Reptile & Amphibian Forums

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heres my story, i work at petsmart right? in the small animal/fish dept and we have two nice healthy albinos, one of which i want to put with my female i have already. now i KNOW that this gecko is perfectly healthy as i am one of the people who take care of it and it see it eat, crap, shed, drink, and have held it multiple times. since i KNOW shes healthy, is it necessary for me to quarantine her? lemme know. thanks alot

eric #2

That there have been many cases where an animals seems healthy but that the illnes takes time to come into play (well for us to be able to notice that anythign is wrong). Leos are very hardy and can handle alot in captivity. Sometimes symptoms show up later on after it has been sick for a while. I would say atleast a month at a minimum this being a month is nothing rather than vet bills for makeing other animals or this one sick. No harm in just making sure.
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3.6 Leos
Winky, Lenny, & Weemann
Sunshine, Serenity, Daisy, Starburts, Skittle, & Banana

Leos can be infected for months before symptoms become apparent. Personally I'd quarantine at least 3 months. ESPECIALLY with an animal frpom Petsmart or Petco. Those I'd actually generally recommend quarantining for up to a year or more, in a seperate room, and definately getting a fecal before allowing any contact with other animals.
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Sarah Stettler aka Starling
Sarah@stargecko.com
StarGecko.Com COMING SOON! Star Quality Leopard Geckos
Specializing in Hypotangerine Tremper Albinos

I might also point out that animals can be carriers of disease without actually showing signs themselves.

let me point out a few things. The enclosures at Petco and Petsmart allow airflow between cages AND in some cases, crickets can find ways to go between cages. This allows for the transmission of disease. The tokays, goldens, etc. that you get in are not cbb, they are wc. I have to send just about everyting to the vet to be wormed that comes into my store. The albino you have most likely has worms or something else but is not showing any symptoms. We have a gorgeous albino at the store where I work. I want her but I am resisting temptation. I have not lost any leopards to weird things in the last two months (there were two sick ones when I took over). Since she has been there, I can't take the chance of her being a carrier of something. If you decide to take this one home, get it vet checked and quarentine for at least three months.

Everything in the previous posts are absolutely valid. I cannot stress enough the importance of quarantining ANY newly acquired reptile for a minimum of 90 days. Please don't risk it! I have direct knowledge of many who have lost their geckos to horrible deaths by not quarantining a new arrival, including a breeder who lost his entire colony of over 20 breeders to crypto from a single Leopard Gecko from a major pet chain like the one you work for. Besides, unless the female you want is at least 1 year old you shouldn't breed her anyway.
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Marcia McGuiness
Golden Gate Geckos
www.goldengategeckos.com

ok, so i get what you guys are saying, but listen to this and let me know what you think still

so again, i work there, i take care of this gecko and shes fine, ive seen her stool, and shes been there for AT LEAST four months with another albino we have, whos also healthy but just not as friendly as the one i like. shes shown no sign of any sickness for four months. nor have any of our other liszards, except one bearded dragon3 months sgo who was quaratined and is still. our store is exceptionally good and sanitary. any reasons otherwise to quarantine. ive been watching her for awhile now.?
thanks

It's really not worth the risk. With the constant flow of pets getting shipped in and sold through petstores, there's bound to be parasites coming and going as well. Some parasite eggs can remain dormant for years, surviving even the most vigorous cleaning. So even though the lizards may look healthy, they could still be carriers. Let's say you bring the leo you want home. She gets stressed out from the big move, and your leo(s) get stressed out from the newcomer. That would be the perfect opportunity for the parasites to gain an upperhand, and then before you know it, you've got an outbreak on your hand throughout your whole collection.
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chickabowwow

3.2.3 leopard geckos (Rosie, Locke, Lisa, Caesar, Tommy)

Well, she may have been there for four months but if her cage is attached to other animal cages and there are air holes between them, I'd quarantine her for sure. Animals in other cages could have some kind of pathogen that could be transmitted to her like that, so at least quarantine her a couple of months and get a fecal done. Remember that fecals don't show some kinds parasites, though, unless you can have the doc test it within ten minutes. That's why it's important to check the animal out for some time.
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Got hips like Cinderella / Must be having a good shame / Talking sweet about nothing / Cookie I think you're Tame

Why are you so dead-set against quarantining her?
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Marcia McGuiness
Golden Gate Geckos
www.goldengategeckos.com

i dont have the room to set up another tank, im in college, just have my apt room. or else i totally would.

Set her up in a something simple.. a critter keeper with UTH and simple hides that you could keep on the floor next to your bed even. Why risk it?
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Got hips like Cinderella / Must be having a good shame / Talking sweet about nothing / Cookie I think you're Tame

yeah iknow, i'll figure it out. im not dead set on even buying her i just wanted to see what people thought. thanks for all the imput.