Parasites affect tree monitors in particular, I usually never bother about parasites with any monitor species except the prasinus group.



They have a tendency to remain concealed and not bask as much as other species (overall lower body temperature) they are also easy to stress, the combination of both allows the proliferation of parasites.



Also analysis of feeder insects (cultured) and rodents (cultured) has shown that parasites are resilient in our insect cultures regardless of the precaution we take, most foods we feed them contain loads of parasites, on the other hand parasites are much less resilient in our rodents, seems like the higher body temps don’t favour parasites proliferation in rodents.



These analysis are easy to perform at home with standard microscope and ringer solution.



Parasites are never a problem with heat loving monitors, they are well controlled with normal thermoregulation activities, however newly imported of the prasinus group don’t perform normal thermoregulation behaviour, and when they do! Keepers stress them out with spraying and such.



Ps. I have demonstrated few years ago with uromastyx that no faecal contained parasites, all known parasites die at 40 c and uromastyx regularly bask above these temps.

The eating of faecal are a main source of vitamin E and they contribute and favour a stronger immune system.

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