Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Both of my 9 month old dragons just finished their 2nd treatment with albon for cocidia. Just got them tested and it was positive again. Vet says that the cocidia appears to have built-up a reistance to the Albon. She is researching alternatives. Have any of you had this problem. Also, anyone know of any other drugs that work. Thanks!!

I was under the impression that cocidia was naturally occuring in beardeds...I had a snake collection that got partially wiped out because of cross cleaning in the early days (had beardeds and snakes in garage)..I treated snakes with albon to kill cocidia...and moved the beardeds out of the room...I never treated the beardeds and they were always healthy..

I suspect that your beardie is reinfecting itself rather than the coccidia becoming resistant. It is very easy for them to become reinfected. You have to be hypervigilant about cleaning their environment during treatment. I personally use Nolvasan for the enclosure and a dilute Nolvasan solution top soak feet, tummies and tails that come in contact with diarrhea. I use a 10% bleach solution for cage furniture. Make sure if you use a sand substrate (or other "loose" type substrate) you remove it and use paper towels or shelf liner (the forum rec. Duck brand from Walmart, cheap to replace). Anything can harbor coccidia and potentially reinfect your beardie.

In response to the previous response, Are your beardies sick with cocidia? What symptoms do they have? Coccidia are commensal oirganisms in beardies, but they can easily cause an opportunistic infection in response to stress, illness, etc. What kind of numbers is your vet seeing? (Usually expressed in number of ova per high power field).
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Stacey

You have to keep the cage SPOTLESS. My vet failed to tell me this, and the treatment did nothing for my beardie. Ick.
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"The serpent crams itself with animal life that is often warm and vibrant, to prolong an existence in which we detect no joy and no emotion. It reveals the depth to which evolution can sink when it takes the downward path and strips animals to the irreducible minimum able to perpetuate a predatory life in its naked horror."
Alexander Skutch

there are several different regiments. Some work better than others. What regiment are you using?
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Bennett

www.beardiedragon.com