Massachusetts Has a Lemon Law for Pets, and Here's How It Works

Pet Gecko Checking On Owner Showering Has Internet In Stitches: 'Hi Mom'

Most people know the basics of looking after a cat or a dog, but when it comes to tropical pets, things can get a little more complicated.

In a video shared on the TikTok account @valeriel0vesy0u, the poster offers a tip given to her by her vet to ensure her pet gecko stays as healthy as possible.

Text overlaid on the clip, which has received over 7.7 million views, says, "When the vet said to bring him in while I shower for the humidity."

The camera then zooms in on the gecko, which is perched in his tank on top of the toilet, its head just visible above a paper towel and a bemused look on its face.

"Hii mom," reads the caption.

The lizard appears to be a leopard gecko, which is one of the most frequently bred types of geckos, according to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. "The majority of those kept as pets come from breeding programs in managed care," the wildlife alliance says.

The leopard gecko is native to dry and semi-desert areas in Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and northwest India but has been a popular pet around the world for the past 30 years.

"They are one of the most commonly kept lizards today," says the wildlife alliance. "Their docile nature and relative ease of care make them popular for home terrariums, as long as their habitat is representative of their native homes."

Being a desert species, geckos need a relatively low-humidity living environment, which should be between 30 and 40 percent according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA).

Despite needing a dry environment, geckos will require slightly higher humidity when they begin to shed their skin, "which they do every one to two months," says pet advice site Pet Keen. "Your pet will need the humidity to be 70 to 80 percent to remove the old skin."

A stock image shows a leopard gecko. A video of a woman's trick for caring for her gecko has gone viral on TikTok, with over 7.7 million views. DikkyOesin/Getty Images

The skin will look dull when a gecko is ready to shed, as the old skin separates from the new.

"The leopard gecko will spend time in its humid hide, softening the skin," says the RSPCA. "Then it will normally pull it off gently and eat it. Poor shedding on the feet can cut off the blood supply and lead to the loss of toes. Do not pull off old skin if it seems stuck as it can tear the new skin underneath. If you still see dry skin caught around the toes or eyes, consult your reptile vet for advice."

Users on TikTok loved the funny video. "My gecko constantly stares into my soul for no reason at all until i pick her up," wrote one.

"I just use repti earth coconut fiber, doesn't mold, and it helped my leo shed easily and consistently," suggested another.

Newsweek has reached out to @valeriel0vesy0u via TikTok for comment.

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.Com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Snow Leopard No Longer 'endangered'

Scientists are emphasising that the big cats' new status does not mean they are safe from extinction

Has the chilling threat of extinction worn off at last for the long-endangered snow leopard?

Not exactly - but the iconic big cats' conservation status has been improved from "endangered" to "vulnerable".

The decision was announced by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) - the global standard for assessing extinction risk.

Experts have warned that the species still faces serious threats from poaching and habitat destruction.

The elegant yet elusive creatures, which live in the mountains of central Asia, were first listed as endangered by the IUCN in 1972.

The status change followed a three-year assessment process by five international experts.

Dr Tom McCarthy, who runs the Snow Leopard Programme at big cat charity Panthera, was one of them.

"To be considered 'endangered,' there must be fewer than 2,500 mature snow leopards and they must be experiencing a high rate of decline," he explained.

"Both are now considered extremely unlikely, which is the good news, but it does not mean that snow leopards are 'safe' or that now is a time to celebrate.

"The species still faces 'a high risk of extinction in the wild', and is likely still declining - just not at the rate previously thought."

A baby snow leopard pictured at the Tierpark zoo in Berlin

Being classed as "vulnerable" means a species has under 10,000 breeding animals left, with a population decline of at least 10% over three generations.

The Snow Leopard Trust, which aims to protect the big cat through community projects, strongly opposes the status change. It plans to challenge the decision with the IUCN.

"We believe it could have serious consequences for the species," it wrote in a blog post.

Snow leopard researchers believe the species' decline may have been slowed by conservation projects - including some to protect farm animals from the predators, which are sometimes killed in revenge for livestock losses.

The number of protected areas within the snow leopards' habitat has also increased significantly in recent decades.

The rarely-sighted cats live in the craggy peaks of central Asia - including the Himalayas, and Russia's remote Altai mountains

Their habitat covers more than 1.8 million sq km / 694,980 sq miles, across 12 countries

Scientists say they are threatened by poaching for their fur, infrastructure developments, and climate change

Usually found at elevations of 3,000-4,500m (11,480-14,760ft)

Solitary creatures, they usually hunt at dawn and dusk and are able to kill prey up to three times their own weight

Mostly feed on wild animals, but will also prey on livestock

Their spotted coats change with the seasons - from a thick, white fur to keep them warm and camouflaged in winter, to a fine yellow-grey coat in summer

Retaliatory killings by farmers are not uncommon, but are rarely reported

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Snow Leopard At San Diego Zoo Tests Positive For COVID-19

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A snow leopard at the San Diego Zoo has tested positive for COVID-19 — forcing the zoo to temporarily shut down its leopard habitat to visitors, officials said Friday.

Zoo staff first noticed that Ramil, a 9-year-old male snow leopard, had a cough and a runny nose on Thursday, and sent the animal's stool to be tested, according to a statement from the San Diego Wildlife Alliance.

The California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System confirmed the presence of the virus, the organization said.

The zoo is waiting for the US Department of Agriculture's National Veterinary Services Laboratories to also confirm the results.

It is not yet clear how the leopard contracted the virus.

The zoo said that it is closely monitoring Ramil's health. The animal "appears to be doing well," and has been quarantined, along with a female snow leopard and two Amur leopards who share a space and were also likely exposed.

Officials said the exhibit would be closed to visitors until further notice.

"While we await the results of tests to determine if the snow leopard is positive for the virus that causes COVID-19, we can assure you the snow leopard and the Amur leopards who share his habitat are receiving excellent care," said Dwight Scott, the zoo's executive director, in a statement.

The zoo is not yet sure how Ramil may have contracted COVID-19. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

"Our veterinary teams and wildlife care specialists at both the Zoo and Safari Park are highly skilled, dedicated professionals who work tirelessly to ensure the well-being of the wildlife in our care."

The zoo said it had received a donation of "recombinant purified spike protein vaccine" for the animals that protects them against COVID-19. 

The snow leopard had not received the vaccine, the zoo said.

According to the zoo, the gorilla troop that caught COVID-19 from an asymptomatic wildlife care specialist in January has fully recovered.

The snow leopard was suffering from a cough and a runny nose. Alamy Stock Photo

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