I went in a pet shop today little leopard there had no scales on its legs and only one nail at the end of a very clubed foot . I asked the worker about it and they said it was nothing as they had taken it to a vet to be wormed and the vet hadnt commented on it . Another person said that the other tortoise that had been in the tank had to have an operation due to dermatopholis. I suggested that they take the tort back to the vet . Is there anything else I should do I would of bought it, but it is a disease I havent heard of and could infect my group . The little leopard is on my mind though .

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alicia x

i would suggest staying wellaway from that one. the pet shop is morally and ethically wrong for selling a tortoise that is NOT in good health. its such an obvious thing too, not like worms. it will cost the potential owner money in vets fees and possibly be passed on to other animals. as hard as it is, leave it alone and suggest the petshop seeks vet treatment ASAP. if you get no joy then try the local council animal licensing officer, or even trading standards (they are breaking the law selling an animal that can be potentially VERY contagious )

I am trying to find the article i read on dermatiphilus but having no joy at the mo. if i remember correctly ( Ed, let me know if i am wrong!) its a gram positive infection that even if its treated leaves the animal as a latent carrier. its often assosciated with ticks and therfore, wild caught animals.

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my bright red hair is very SHORT........where did it go!

I work for the council so I will contact him on Monday .Thanks Ali , that is so sad .I shouldnt go in pet shops I only went in for a bulb .

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alicia x

I know what you mean. i went into a shop a few months ago and saw the most awful state. a horsefield with pyramidding and a beak that was so over grown at the front he count eat. his claws were curly and my heart almost broke in two. being pregnant i get pretty emotional anyway, but the poor bugger was in a tiny viv with a heatmat and thats it. I told the fellow that runs the shop its a shame his frozen mice were healthier than his living reptiles and he nearly fell over in shock. I can be quite abrasive at the best of times but he seemed shocked at my comment. i told him his royal pythons needed some water and to have the uvb turned off and that his gecko looked as if it had died. left the frozen mive on the counter and left. Burst into loud noisy tears in the car park and told my husband to go back in and hit the man until his jaw was broken and he couldnt eat, to pull his fingernails out and lock him naked in a box with a candle for warmth. He declined and took me home instead!

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my bright red hair is very SHORT........where did it go!

Thats terrible can't believe he took you home !! He can redeem himself and go back to hit the man. Then drive down to Manchester to hit the man in the pet shop here . It is heart breaking when you see neglect and clearly diseased animals I will not leave it though I will be on the phone to the council and to everyone else I can report it to . ( then send my sis in for the bulb)

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alicia x

then send ur sis in for the bulb lmfao i wouldnt give them my money to b honest!

this is awfull ali i agree with you there i would ahve been the same and thats not pregnant i would have jumped him and castrated him lol
what a
i hate going in pet shops and seeing this
yet another shop on the hit list
some one should make a sticky on petshops to stay away from lol