I lost a buddy today. Nobody really liked him, but I did.
Boris was an African Euro-Mastics. A Spiny Tailed Lizard. Boris came to us in Summer
of 2022. He was a classroom rescue. Everyone was leaving for summer vacation
2022 A science teacher had been let go. He had a few lizards remaining in the
Bio Lab. The school security was going to take them to a shelter where they
most likely would be euthanized. “Hey Mrs. Smith do you want these lizards? “ the
Security guard asked of my wife “ My
wife replied, sure how many do you have ? There were three. We became reptile
foster parents right quick. Boris was an
African Euro-Mastics. He was a fatboy. There was a gecko that was impacted and
was not expected to make it, and didn’t. There was Butters, a bright yellow leopard
Gecko with an enormous tail. Fatter than it was long. Butters is currently
living the best life.
Boris the spiny tailed lizard did not like being handled.
The protection for these guys is their tail. The tail is almost prehistoric. It
is boney and covered with spikes, and when they swing it can break the skin, or injure a predator. No
one wanted to get whacked myself included, so handling of Boris was limited to cleaning.
His coloring was extraordinary. He had hints of orange and sometimes turquoise.
But he was a grumpy guy.
But then I took him to the vet. The Doctor picked him up and
flipped him around like a hackey sack. He got a clean bill of health and we
went home. From then on Mr grumpy hammer tail loved being handled. He was my
therapy lizard. We believe Boris was 20 years old. He had been particularly quiet that morning, chilling in his hide. I
lifted the rock and there he was not looking much different when he was alive. We
said a few words and Chris gave him a nice shady spot in the yard under a big
oak. The moral of the story is: Don’t give up on a grumpy guy you may be missing out on a boney
buddy. R.I.P. Boris.
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