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Posted by icequeen on April 14, 2003 at 08:15:07:
In Reply to: Re: Question about posted by Sherri on April 14, 2003 at 07:31:11:
I would assume though that our importation laws would be the same...especially if the species is threatened in any way. I don't know for sure though.
I worry about this poor thing! Every time I go in there, I always stop by to look at him. I can see that he is failing. He is quite large, but I am comparing that to my veiled chameleon...I would guess he is about 18 to 24 inches from snout to tail tip. His "finger" stubs are black...that's the thing that worried me...as I automatically assumed gangrene...but then I thought to myself "well, the stubs are black...but they are dry, and not weeping" but maybe that doesn't mean a thing! I'm having a hard time understanding how this skink can cope in any natural fashion when he's missing his front claws like that. How can he climb...or even move around with comfort!
There is no way I could take him on right at this time...I have had my hands, and my emotions FULL with a very ill chameleon. Trips to the vet, medications, special food...now the next venture is to get him into a proper enclosure. He was a rescue as well, from his previous owner who decided that when they moved...Zoe WASN'T going with them! They were just going to leave him for the next person who moved in to worry about!
I've never kept a reptile before, so this has all been a crash course for me! But... I've quickly realized I have a VERY soft spot for these wonderful creatures.
I don't know...perhaps someone on the forum from near by me would be able to rescue him. They want $200 for him. I highly doubt they would be willing to give him away...they absolutely believe that they are "experts".
Do you know where I would look to find out what the laws are, and which species are prohibited for import?
Thank you very much for your reply, and your kind words. I just wish there was more I could do!
:
:First of all, thank you for your very thoughtful & concerned post. Anyone with a heart & compassion doesn't want to see any animal languishing in the conditions you described but for Prehensile-Tailed skinks this is particuarly disturbing given their struggle to survive in the wild. If, what the pet store told you is true about the skink being a recent import, then they have broken the law. In June of 2001, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) voted to stop the import of Corucia Zebrata from the Solomon Islands. I believe it actually went into effect September, 2001. Regardless of whether this pet store told you the truth or not, (often times they say something like that to absolve themselves of any blame as to the condition of certain animals), it is incomprehensible that they cannot know how valued PTS' are......
:Prehensiles are very difficult to keep under 'normal' conditions but when their health is such as you described then it really is an uphill battle that takes a tremendous amount of time, patience & absolute dedication with no guarantee that the skink will even survive. In saying that, I still believe it is worth every effort to try. I have a PTS that a pet store gave my husband a little over a year ago. (some pet stores still have re-deeming qualities & compassion) She is very much like the skink you seen & is missing 9 toes but is doing very well now. The dry skin you mentioned is due to improper humidity & environment which also has to do with the toes. What happens is that when the PTS molts & they are kept too dry, they retain little ringlets of skin around the toes that begin to act like a tourniquet & will actually cut off the blood supply, thus the loss of toes. This can also lead to dry gangrene that if not kept in check will continually spread to the remaining toes. (this is very tough to get rid of!) My little one had to undergo extensive antibiotic therapy, rehydration as many times a day as I could do & soakings 3-4 times a day.
:If you do wind up going to get him/her, I will be more detailed & help you as much as I can as everyone else on the forum will. Perhaps you might also consider telling us where you are from & maybe someone from the CCA ( Corucia Conservation Alliance) might be close in proximity & can intervene or Brian from the South Florida Corucia Research Center can point you in the right direction.
:Thank you for caring!
:Sherri
