Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Has anyone out there experienced parasites, such as hookworms, in Captive Born Chameleons from any of the chameleon breeders here in the United States?
I recently purchased a trio of Panther Chameleons from a chameleon breeder here in the United States, and one of the females has a very heavy parasite load. She has had 6 to 8 worms in each of her two past fecal excrements. She was advertised as being ONLY 5 months of age.
Correct me if I am wrong, but if someone is purchasing Captive Born Chameleons...shouldn't they be free of parasites? And, at only 5 months old wouldn't they be extremely emaciated, if NOT dead, from such a massive parisitic load?
Anyone else out there experience this dilemma?
Any feedback please reply?

any reptile, captive born or not, are capable of having parasites. if the parents are infested, their offspring can be infested also. id suggest buying a product called parazap...its an herbal tea that has really helped me with my beardies and chameleons. its a powder substance you mix with water and make a tea. it does work.
-----
Beach Beardies

3.4.11 bearded dragons
1.0.0 Turquoise x Sunburst Veiled Chameleon
1.1.0 Sugar Gliders
0.1.0 Miss Queen Athena (Cat)

I have bred R. temporlalis and one day I held up a juvenile male against a light and could clearly see a parasitic worm. It actually was annoyed by the light and moved away to the other side of the chams body.

I would think that the parasite came from the farm raised crix or a roach nymph from one of my colonies. Bottom line is that any cham can get parasites no matter if its CB, CH or WC. Nature will find a way.

-roo

Parasites are present in just about every feeder insect so there is no such thing as a "parasite free" cham. When the chams are healthy they can handle mild parasite populations. They usually become a problem or "bloom" when the cham is compromised by other health or stress issues.