It is a known fact that parasites cause and contrubute to disease processes in reptiles. Despite this fact, many herpetoculturists' view is that if they are not seeing problems, then why look? "If it ain't brike, why fix it?"so to speak. At the other end is where I am. I routinely have cleaned up my geckos and snakes with Metronidazole (Flagyl) which is an appetite stimulent and works miracles given in the appropriate dosage. I also use Fenbendazole (Panacur) which can be a little more tricky but never-the-less works awesome. I have also used Ivermectin for mites but have also used other methods. Now I'm not telling anyone that this is the best way, but if you are an experienced and knowledgeable handler I think it pays in the long run. I've had some of my Satanics for six years and going strong. I've used it with all my Uroplatus and haven't lost one yet. I do work with my vet closely who appropriately doses the meds and we work with strict guidelines. But it feels so good knowning that they are parasite free. I just think they live longer and healthier.
Many reptile owners claim to have never lost a single animal to a parasite-retated death. This may be due to the simple fact that they didn't know what to look for. The following examples are a small sampling of parasite related or induced problems that have actually happened in herpetocultural collections:

1)A Uroplatus with loose and smelly diarrhea, spotted with occasional blood, still eats and eventually breeds. It is found dead the morning after breeding.
2) A tick-infested Uroplatus Phantasticus develops a generalized bacterial infection, despite the removal of the ticks.
3) A Cork Bark with mites can develop a small area of " scale rot" so to speak that escalates into a massive skin infection.
4)A Giant leaf tail with chronic regurgitation fails to gain adequate weight, and subsequent breeding efforts fail.
What is the ommon thread among all these actual cases I have experienced? A PARASITE was insturmental in each.From external parasites such as mites to internal like hook worm and Cryptosporidium are all potentially deadly. I don't know if you agree but I'm so glad it's worked for me. Here is one of my enclosers that house thirty two Uroplatus phantasticus that I have. I have just about every species of urplatus but really like Satanics. This enclosure has a pro misting unit on top which is connected to a timer with foliage like Ficus, etc. thick running throughout. After they were established they just flourished in this enclosure. It is an all glass shower unit I converted that has a door that you can open to walk inside. It is seven feet tall by four feet deep by four feet wide. It has CPU fans for circulation etc. I keep others in seperate green rooms I converted for ideal temps and humidity. Check it out and tell me what you thik. Do you think its big enough for thirty Phantasticus? They have lots of room to run and jump.

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