Animal Stories - People Talking About Reptiles - Amphibians



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Latest Animal Stories on Reptiles - Amphibians (1983)

faith brooks - 2009-12-21
I live in rural South Georgia. I have 5 acres of which 2.5 acres are heavily wooded. This past Summer my 3 dogs all came up limping. The oldest of the dogs quickly began losing weight and exhibiting lethargy. The youngest had "bites" on right and left feet. He was the only dog who roams the property. He showed bouts of lethargy but lost the least amount of weight. The third dog had a bite on his right foot. He is a Great Pyrenees and weighed 78 lbs when he went to the vet. The vet checked the, "bite" and said it was not a snake bite. During, the months we battled this strange illness, our vet ran over 250 tests on the Pyrenees. Never could give a diagnosis , admitted did not know what was wrong with the dogs. The oldest died. They were on three different types of antibiotics. Since cold weather has set in they are finally picking up but still underweight. We suspected tick borned illness until I was looking out on my yard by an outside camera. At first, I thought it was a snake but I noted the large tail lifted up as a counter weight to movement. It was at least 12 inches long looking from the back and it was black. My husband saw it later and said it was beaded type lizard. Our neighbor saw it on her deck near their pool. It is cold, now and I think it is hybernating. I think we will have to try and catch or kill this thing before it hurts a dog or children come summer. Any suggestions would be welcome.

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Immanuel Suttner - 2010-03-29
You can get an animal professional in to relocate the lizard..no need to kill it.

Anonymous - 2011-10-12
Snakes are cool!

Chance - 2007-06-26
Yeah, fond memories of these snakes, i started out with them. Of course i get wild ones, don't see why i should pay for one when they are in my backyard. I did get bitten a couple of times while taming them, although i've only gotten bitten about once or twice. They are an extremely docile snakes for being wild. I tamed a common garter that i caught at it's full size. My big brother found a little baby butlers garter snake that was only about 10 inches long if that, and it grew to a big snake almost six feet long. My memory may be exaggeratig a bit, but it was at least 5 feet long.

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Amber - 2010-10-02
That's amazing so would you recommend a garter snake to a beginner?

Craig George - 2012-06-12
Was wondering how often a painted water turtle eats. Got him from family and the darn thing does not eat. He has been with us for 4 months and we recently got got him into a tank with large gold fish. Do not know what to do.??? HELP

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Barbara Rector - 2012-06-18
Dear Craig, Water turtles only eat once or twice a day. It also depends on the temperture of his/her enviroment. If it is to cold he or she is less likely to eat but if it is warm they will eat. I have a painted turtle of my own named oogway for a year now. Oogway does tend to be picky at times, but the are omnivores. Which means they eat bugs such as worms,flies, and some common water bugs also they eat crickets. They also will eat fish like some of your common goldfish and bait. They also eat a couple times of aquatic plants. But you must also get them a supplement for there calicum deficiency, you can purchase Reptomin which can be bought at your local walmart. And if it is under a year you want to make sure you get baby Reptomin which helps with there calicum deficiency for your younger turtle. Just let me know if you have any more question and I will try to help as best I can. Hoped this may of helped you with your turtle.
bunny - 2012-07-23
I have two baby turtles. Not much bigger than an oreo cookie. How do i know if they are painted or red slider? Boy or girl ? Caught them at the lake, can you help?
Barb - 2012-08-13
The difference between a red ear slider and a painted is, a red ear slider has line of red on the side of there head and are mainly green every where else. A painted has a orange belly and yellow and orange strips and are black or dark green color every where else. As for the sex that you can't really tell until they are older. Hope this is helpful.

donna - 2010-01-17
These little snakes are going to be wild caught, and VERY heavily parasitized--to have a chance of keeping one alive for more than a short time, you will need to have it treated for parasites immediately. If you catch one yourself, this is the very first thing you should do once you have it eating for you--take the snake to a vet for a checkup, along with a fresh fecal sample, and have it deparasitized. Be sure to take it to an experience reptile vet--you don't want someone who will just shoot it up with ivomec and send it home. A proper course of fenbendazole and possibly metronidazole will most likely be what is used.

Marcus - 2010-12-15
Hi Greg my veiled chameleon just had a batch of eggs and ive no incubator. Is there any other way i can get them to come full term. And can i pick them up to move them cause there all on top of each other/PLEASE HELP THANK YOU

Anonymous - 2012-02-21
Hi, just wondering if this was a good starter reptile as I have never owned one before(unless you count taking care of my cousins ball python as owning) and would really like a few. P.S.: can they be kept in a watery enviorment?

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Clarice Brough - 2012-02-26
There are a number of great starter reptiles that are hardy and easy to handle. First you have to decide what kind of reptile you want, a snake, a lizard or a turtle. A number of turtles can be kept in water, like the Red-earred Sliders and Painted Turtles. Some great snakes are Garter Snakes, Milk Snakes or King Snakes, and of course the Ball Python that you are already familiar with. One of the best beginner lizards is the Leopard Gecko, as well as the Bearded Dragon.

To help you decide, here's some links: Pet Lizards: Choosing a Lizard and Lizard Care, Pet Snakes: Choosing a Snake and Snake Care, Selecting & Caring for Your Turtle or Tortoise.

Daryan - 2012-08-02
My friend found a large painted turtle in the middle of a corn field yesterday and gave it to me, I named him GT for Giant Turtle. I have had many turtles before, but this one is much larger, from nose to tail he/she is about 8-9 inches long. I don't know his/her age or sex. Could somebody please help me figure out? Thanks! :)

Kyle White - 2012-06-02
I have a red ear slider and she seems happy but she didn't eat for 2 days then last night she ate 4 feeder fish. Should i be worried?

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Charlie Roche - 2012-06-02
No creature eats the same amount all the time. If the behavior, the eating and the pooping is all OK - and no obvious symptoms, I would think he was just fine.

Orita - 2005-11-13
My husband just brought me home a wonderful Tangerine one. It's very docile and likes to move a bit. I like to have it on me when I'm home and I have a feeling that it likes to be handled. They are wonderful pets!

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