Kamp Kenan

Sarah2020

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What a sad post. As humans we have battled covid pandemic and now this Austwickia is contagious with various reptiles not just sulcata. We followed the yellow bumps for a few years and the sadness of death and total deep clean. Thanks for posting as good to share. Agree utmost care required when taking in new reptiles.
 

jsheffield

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Yes. And it appears that adults or juveniles of most species are unaffected asymptomatic carriers.
Yikes... do you know of reported cases among MEPs?
I just added two hatchlings to my creep, and although they live in a separate enclosure, and I am using quarantine procedures, I'm not at 100% caution levels... I'd hate for Aretha to infect Ella and Louis.

Jamie
 

Tom

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Yikes... do you know of reported cases among MEPs?
I just added two hatchlings to my creep, and although they live in a separate enclosure, and I am using quarantine procedures, I'm not at 100% caution levels... I'd hate for Aretha to infect Ella and Louis.

Jamie
I have not.

@mastershake Any Manouria cases yet?
 

turtlesteve

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This disease is everywhere now. It is time to lock everything down and wait this out for a couple years to see what happens.

Steve
 

mark1

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So, my husband and I have been fans of Kamp Kenan for a while now. So when we were in Daytona and saw that he was selling tortoises, we were excited to be able to get babies from him. Initially when we got them, they looked good and we were very happy. When we got home, got them soaking, and gave them some food, we noticed yellow bumps. I immediately freaked out because between the bumps, peeling skin, missing claws, I knew what it was. Both babies were infected with Austwickia. We did let him know there was an issue, and he apologized stating he didn't know they were sick. I fully believe he didn't know, only because he has such a large number of babies, it is impossible to know that every one of them is healthy. He did refund us our money, which I respect. However we have basically since been ghosted, despite being told he wanted updates on the babies. He stated he would "look into it" and claimed he pulled his babies from being sold this year, however I have no way to know if this is true or not because he only sells through e mail and does not post about them. However, what upsets me is he has such a huge following, that one, he could have easily warned people who bought sick animals at Daytona, and two, he could have used it to educate. We bought the babies on Saturday, and as of Tuesday had to euthanize one of them, and the other we are attempting to treat while he still has fight in him, but know that ultimately he will very likely end up having to be euthanized as well. I am incredibly upset that not only are we out all this money for having to put one baby to sleep, but out all this money for a course of antibiotics that can last more than a year IF he survives that long, with no guarantee to even work. We are also upset that all of this happened from someone who we respected and admired so heavily.
I still have hope that he will do the right thing, warn customers, and teach about Austwickia. But who knows. I do know that he is not someone I will shop from again nor support by watching videos if he doesn't speak up and do the right thing. Overall disappointed and saddened by the loss of our brand new baby.
when folks become dependent on selling animals for a living their moral compass inevitably changes , if it wasn't lacking to begin with , jmo.......... can i ask how was it diagnosed ?
 

Cayleh

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when folks become dependent on selling animals for a living their moral compass inevitably changes , if it wasn't lacking to begin with , jmo.......... can i ask how was it diagnosed ?
We honestly do not have a 100% guaranteed disgnosis yet. Basically they stated they are CONFIDENT its that, but until we can afford the biopsies, we are going with the assumption that it is. My husband did finally hear back from Kenan, who states he is having biopsies done. But we also spoke with a guy here on the forums, I BELIEVE its Mastershake just based on reading around here. But he said based on the pictures I sent him, he was pretty confident too. Yellow spots/lumps, peeling skin, missing claws. Plus vet found multiple signs of sepsis, like red lines and stuff on the shell of the one that we ended up euthanizing. Hopefully we can get a good spot here soon and afford to biopsy it. But the guy we currently have left, his larger spots have been like, part of his really bad peeling skin and have come off.
 

Dawn'sTooToo

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Thank you for sharing that information. Unfortunately that seems to be the species that this virus is mostly associated with. I wonder how many unreported cases there has been. Sulcatas are usually purchased by first time reptile/tortoise owners, so I wonder if they don’t see those symptoms until it’s too late and the animal has died.
I find it interesting that first time tort buyers would go for a Sulcata. Russian or Hermann would be so much “easier” and more forgiving.
 

glassbird

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I used to watch his videos, but lost all respect for him when he found an animal that had been stolen from his property (some sort of dark lizard). He was more concerned with getting overly dramatic video footage than he was with getting that poor, stressed, and clearly COLD reptile into a proper recovery situation. He just went on and on about the thrill of getting the lizard back, while the poor creature sat on a cold floor, not moving.
 

ZEROPILOT

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Wasnt an impulse buy. We already have a young one, have a good sized inside and outside wnclosure, as well as we had everything required for a quarantine enclosure.
I meant in general. It was not directed at you.
We see many new keepers getting in way over their heads.
 

wellington

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I find it interesting that first time tort buyers would go for a Sulcata. Russian or Hermann would be so much “easier” and more forgiving.
Many want a large tortoise not one that stays small. If they only have room for one, they should get what they want.
 

Tom

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I find it interesting that first time tort buyers would go for a Sulcata. Russian or Hermann would be so much “easier” and more forgiving.
You are not alone. I also can't understand what people think they are going to do with an active giant tropical reptile that needs thousands of square feet of warm area to walk around in, in a frozen winter climate.

Note to anyone reading: If you live in a NYC apartment, a sulcata is NOT the right species for you.
 

Obbie

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Thank you for sharing that information. Unfortunately that seems to be the species that this virus is mostly associated with. I wonder how many unreported cases there has been. Sulcatas are usually purchased by first time reptile/tortoise owners, so I wonder if they don’t see those symptoms until it’s too late and the animal has died.
Hopefully everyone does their due dillagence
 

elissaszoo

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He had other babies too. Dont know which kind. But one guy while we were in line, bought 10 sulcata babies, and 2 or 3 of this other species. The possibility of it spreading to other breeders thanks to him being at the show as well, i astronomical. People don't proprrly wash hands between vendors at these shows.
I was at the Daytona show and did not see him there and I don't see him listed in the vendor list. Where was his booth if you don't mind me asking? I did both rooms several times both days. Thanks.
 
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