Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We live out in the "country" SW of Austin, TX. Our local vet does have reptile experience...Drako (8mo old Super Orange X Citrus Sandfire) had a questionable fecal come back. At our visit today our vet said that he had a "moderate" amount of coccidia. He would not give a specific level as he says that they can fluctuate. Drako has seemed a bit stressed the past 2 weeks...Other than the coccidia, Drako is perfectly healthy. He weighs 215 grams and is almost 15 inches long.

The vet did recommend something that I question...he told us to get a butterfly net and catch a variety of different bugs for Drako to eat in order to "restore" his systems...I do know that we have some bugs around here (lightning..) that are toxic to dragons. We live on 12 acres--no agriculture--of "native" woodlands and we do have tons of "bugs" but I'm warry of trying this out.

The vet had never heard of "Parazap" and didn't think that any pro-biotics would help as much as "natural" bugs. Again he is a "country" vet who treats about anything that moves!

We did increase the lighting in his tank and Drako did eat pretty well yesterday. I'm thinking about trying the Parazap--as the vet did not think that the coccidia levels were high enough or Drako sick enough to try Albon. Any other suggestions?

We will be taking everything out of his tank and disinfecting it as well as keep him on papertowels for the next 2 weeks...OH well, there is still so much to learn about these guys!

Thanks for any suggestions.
Picture taken yesterday of Drako

No, don't use bugs from outside. They could carry non-native parasites that could devestate your dragon. Parazap should be fine... Also, some coccidia is normal, so maybe there's not really a problem.
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1.0.0 Bearded Dragon (Zeo)
0.2.0 Leopard Geckos (Vienna, Chomps)
1.0.0 Golden Retriever (Rocky, 11 y.o.)

i feed my dragons moths sometimes from the great outdoors. they love them! it is a real treat for them to get to race around the cage and try and catch the fluttery buggers. they also like it when i catch crickets and small grasshoppers for them.

i also feed them flowers such as dandilions and apple blossoms in the summer not to mention dandilion greens that i pick in my own back yard. of course i can wash them off good...

the only thing i really worry about natural bugs is if there has been any pesticides sprayed in the area. other than that, i wouldn't worry and i have never had a problem.

maybe i am wrong? i don't know...

amanda

My vet has also recommended that if you live in an "out of the way" area some outdoor critters are okay. If you live in the burbs, I wouldn't chance it. Too much of a chance they could have been in a yard that has been sprayed with something and just wandered over your way. As far as greens go? My husband puts absolutely nothing unnatural in our grass. We have dandelions and clover galore and the dragons LOVE it. We have also planted things like spider plants and hostas so they have a virtual buffet when they are outside with us.

Other than seeming stressed, is drako eating and otherwise healthy? As for parazap and probiotics, I'm not sure if you are confusing the two. Parazap is not a probiotic(as far as I know). I think that a probiotic could only help in this situation, and would not do any harm. Some products containing probiotic blends are the t-rex BD dusts and a product called Acidophiliz (others on this forum know where this can be purchased).

Good Luck
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Bill DiFabio
Garden State Herpetoculture...website to follow...
Email Me
"The pendulum of the mind alternates between sense and nonsense,
not between right and wrong." - Carl Jung

Drako's appetite decreased and his stools were a little more watery than normal (still formed)--no difference in the smell...He was also "going to bed" about 5:00pm instead of his usual 8:00pm...so we decided he needed a trip to the vet...