Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am in the process of testing all of my geckos for crypto because I had one tested that came back positive. For more info. you can read my post "egg bound update". None of the other geckos are showing signs but, she was housed with them for a few months before she got sick. They seem very healthy and are a great weight. If they do come up postive should I euthanize or wait?

Thanks,
Beth

As a beginner to leos (and herps), I'm just starting to learn about the different diseases and parasites. I had heard people talk of crypto before, but until I read your post and did some research, I had no idea that it was fatal. I'm sorry to hear this happened to you. It's a tragedy.

I found a site through google that was written to protest petco for selling leos with crypto and how that person's colony of 20 had to be euthanized because they brought home a sickly leo that they felt bad for and thought they could nurse back to health. Turns out it cost them all their pets. Scary, scary stuff...I hope this isn't the case for you.

Out of curiousity, how did you come to own this sickly leo? Have you had it for a long time? Did it pass a quarantine period without any symptoms? If it was 8 months old, so how old was it when you got it, and where did you get it from?

Sorry to ask questions at such a tough time, but I'm curious about this. If I ever got additional leos, I'd hate to have something like this happen. As I'm sure everyone would.

Sorry again,
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Blaine

0.0.1 HY/Patternless/Normal Leo (Echo)

That's a sin and I apoligize very deeply that your female has this horrible disease.. So sad.. I really, really hope that none of your other leos have this, even though they've been exposed there is a good chance of it. Again, I'm very sorry that this fate has come upon your poor girl and I would hate for anythig like that to happen to other herpers out there(Including me). Good luck with this problem and I hope that at least the rest of the colony is fine. Take Care.

-Britney
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1.1 Leos(Ron and Raine), 2.1 Kitty Cats(Bubba, Angelo and Cookie) and 1.1 Rouen Ducks(Buddy and M.J.).

I purchased the gecko from a person on the kingsnake classifieds. Unfortunately, I don't remeber who it was. She was 8 months old and was showing no signs until a week ago. I kept her away from the others until she was 6 months old and of course was showing no symptoms of any disease so I put her with the other geckos I have.
What do you do from now on, should I test every gecko I purchase for crypto? I am just really frustrated right now, because I thought I did the right thing in keeping her away from the others for a long period of time and now they all may have it.

Thanks
Beth

Hi Beth,

Crypto is a nasty little bugger, but it shouldn't discourage you from buying geckos online... and you should not have to test every single one of your geckos that arrives for crypto. Most of the time a 3 month quarantine would be plenty. By the end of three months if the gecko is infected with crypto I would imagine you would at least be seeing runny stools.

Crypto is still pretty uncommon, thank god, it's very unfortunate that you got so unlucky. The best advice I could give you is to buy from a reputable breeder, and keep all new animals in strict quarantine for at least three months.

I really hope your other animals don't have crypto... I've got my fingers crossed for you.
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-Ross Payan - www.LeosAnonymous.com

Leos Anonymous

Ball Pythons, Red Striped Leos, W.Hognose and Screaming AFT's

I thought I might add some tidbits that I have picked up over the years from others.

1) Many say that ammonia solutions are the only thing that will kill crypto oocysts.

2) Many times it will take multiple acid fast stain tests before crypto is diagnosed. So even if some of the tests come back negative you should still exercise extreme hygiene practices.

3) Get a box(s) of disposable gloves! I have around 4 boxes at all times, because I like to use a different set for each rack and species. When dealing parasites/viruses/bacteria/etc, even if you thoroughly wash your hands you can not kill/rinse off 100% of the parasite eggs/oocysts/etc. I love my disposable gloves; it really helps to prevent to any cross contamination if problems should ever arise. Better safe than sorry.

4) Throw away EVERYTHING any infected gecko came in contact with.

5) I hate to say it... but any gecko that tests positive for crypto should be put down.

I'm really sorry to hear about your problem with crypto... Also, if you wouldn't mind me asking, where I would love to know where you purchased the infected gecko. I would hate for anyone to run into the same problem.

Good luck with everything, I've got my fingers crossed for you.

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-Ross Payan - www.LeosAnonymous.com

Leos Anonymous

Ball Pythons, Red Striped Leos, W.Hognose and Screaming AFT's

I've heard that not even undiluted bleach can kill the crypto oocysts, but ammonia has a better chance of penetrating into their protective shell. Extreme temperatures aren't a guarantee of killing them off either. They've done studies where the oocysts still survived after exposure to 400 F.

Oocysts can also go dormant for years and cause another outbreak if you don't exercise caution.
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chickabowwow

3.2.2 leopard geckos (Rosie, Locke, Lisa, Caesar, Tommy)
and 1 more egg a' cookin'

I don't know if oocyst is another name for endospores, but if they are the same thing, I would suggest pitching everything the infected gecko touched unless you can sterilize them in an autoclave. Extreme heat alone won't kill endospores...you have to pressure cook them. Otherwise they can lay dormant for years until the right conditions (another gecko) arrive.

It would be tough to find an autoclave that large, assuming the main thing you would want to clean would be the tank.

What about acid solutions? Think that might work at all?
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0.1 Leopard Gecko (Kai)
0.1 Spiney Soft Shelled Turtle (Berta)
3.1 Cats (Lancelot, Galahad, Orion, Mally)
1.0 Husband (Greg)

It's true...it would be almost impossible to sterilize the tank that way. I asked my bio teacher about oocytes, and she said that they aren't -exactly- like endospores, but they're almost as resistant. I'm not sure about an acid solution either, and it seems rather rediculous to thow out an entire tank. Maybe it isn't necessary to pressure cook stuff....I really don't know. I would just hate to see more geckos get crypto.

If you obtain a reptile from a crypto free breed..for the sake of arguement...and all of your established reps are crypto free. Can one of them get crypto out of the blue..i mean it is a parasit right so the parasite has to be present or introduced correct?
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1.1 Leos
1.1 Corn snakes (1 Lav & 1 Ghost)
0.0.1 Childrens python
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow boa
1.0 Rat (as pet not food)
1.0 Cat
"whats with you and all those dang reptiles?"

You are absolutely correct... if all of your reptiles are "crypto free" you would have to introduce it into your collection. It definitely can't just "pop" up out of the blue.

Crypto is a protozoan parasite...
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-Ross Payan - www.LeosAnonymous.com

Leos Anonymous

Ball Pythons, Red Striped Leos, W.Hognose and Screaming AFT's

I now that a few years ago there was an out break of crypto in people linked to contaminated strawberries. Is the crypto that leos succumb to the same species that affects humans / mammals.

-Alice

Hey alice-
I'm currently a graduate student gettin my PhD in microbiology and recent owner of my first leo. I did some quick research about what you were talkin about regarding a crypto outbreak with strawberries. Well first, the crypto that leos get is Cryptosporidium parvum, and can be seen in humans, so I would advise extreme caution if ever handling a contaminated gecko/environment. Gloves are a must. I doubt anyone wants to get crypto either, since there is no cure, but treatments in the works, we can only wait. The outbreak you are referring to regarding strawberries was an outbreak of another type of parasite called Cyclospora cayetanensis. Cyclospora and Crypto are part of the same genera is you are classifying them. If you have anymore questions just send me a message by clickin "Raydeohed" up above.

Peace,
Raydeohed

Raydeohed
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0.1.0 Leopard Gecko "Lego"

Thank to everyone who's posted information and questions on this. As a beginner, I had no idea what crypto was, and I've certainly learned a lot.

It's just a tragedy that it had to happen over someone's loss. At least there's one positive out of all of this: people are learning about it and being vigilant. Unfortuantely that's no consolation to you...

Sorry again to hear about your leos.
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Blaine

0.0.1 HY/Patternless/Normal Leo (Echo)