The Toasted Tidbit of Tindalos

[helen99]

We'd already agreed, no more animals. No. More. Animals. There simply isn't enough floor or wall space to put any more tanks. So a few weeks ago, when rialian walked into the house saying, "you are going to kill me, but I had to", I knew what had happened. Instead of asking "why am I going to kill you," I asked,

"What do you have?"

He opened the box, and inside was a tiny iguana (about 3 inches long). Its owners had left it in a tank with a heat rock which had malfunctioned (as they often do). If an iguana is on a heat rock which gradually becomes hotter and hotter due to a malfunction, the iguana will not feel it - their system adjusts to whatever the temperature is if the change is gradual. A sudden change would be noted and responded to, but not a gradual change. So as the heat rock continued to heat up, he didn't get off of it, and his underside was badly burned. There were crusts and scabs all along his belly, legs, and tail, and his back was dry and brittle. He was literally toast. As soon as I saw him, I was also toast. I, who would never *ever* consider getting a klutzy, messy, dangerous, crotchety, silly-looking animal like an iguana, was instantly adopted by this little toasted dragon. The first week we soaked him daily in a dilute solution of betadine to make sure there was no infection. Gruadually, the crusts started to fall off as he shed the burned skin and scales. The areas where he was burned are not green - they're sort of a transluscent grey - he lost all of his scales on his tummy. I still take him out every day to get him used to being held, and soak him in the sink to help keep him moist so he doesn't get brittle and dry again. When Rialian first brought him in, I asked what his name was, and he said "Something that starts with a T, but I don't know what it is". I don't think I'm going to name him "The Toasted Tidbit of Tindalos", but that does start with a "T"...

Comments

[jolantru.livejournal.com]

*LOL* Congratulations!
;)

[helen99.livejournal.com]

I didn't write about it right away, because I didn't know if he/she was going to make it... His appetite is great, though, and now he's about 5 inches long and *Fat*. So he is, indeed, going to make it. Question is, how to integrate him into the household when he's 6 feet long. I need to handle him *every day* and make sure he's tame. Geez, how do these things happen.

[jarandhel.livejournal.com]

>Question is, how to integrate him into the
>household when he's 6 feet long.

*grins* Well, you start by putting up little "Beware of Dragon" (or possibly "Beyond this point, there be Dragons") signs up by the front path... ;-)

[helen99.livejournal.com]

If at some point he approaches me with a little ketchup bottle, I'll be very worried.

Re:

[jarandhel.livejournal.com]

*giggles* "For you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup"? Personally I'd be more worried about a little bottle of barbeque sauce. :)

[helen99.livejournal.com]

Oh, and he has a blue nose. The end of his nose, just at the nostril area, is slightly darker than the rest of him. So the effect is a little spot on the end of his nose. It's so cute! I will have to take a picture.

[stormcat.livejournal.com]

Timothy, the Toasted Tidbit of Tindalos?

[helen99.livejournal.com]

The name "tiny tim" has come to mind several times in the last day or so... Or maybe I could call him Toto. He could be my "little dog Toto"!

Then again, maybe not...

[arhuaine.livejournal.com]

Tim the Enchanter... :)

[helen99.livejournal.com]

Variations of "Tim" seems to be receiving the most votes so far...

[dreamfall.livejournal.com]

Heheh. I am the same way only with felines. I have been known to periodicallly come home with a needy feline and a pleading expression even before actually becoming a registered volunteer with Siamese Rescue. At least with SR I participate in finding them homes instead of ending up giving them homes. Fortunately, I also have an exceptionally patient and understanding male spousal unit who will tolerate me bringing home as many as we can afford to feed. And with two salaries and no kids, that's a metric shitload of kibble.

Although one time he asked me how many cats I would bring home if space and cost were not an object. My response: "All of them". heh.

[helen99.livejournal.com]

I had to stop getting more cats when I ran out of litterbox rooms... I saw a documentary about an older gentleman who had a mansion with 60+ cats in it - they all lined up in a row to eat from their bowls, and they each had a litterbox. They all seemed very well-groomed and happy, and at least the 20 or so shown seemed to love him (they were climbing all over him and purring) and the got along with each other. He found homes for them, but they were welcome to stay indefinitely. I'm still trying to figure out how he managed to have them all get along that way. My five are compatible (sort of) but every so often they get mad at each other and fight, and even though I clean the boxes twice a day, it's difficult to make sure the smell levels are negligible enough for my beagle-nose.