Back to the Beeps! (Bad Shed/Poor Care - Rescue)

[Kataryna]

Hey everyone! I'm new here [obviously] and I impulsively rescued a tiny beep the other night (I say other night. It's been 4-5days). It's been about 8 years since I've owned a beep and I had no intention of getting another until I finish school but this little guy pulled the heartstrings I guess.

I was in a petsmart as I own a syrian hamster (Beans) and a Cat (Freyja) and needed to stock up on monthly supplies. Being the ever curious person that I am I decided to scope out the reptile habitats. Before continuing further, I'd like to note that I'm new to Las Vegas, Nevada and whenever I go to a new state/city I like to check out their pet care in these stores (It can't be helped, I'm nosy with these things). Within the first 5 minutes of my hanging out around the reptile area I saw the woman remove this beep and hand it to three different people (a group) and the beep exchanged hands quickly. While watching I noticed it had a terrible shed, to the point I was actually a little concerned. After the awkward handling and near dropping of the beep by the group, the beep was immediately DROPPED back into his little tank and something inside of me instantly went off.

Without asking to handle the beep I said I'd like to buy it and when she asked if I wanted to hold him first, I said no, just let him get into his little carrier and I'll be on my way. (I still have most of my old set up so I didn't care about a tank.) The girl then informed me I'd have to buy a tank if I expected to take him home. She directed me to the 20gal exo for 200$ which I am aware is too large and the little tick in my brain went off again, but I submitted and bought the thing. (I returned it 24 hours later, completely unused - LOL).

Upon getting my little guy home, I instantly set up the set I already had, put in coconut fiber for substrate. set up TWO water bowls, one on each side of the tank for increased humidity due to his problematic shed, sprayed the substrate lightly, added two hides, a smooth driftwood log in the center and fake plants for extra hiding. I also have a UTH and CHE (but UTH will not be used until thermostat comes in tomorrow. CHE I know should also have a thermostat which is also coming.) I then added a damp towel to the top of the tank as it has a screen top, I insulated the sides and I intend to do better insulation in the future once I can get to a home depot or lowes. Once I put him in I made sure he made his way into one of his hides to prevent him laying on any "wet" bedding to prevent scale rot. He's in a 10gal at the moment. I honestly don't have the appropriate thermostats and thermometers, heat gun, etc. I got rid of those when I lost my last beep (he was 19), but they were instantly ordered on amazon the same night and will arrive tomorrow.

I left him alone for 4 days, continuously watching and checking on the shed. Some of it improved, but along the top of his body and his head it did not. It became a point of utter concern for me, and I was making sure the humidity was reading 80% while having an humidifier added next to the cage, etc. Last night I finally caved despite the knowledge I have to not touch or mess with the beep until certain processes have come to be to prevent stress, etc. I started soaking him, did a warm wet towel rub, and proceeded from there. It took 3 good 30 minute soaks and a good 3 rounds of 20 minutes of making him rub between the towels to remove the problematic shed on his body.

The head was my hardest obstacle. It had become so dried out that it was a problem (I was worried about it constricting and cutting) and I had to really soak and rub him down to remove it, and he also had retained eye caps. After a good while (probably almost an hour of rubbing and soaking, I finally got his little head free. It was honestly the best feeling of relief I've had in YEARS. The moment his little head was clear and free of the shed he perked up a bit and then proceeded to move from the towel and wrap around my wrist. Which I then noticed he had quite the crusty abrasion on the front of his mouth. (Most likely from rubbing the screen top in his cage at petsmart). At first I assumed it was a little dribble, which what I call the secretions that sometimes happen during shed then I realized it was an actual injury. I cleaned it and then became pretty curious to the rest of him and decided to scope every bit of him out. I came to find old rodent bites, one on his tail and one (i think) on his head infront of his left eye. I am now I'm searching for a reputable vet in the LV area. I checked for mites and scale rot and so far everything looks good, not a sign of either though I have treated him for mites as a precaution anyway. I also "popped" him. Don't panic! I have experience with this from when I worked as a vet tech and from owning my own. I found out my little beep is a boy! Though because I'm the greatest at doubting myself with these things, I'm going to have that 100% confirmed once he is taken to the vet. I'd like to proudly say that during ALL of this not once did my beep attempt to strike or become defensive. I'm almost certain he was just enjoying being freed of that terrible shed.

Lastly, beep is definitely underfed. Very tiny. (also waiting on a scale, which is coming tomorrow) So that's going to be another obstacle. They were swearing up and down he was eating fuzzies and I was not at all convinced, but you know, hahaha. If it helps until I can get a scale: when in a ball he is smaller than my hand and my hands can fit into child sized gloves. Genuinely a tiny beep.

This poor little thing has been through hell and I'm honestly glad I was able to help him. I don't even want to think what could have happened if he was kept in such a state!

Anyway, now that I'm done relating my stressful 4-5 days, here's some before and after pictures of my Kakashi (I'm a Naruto fan )!

1. When he was brought home still in "travel box":


2. Having his first soak, didn't even try to move out of the water:


3. An example of how the shed was incomplete/"bad" along the back (also a cute A letter in his markings!, he also has little "alien" faces near his neck which i will need to get a photo of eventually). Ignore the reside on the tank. I used to have a sticker with my last beeps name and feed schedule and need to clean it off.


4. After shed help (right side - note the crusties i was talking about earlier):


5. after shed (left side):


Anyway! I just thought I'd relate my experience so far and introduce my beep! I wasn't sure if this should go in husbandry or not as it's mainly just me ranting a little and an introduction, but since it's mainly about care, etc. I figured so. If I messed up just let me know