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JUST ADOPTED SIX BABIES FOR FREE....PARASITE QUESTION?

Mitosis Nov 14, 2005 08:14 AM

I DO NOT SEE ANY SIGNS OF PARASITISM.......SHOULD I TREAT THEM AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE? THEY ALL HAVE BEEN CRAMPED IN A TEN GALLON FOR A WHILRE...ALL ABOUT 2-3.5 INCHES IN LENGTH...ALL LOOK HEALTHY...ONE IS A TAD SKINNY...

Also...housing them in 3's okay until sexual maturity? Or only a pair? I am gonna use like 44-58 quart sterilites with a homemmade screen top....

Thanks all....any suggestions be great!

Replies (6)

flamedcrestie Nov 14, 2005 08:41 AM

these animals were kept in unsanitary conditions, around or with wild caught animals, or fed wild prey, then there should be no reason to treat them for anything. if you're going to do something, get a fecal done on the skinnier one and go from there, if one has something, they all likely have something if housed together in a 10 gallon aquarium.
if you're going to us a 55qt sterilite container that is probably big enough for all 6 animals until they get to about 15 grams, then you should start looking for bulges and separating the males out.
The main thing you should probably do is separate the skinny one from the others and keep it in quarentine for a month or two, to see if it will bulk up a bit and fill out.

snmreptiles Nov 14, 2005 01:02 PM

I would DEFINATELY seperate the skinny one out immediately. I would also use paper towel as a substrate...Makes feces easier to observe. I would only do a fecal if it has runny, or smelly feces, UNLESS you know of a vet that specializes (Specializes, not just sees them...Talk about some horror stories) in herps. Congrats on the new babies, and good luck with them!
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MIKE
snmreptiles.com

Geckospot Nov 14, 2005 05:31 PM

SNM...Why would you "only do a fecal if the gecko has runny or smelly feces"? An animal doesn't need to be exhibiting signs of sickness to warrant a fecal exam. Its actually better to spot something well before it begins to show symptoms. It doesn't even require a herp vet to spot parasites or ova in the feces. I give every reptile I buy at least one fecal exam before moving them out of quarantine. I do some myself, and others I'll take to the vet. All you need to do is bring some poop in a bag to the vet and ask for a fecal exam. It usually costs $10-$20. I'd much rather pay for a fecal exam than have some parasite wipe out my entire colony. Better safe than sorry.

Geckospot.com

snmreptiles Nov 15, 2005 11:25 AM

WOW...SO you're saying I can get a fecal done by any vet...This is true, what happens if it's positive?? If they don't know how to treat, sounds like you just wasted your money. People can do what they like, I've only been doing this for 10 years now..So what would I know? I'm thinking more along the lines of 6 in a 10 gallon, the smallest one probably got out competed for food. Hence seperating it and seeing if it puts on weight! If we got a fecal done on every new animal, we'd be looking at $200 a month, I'd rather keep them seperate, and watch how the animal is acting/eating/defecating, then make the call. How many animals do you own?? How many have came back with a positive fecal? Just a few questions I had!
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MIKE
snmreptiles.com

honuman Nov 15, 2005 05:34 PM

Agreed. Make get a fecal done on the skinny one before you treat anything. It is better to make sure there is a problem then to treat unnecessarily.

Steve

toxicogenic Nov 14, 2005 11:08 AM

where did you adopt them from?
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0.1.0 cranwells pacman- hannibal
0.0.1 firebelly toad- doodlebug
0.1.0 southern painted turtle- mr.tortle
1.0.0 pinto hedgehog- dante
0.1.0 crested gecko
1.0.0 brindle boxer- bruiser
1.0.0 ball python- noah (kinda mine)

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