and I look forward to pics of your Kaida. I hope ours recovers well. So far, he’s eating and seems more relaxed and happy. We have a lot to do to set up a home for him. I feel like an animal rescue organization. We have 7 rescued cats, 2 rescued bunnies, a 6 yr old hermit crab who just keeps keepin’ on, and now an injured lizard! I’ll get my son to take a pic so that we can show you. Good luck on that midterm!  |
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| 09/17/09 03:02am |
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Bluuki View Profile |
Message To: Animal mom In reference to Message Id: 2072788 Injured Alligator Lizard Baby
Thank you very much, and I will post the pics today.
It’s good to know that he is doing well =] That’s very neat that you have helped out so many animals. There aren’t enough people willing to do things like that. It sounds like you do a good job too. Thanks, I will try my hardest to do well on the exam. I can’t wait to see what the little guy looks like! |
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| 09/17/09 05:13pm |
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Bluuki View Profile |
Message To: Bluuki In reference to Message Id: 2072971 Injured Alligator Lizard Baby
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| 09/18/09 12:31am |
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RedGator View Profile |
Message To: Animal mom In reference to Message Id: 2072505 Injured Alligator Lizard Baby
In southern CA, it is perfectly legal to collect and own an alligator lizard. Adults need a fishing license to collect reptiles, but not your 9 year old. Lizards generally do not regenerate feet or toes, just tails. Releasing into the wild is illegal (due to people releasing sick animals with exotic diseases). I admit that I occasionally do that when I relocate an animal from a neighbor’s yard to keep it from being killed, but I’m also careful not to allow it to come into contact with any exotic species or enclosures which might transmit disease to them. |
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| 09/19/09 04:54am |
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Animal mom View Profile |
Message To: RedGator In reference to Message Id: 2073616
Thank you so much for all of your help and interest. Unfortunately, our little guy didn’t make it. I put a couple very small crickets into the cage and watched him go into action and grab one. I was amazed how fast he was, even with his injuries. He seemed active and happy and everything seemed fine. Then when I checked back a few hours later, he had died. I don’t know what happened but my son was VERY disappointed when he got home. He’s planning a backyard burial today and hoping he can find another one in our neighborhood. At least we’ll be more prepared if he comes home with another one. Animal Mom |
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| 09/19/09 01:31pm |
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Bluuki View Profile |
Message To: Animal mom In reference to Message Id: 2073737 Injured Alligator Lizard Baby
It is good to know that both you respected the little guy enough to bury him. Many people just toss out animal carcasses. I find it rather sad... I don’t know if this helps at all, but I have a neat story about when I found Kaida: On the 28th of August a sparrow somehow managed to drown in our pool. I thought I saw something floating in our pool, and almost ignored it, but I got a very bad feeling and checked the water because of instinct. I could tell the bird had died recently, and the carcass was fresh. Heartbroken, I told my mother immediately. We got the sparrow out of the pool and dried it off. There had been a pair of two other sparrows on our roof that were watching the bird. They flew away after we retrieved the body. Perhaps they were its family... The bird had an infection around its beak, so it might have been ill prior to drowning... My mom had work to do, but I had time and dug the hole for it. It took about 3 hours to get everything ready for its burial, and some effort to keep ants off the carcass. I put all my care into giving the bird a good resting place. When I was done, my family gathered and we said a few words for the sparrow, and then buried him. I covered the spot with a nice piece of stone to keep our dogs from digging it up. I worried about the bird all day. About whether it suffered, about how it was doing now, etc. It was hard to concentrate on other stuff. The next morning, I found Kaida in our bathroom. She looked like a newborn, and was no larger than my finger. Alligator lizards are very rare in my neighborhood, so it was odd that there was a hatchling which managed to get inside our house. Deep down inside I feel like there was a connection between how I treated the dead bird that I had never known, and finding Kaida the next day. I am usually overly skeptic towards the supernatural, but it was truly a miracle that I found Kaida. Thanks to her, my thoughts over the dead bird were put to rest. It’s a weird story, but it’s also kind of cool. I hope wherever you lizard went, that he is a better place. You did a good job in trying to find out how to make him happy, and I am sure that he enjoyed his time with you. Have a good weekend, and I will continue to work on obtaining clear photos of Kaida =] |
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| 09/19/09 03:53pm |
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RedGator View Profile |
Message To: Animal mom In reference to Message Id: 2073737 Injured Alligator Lizard Baby
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| 09/21/09 11:40am |
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Injured Alligator Lizard Baby