Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Do they get them from the crickets they eat or only from other lizards? If the worms come from food, should they be wormed on a regular schedule like horses are?

To put it simply, from alot of things. Other lizards, and the infected feces.

Yes, crickets, feeders such as rodents, I guess it goes on and on .. in captivity, unwashed vegtables can cause parasites.

Thats just a few things, but you get the idea. I use parazap, and treat everybody every few months. And always a new lizard, I may bring in.

Especially any wild caughts, they usually have heavy parasite loads, mites as well as worms.

Others may have more info, that was just a few basic ways !

Eve

EEEWWWW! That may be what got my female then. I didn't think they got worms unless they were wild caught or were around wild animals. The male that was doing fine is now slowing his eating and recently not eating much at all. I've had these guys for a year and never wormed them. I knew they could have them if they were exposed to another lizard with worms. So now the next question. Do I order Parazap from their website. I read up on it after reading your post. It seems to ba a slow working thing. Will it work fast enough to help my male lizard. Is there something I should use that works faster to start with and then use the parazap on a routine basis? How do you give it to your lizards? I can't tell you how much this grosses me out. Dog and cat worms are bad enough, I can't imagine how nasty a lizard worm is....eeewww! Sorry about all the questions but I really don't want to lose another lizard so soon. ( :

How do you know he does have them? Did ya spot some?

In answer to your question, I suppose a Vet visit would be quick, then you could use the parazap, to keep things under control.

I use it now as a precaution.
A couple ways to use it, as a tea that they drink, or can be shaken on to their crickets like ya do with calcium.

But if he is doing that badly that your really worried, than go to the Vet. I would not want to see anything happen to him !

Eve

No. I didn't think you could actually see them. That's kinda nasty. Do I look on thelizard or start disecting deposits in the cage to look for them? What will they look like? I'm mostly worried because he looks a little bad but still has plenty of meat on his bones and runs around the cage and is alert and aware so he isn't desparately sick....yet. I just want to stop this before I lose another and since apparently I missed the fact that they can get worms without being in the wild, it would be an obvious thing to check out. I will check with my dog vet friend and ask him to check out the parazap stuff. Maybe he can figure out what it takes to give the lizard. We live in southern indiana and I have never heard of a lizard vet in the area.

As a matter of fact, I just got some Red Head Agamas, and all of them have had worms. The last few I got had some very large roundworms...some species of Nematode. As soon as the lizard defacates, just look at it. If there are worms, you may be able to see them slowly wiggling around. There are some decent medications you can give them...I have something made by Tetra, called "Rid Worm." For a large lizard, it takes about 2 drops in the mouth, then a repeat dose 2-3 weeks later.

The repeat dose ensure a kill on the hatching eggs, since the reproductive cycle of the parasites are typically 2-3 weeks. For the most part, worms are usually not observed. The vet will do a fecal exam, which consists of preparing a slide with a solution and feces. The preparation is done in such away, that the eggs will be seen...typically referred to as a "float."

A common medication used to treat nematodes is called "Panacur." I'm not sure if this is an over-the-counter drug or not. I don't think it is.

The worms I have noticed are somewhat transparent, and are approaching 1" long, and are a bit thicker than typical fishing line.

Go have some spaghetti for lunch now, OK?

LOL

John Eddington

I will talk to my vet friend and see if he can check the droppings for worms for me. I will also ask about the other stuff. I think I'll pass on the spagetti and go for some mexican instad. Thanks Eve and John for your help. Maybe I'll have an update after the weekend.

Stay away from the wild rice...looks like tapeworm piecs. ;P

John