Reptile & Amphibian Forums

reading elsewhere and discovered people using a food grade diatonaceous earth to eliminate worms in animals such as dogs and cats. This got me thinking that perhaps it would work on internal parasites in dragons. Has anyone tried this or given it any thought? I usually use parazap but the multi dose for days thing is inconvenient ( I do it anyway). It seems that this works faster. Any thoughts?
-----
3.4.0 Beardies
1.2.0 Crested Geckos
1.1.1 Box Turtles
0.1.0 Sulcata
1.1.0 Ball Python
2.1.0 corn snake
0.1.0 great plains rat snake
0.1.0 Blue Beauty Snakes
1.0.0 Banana King snake
1.0.0 Desert King snake
2.7.0 Guinea Piggies
3.6.0 Dumbo rats
1.0.0 Blue Front Amazon Parrot
0.1.0 Congo African Grey Parrot
1.1.0 house cats
2.0.0 Maine Coon Cats
2.0.0 Boxers

At this time I would be reluctant to try it with bearded dragons or any reptile for that matter, to deal with internal parasites. It may work with parasitical worms but I don't think it will work with microscopic parasites like coccicia. From what I read about it (had to do a bit of research since I had no clue what diatomaceous earth was), it would be great for external parasites, such as mites, ticks and fleas (though reptiles don't get fleas to my knowledge just ticks and mites).

From what I did read, diatomaceous earth is porous and absorbed water so I would be concerned too much injested into reptiles may cause dehydration or blockage. Also, the dosage for a bearded dragon will be very difficult to measure. A teaspoon daily for a cat, an animal that can be 8-12 pounds or more, compared to the half pound to a little over a pound weight of an adult bearded dragon (300-500gs. Pound is about 450g if I recall correctly). So a one pound bearded dragon would take about an eighth or less of a teaspoon which is barely a pinch of the stuff.

However, I would love to see some research on this by a herpologist or experienced reptile vet to see if it can be an effective control on parasitical worms in reptiles and if it would affect other internal parasites common with bearded dragons.
-----
PHLdyPayne

I thought it sounded interesting. I'm always looking for ideas to make reptiles lives healthier and easier. I use diatom powder to filter my fish tanks and it works great. I know if some gets into the tank and is free floating it doesn't seem to hurt the fish. I try to avoid this but stuff happens. So it doesn't appear to damage the insides of little fishes. Interesting. I'm not educated enough to conduct these sorts of experiments but maybe someone will look into it! Thanks for the insights.
-----
3.4.0 Beardies
1.2.0 Crested Geckos
1.1.1 Box Turtles
0.1.0 Sulcata
1.1.0 Ball Python
2.1.0 corn snake
0.1.0 great plains rat snake
0.1.0 Blue Beauty Snakes
1.0.0 Banana King snake
1.0.0 Desert King snake
2.7.0 Guinea Piggies
3.6.0 Dumbo rats
1.0.0 Blue Front Amazon Parrot
0.1.0 Congo African Grey Parrot
1.1.0 house cats
2.0.0 Maine Coon Cats
2.0.0 Boxers