[gecko]parasite sources

[Julie Bergman]

I think you are getting little ahead of the game here. Wait for a 
diagnosis and prognosis, then work with the vet to implement a treatment 
plan. Geckos come with parasites and salmonella, that is the way mother 
nature built them. Normally they live with these conditions just fine, 
well into their teens and 20s if everything is optimal for them. Once a 
stressor occurs, for example: moving, geckos not getting along with each 
other, some other medical condition; then, the parasites and other stuff 
like salmonella that lives in geckos naturally will start to get the 
upper hand and start impacting the gecko's health. The vet will be 
looking at the parasite load to see how many are present and if that is 
something that needs to be treated.  Crypto, as many have pointed out 
here in this discussion, would be the one parasite leopard geckos have a 
hard time living with. All other common gecko parasites like pinworms 
are treatable if the gecko is in good body condition.

It is always a good idea to keep a clean terrarium, that helps keep 
parasites to keep from becoming a problem. Your attention to the food 
bins is good too, keep them clean also. As long as we are broaching that 
subject, oatmeal is not great as a food for the mealworms. Stick with a 
proven gutload like Repashy Insect Gutload for that function.  I use 
leafy greens and carrots for moisture, the gel cubes and such are a 
waste of $ IMHO.

Julie B.


argente wrote:

> Hello all,
>
> Thinking about my sick geckos and looking forward, if this is a 
> parasite issue can anyone give me some clues as to where it might have 
> come from?  I've been wracking my brain for changes in their routine 
> lately..
>
> These geckos have all been together for several years and are my only 
> animals.  The only contact they have with each other is that the girls 
> who are not housed together are temporarily together when I'm cleaning 
> the tanks.  Peanut is never in with the girls.
>
> They eat crickets (from petco) and mealworms (raised by me and 
> occasionally supplemented with some from petco but that hasn't 
> happened in months).  Their water dishes are filled with bottled 
> spring water.  I've been on the same bottles of vitamins & calcium 
> supplement for a while now.  The mealworms are in a plastic tub filled 
> with a mixture of oatmeal, fish food, cricket food, and vegetables for 
> moisture (carrots and potatoes).  I did add new oatmeal to the worm 
> bin recently.  I get crickets in small batches as treats so they don't 
> stick around long.
>
> I don't wash my hands between animals usually but I'm pretty good 
> about washing before/after.  Aside from while their tanks are being 
> cleaned, Peanut doesn't get handled much since he bit me in January; I 
> take the girls out probably a few times a month.  They don't ever run 
> free in the house.
>
> I haven't gotten anything new for their cages in a long time.  There 
> are no plants in the tanks, just logs, "rock" hides, wood hides, and 
> plastic moist hides with paper towels to hold moisture.  They are all 
> on reptile carpet with paper towels over that are changed at least 
> once a week.  The girls have a ceramic food dish in addition to their 
> calcium dish; peanut just has the calcium because he won't eat from a 
> dish.
>
> I could probably clean their tank furniture more often and will step 
> up my schedule for that, but their water dishes are washed with every 
> refill.  I clean the tanks with a bleach solution & rinse; I guess I 
> should start alternating that with ammonia soaks?  The carpets go 
> through a hot washer cycle once in a while.
>
> Any thoughts/suggestions welcome.
>
> -Jessica