Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have been breeding and keeping various species of herps and some other critters for about 25 years. I believe that most anything that is contained in an area that closely replicates their natural enviorment will flourish robustly and breed. Well I am now in the stage again to breed something that is exciting and new. Taha-fishka -"devil"- this much feared little gecko from Madagascar. I want to sucessfully breed U. Phantasticus and U. Sikorae. Well as to my questions, WC of either of these two has anyone ever had any problems with parasites? Do any of you do fecals or shotgun method WC specimens for parasites? Please explain your methods if possible. Where did everybody find their valued info on these? I have done enouph research to raise and breed them but always eager to learn more! Now for the big question!! Could any of you steer me toward a good breeder of CB or retailer for WC U. Phantasticus or Sikorae? Madagascar is going to soon be off limits to us here in USA anyhow, simply because the voice of protesters is going to soon belittle the goverments to make a choice. I don't want to miss out on my chance to be part of breeding these fantastic creaures. THANKS, to anyone who can contribute to any of the questions I have here.

i know madagascar will be closed but do you know how soon? as for my leaftails i never treated my satanics or sikores but i do check them for prasaites if i feel the are not gaining weight. i weigh all of my animals once a week and then check them for a fecal if i feel they are not gaining weight. if i were you i wuld try to get several males and females from one source because some times getting them from several places can pass along diseases.

Thanks for the reply. Nope I don't know how soon Madagascar will be locked down but I do know from talking to a couple of freinds who work in the saltwater trade that the cites permits are going to be late this year. They are worried that it is going to get rough to get importated things.

You sound just like me when I first discovered Uroplatus. That wasn't very long ago, just last summer, so take what I write with that in mind. I've aquired 4 Uroplatus ebenaui in the last 8 months or so and out of those 4 I've lost 2. The 2 geckos that I lost were the ones that were shipped to me and the ones that I didn't get to inspect before purchasing them. If you have a local dealer you might want to pick them up there so you can make sure you buy ones that are in decent condition.

I have not treated any of my leaf-tailed geckos with medication for parasites. I regret not doing it for the 2 that died, I suspect that parasites combined with stress and day of lower humidity may have killed them. I do use a product called Para-zap which supposedly gets rid of common internal parasites without the stress and risk of using medications. I find that hard to believe but use it anyway because I have it lieing around. Start with healthy geckos, hydrate them and then keep them in the most ideal, stress free enviornment you can.

There are a few good articles in both Reptiles and Reptilia magazine on leaf-tailed geckos. A great one just came out an issue or two ago. There is also a book about them that you can buy from www.gekkota.org, but I think they are out right now. The internet is the best place for the most up-to-date information. Where did you get your information that Madagascar isn't going to export reptiles and amphibians? I too have heard this but only from a few dealers. The CITES website doesn't say anything about this but maybe they're not the ones in charge of it. Good luck,
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Devin
devin@amphibiancare.com
www.amphibiancare.com
4.1 Dendrobates tinctorius 'Dwarf French Guiana'
1.1 Dendrobates tinctorius 'Powder Blue'
5.1 Mantella aurantiaca
2.1 Mantella crocea
0.0.2 Mantella madagascariensis
1.0 Ceratophrys cranwelli
1.0 Bufo americanus
0.0.1 Salamandra salamandra
1.0 Ambystoma tigrinum
0.1 Chamaeleo calyptratus
0.1 Phelsuma dubia
1.0 Uroplatus ebenaui
0.0.1 Chrysemys picta belli
1.0 Terrapene carolina triunguis