So I was searching for sulcatas on Craigslist in my town, mainly to compares sizes for Pepe's age, since I don't know any other owners, and perhaps to get some supplies... and I found this little girl for sale the same age as my little Pepé. I went and looked at her, and she did NOT look good at all. She was sluggish, pale, soft shelled on both sides, and had sunken scutes. She could barely hold herself up on her feet, so she stayed on her plastron 100% of the time, and didn't react defensively when handled or with sudden movements. The biggest sign that she wasn't healthy though, was the fact that she is the same age as my other Sulcata, and was 3 times smaller... it was sad.
I decided to go ahead and buy her from the guy, and have to stay with pepé in his enclosure until they get too big or too aggressive to be housed together, then make a decision to keep her and build another habitat, or sell her to a good home once she is healthy and bigger.
Here are some pictures from the night I introduced her to Pepé and her new home.
When I first got her home, I gave her a warm soak because she was very cold, and the head on her skin looked dried out... She dunked her head under the water immediately and drank her fill, and did it again later that night. It scared me because Pepé never does that, not for that long (she was under for like 20 seconds) Then I gave her fresh greens and she ate for 3 hours straight and ate the next morning for 3 hours straight.
Here they are getting along and eating together.
Pepé was very scared of her at first, and was actually biting at her shell, like it was a Mazuri pellet. He was very confused. I watched them for hours to make sure they were getting along, and had to discipline him, by tapping his shell when he nipped at her. After I gave him some Mazuri, they were both happy, and now they are friends.
When I got her she was 42 grams, and now 2 weeks later she is 51 grams, and is energetic, the skin on her head looks a bit better, and she seems very happy. I'll take follow up pictures next week.
I decided to go ahead and buy her from the guy, and have to stay with pepé in his enclosure until they get too big or too aggressive to be housed together, then make a decision to keep her and build another habitat, or sell her to a good home once she is healthy and bigger.
Here are some pictures from the night I introduced her to Pepé and her new home.
When I first got her home, I gave her a warm soak because she was very cold, and the head on her skin looked dried out... She dunked her head under the water immediately and drank her fill, and did it again later that night. It scared me because Pepé never does that, not for that long (she was under for like 20 seconds) Then I gave her fresh greens and she ate for 3 hours straight and ate the next morning for 3 hours straight.
Here they are getting along and eating together.
Pepé was very scared of her at first, and was actually biting at her shell, like it was a Mazuri pellet. He was very confused. I watched them for hours to make sure they were getting along, and had to discipline him, by tapping his shell when he nipped at her. After I gave him some Mazuri, they were both happy, and now they are friends.
When I got her she was 42 grams, and now 2 weeks later she is 51 grams, and is energetic, the skin on her head looks a bit better, and she seems very happy. I'll take follow up pictures next week.
