Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a couple balls that insist on live rats and I was just curious if anyone has treated their rat colony for parasites.

I have the Understanding Reptile Parasites by Roger J. Kilingenberg, and he suggests lightly misting the colony with Ivermectin (1% Ivomec), 1 part for every 5 parts water, twice at 10-14 day intervals. Has anyone done this and how well did it work? Where can I get Ivomec?

On another note I noticed this morning that one of my breeding females was having loose dropping. Should I do anything? Thanks.

Josh

1.0 het albino ball
3.0 25% het caramel glow balls
0.3 WC female balls
0.5 CB female balls

Ivomec is a large animal product that you can most likely find in a feed store. An alternative I used was a cousin to ivermectin called selamectin. It is used as a topical heartworm prevention for dogs and cats. If available get the pup/kitten size that comes in a mauve box. Apply one drop to every rat every 3 weeks for 9 weeks.
I can virtually gaurantee they also have intestinal parasites, mine had pinworms. The meds used will depend on the parasite found. I wanted a clean source of food for my snakes and the deparasitizing phase is the most work but the most beneficial.
Hope this helps, good luck.
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Miami Hurricanes #1
NATIONAL CHAMPS 83,87,89,91,01

Quick question - do you know that your rats have parasites?

I ran fecals on all of my critters as part of my vet parasitology course and none of mine had anything more than grain mites (a psuedoparasite). Try talking w/ your vet to see if he/she will do a fecal for you - depending on the number of rats you have it might save you some money on drugs you don't need (and if you do decide, your vet will have the selemectin right there for you).
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Russ

Doesn't it cost a good amount to have a vet do the fecal exam? I have atleast 25 breeders plus young. Thanks

Josh

Depends on your vet - In every clinic I have worked in it was the technichians that actually ran the fecals (most of them charged ~$5.00) I would say call the vet you bring your herps to and see how many samples he actaully wants you to bring in and what prices he would give you. it may just end up being the cost of an office visit and a fecal or two.
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Russ