Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A friend of mine bought a leo from Pet Extreme, a chain pet store similar to Petco/PetSmart. After about a month of having the Leo my friend was no longer able to care for it because of his schedule so i took it in, i keep Rhacodactylus only, but I was willing to give it a good home.

After about a month of having it i noticed she started losing weight, so I posted on here and got some good feedback and that was that. After having her a while longer she continued to lose weight so I took her to a local reptile shop that is exclusively reptiles, and the owner is quite knowledgable. He told me that the leo's that come from the chain stores are known to have this certain type of protozoan, and quite a few of them get them from the distribution center where they are shipped out from.

I was told it was helpless, and that it couldn't be treated, but I didn't give up, I kept her and kept an eye on her but her condition worsened with time, finally today I felt she deserved her peace, I found that the most humane way to do it was to freeze them, so that is what I did. I felt terrible about it, but I also knew she deserved to be at peace and it was selfish to make her suffer only to fall to her illness later.

I am very disappointed about it, i hope this isn't the case with a lot of the leo's from chain stores. i feel terrible that i had to put her down but at the same time i knew it was best, and gave her a proper burial.

im concerned now though, could it spread to my Crested Geckos and Gargoyles geckos or is it a leo thing? none of my other geckos have had any weight loss and are all healthy, they were in the same room as the Leo but never any direct contact.

Im really saddened by this, I hate losing a pet, but i know its best that i put her out of her pain.

What do you all think about it?
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RhacRoom.com An Online Rhacodactylus Community
www.rhacroom.com

I think you did the right thing. I do not think it will spread to your other herps, as long as the quarantine on the leo was kept in optimal conditions. I agree with the person who told you there was nothing you could do, that the problem was untreatable. I've been where you are, I tried treating with antibiotics and giving sub-q fluids.. but it was hopeless. Even if she got better, a month later, she would relapse (and that was on a steady regiment of anti's). But the biggest concern of yours, as was mine at the time...... as long as you washed your hands real well between handlings, and did your normal disinfecting, it should NOT spread to your colonies. And now that she's gone.. bleach everything (if you haven't already). I really feel for you. It's hard when you try, and you can't help. But again, you did the right thing.

thank you. i feel what i did was best too, its just tough doing it, i hate having a pet die, you get really attached to animals, i felt terrible putting it in the freezer but i was told it was the most humane way.
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RhacRoom.com An Online Rhacodactylus Community
www.rhacroom.com

Im really sorry for your loss, i am going through a similar situation right now. Its very hard.

For future reference, parasites are treatable, alothough its tough, and mroe so with babies. The trick is to catch it early, if you ever see a reptile losing weight bring a fecal to the vet immediately and they can get them de-wormed immediately, if you catch it quick, there is a chance they can recover.

Sorry for your loss
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0.1 Bearded dragon
0.1 mexican kingsnake
1.0.2 Leopard Gecko's
0.0.1 Rose Hair Tarantula
1.0 BTS
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Bullmastiff
4.1 Cats

i am not trying to sound mean or make you feel bad, but i feel like i need to tell you this, so you don't freeze any reptiles in the future. the brain of the reptile is make to function at much lower termperatures than endotherms ('warm-blooded animals'), so they remain conscious far past the point where their blood begins to freeze, and the ice crystals send cause them to receive pain signals for up to a few hours (depends on size, so i've heard). never freeze a reptile, always 'pith' them. this involves taking a large-ish needle device, and pounding it forcefully into the brain cavity. it destroys the brain (in animals as small as a leopard gecko) instantly, as well as the ability to feel pain. decapitation is not sufficient, as the brain will continue to receive pain and 'live' past locomotor capabilities (for the same reason as freezing- they are ectotherms & work differently). some people decapitate first, then have better access to the brain cavity from the posterior (back) entry to the skull to pith the brain. for pithing, you can use an awl, a knitting needle, anything of that sort that is of the appropriate size for the animal concerned. however, your best bet is always to take it to a vet, where they can put her to sleep with an overdose of anaesthetic. many vets will do this for free.

what you did has been done, don't beat yourself up over it. just don't repeat the mistake. i hope you see that my advice is well-intended.
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marla
currently: 0.0.9 catfish, 0.1 ferrets, 0.0.3 hermit crabs (of unknown species), 2.8.3 leopard geckoes, 0.0.6 korean fire-bellied toads, 1.0.2 strawberry hermit crabs, and 0.2.0 sugar gliders