AAHHH!!! Vinnie is hurt

[bshmerlie]

I majorly screwed up. I was opening the right door of the Exo Terra and Vinnie (my male Varadero) got pinched in the upper hinge area. There is a little half moon section where the door pivots and I didn't notice him up there where I went to open the door. He let out a squeak and I immediately shut it and he jumped down and hid under the leaf litter. I feel like an idiot. He's bright red I can't believe I didn't see him. I wasn't opening it very fast but I know I pinched him because he let out a noise. I checked for him under the leaf litter and he's just sitting there. The thing that worries me is he's not bolting when I move the leaves. I don't want to bother him so I put the leaves back. I don't see any wounds or anything....no skin abrasions. This sucks. They've been doing so well. He's been guarding a tad in a cup. Now I wonder if I should just pull it. I feel so bad about this. Hopefully he's just bruised a little. All of his limbs look ok. I can't believe I did this.

[Mushrooms]

Poor Vinnie, hopefully like you say his leg is just bruised and he wasn't moving much as he was shocked a bit, or feeling tender. I think it would be obvious if a leg as tiny as his had been broken wouldn't it? I think youve done the right thing in just letting him recouperate on his own, that's what i would do.

Please dont feel too bad (not that i wouldnt feel horrible in your position) accidents happen, you can't be looking every where at once.

[DonLisk]

I'm sure he was startled by the pinch and is hopefully just shaking it off.
Have you picked him up to check him out of just viewed from where he sits?

I did the same with our crested recently when he put a foot into the crack at the door hinge while it was open. Hes fine but did run and hide immediately.


Hope Vinnie is OK Cheri.

[bshmerlie]

I didn't pick him up because I didn't want him to squirm and hurt himself. By just looking at him you can't tell anything is wrong but he didn't jump away when I was poking through the leaves and that's not normal.

[DonLisk]

Has he moved around since and hopefully back to tending to the tad?

[bshmerlie]

The lights come on in another thirty minutes and he usually comes out right away to do a morning singing duet with Tony. Tony and Vinnie are in tanks next to each other so they call back and forth. Im really hoping to see him.