HeatherRose
01-04-05, 10:32 AM
I found this quote on another forum, quoted from yet another forum. I think it's extremely important info for anyone owning crested geckos and anyone thinking of purchasing new ones and as a reminder that quarantining is important.
This is regurgitated from the post on the other forum:
It appears that Neoscales' Randy May has identified/discovered a pathogenic (capable of causing disease) organism found among captive cresties. Unlike leos, cresties were thought to be a lot hardier and not carry such high parasite loads in captivity...
Members of the 'other' forum can find a bit more info and pictures there.
Posted by Randy May of Neoscales...:
This particular organism appears to devastate the normally very disease resistant Crested Gecko (but doesn’t appear to have the same affect on other Rhac spp. based on lack of reports of affected gecko). Other breeders have relayed to me similar circumstances where Crested have died, so this organism is within the captive community.
Signs & Symptoms
• Rapid weight loss
• Lethargy
• Swollen Vent (late stage)
• This is contagious though contact with the feces of ailing geckos
Treatment
• Highly susceptible to Flagyl (Metronidazole)
• 250mg/kg for 3 treatments is probably enough
• You must keep the cage clean and bleached during treatment to prevent re-infection.
• You should also treat all other geckos that have had any contact with the affected one. Treating the entire colony (could easily done by medicating their food) may be needed as a precaution if food/water dishes and cages are moved from cage to cage.
Take home message: If noticed early on, this is an easy and highly treatable disease!!!
There are other causes of weight loss (like intestinal blockage), but amebiasis should be part of the treatment plan straight away - if you want the best chance to save your ailing gecko.
Feel free to comment and thanks for the long read (JFYI - I'm a reasearch scientist by profession),
-----
-Randy May
www.neoscales.com
Just thought everyone should see this.
This is regurgitated from the post on the other forum:
It appears that Neoscales' Randy May has identified/discovered a pathogenic (capable of causing disease) organism found among captive cresties. Unlike leos, cresties were thought to be a lot hardier and not carry such high parasite loads in captivity...
Members of the 'other' forum can find a bit more info and pictures there.
Posted by Randy May of Neoscales...:
This particular organism appears to devastate the normally very disease resistant Crested Gecko (but doesn’t appear to have the same affect on other Rhac spp. based on lack of reports of affected gecko). Other breeders have relayed to me similar circumstances where Crested have died, so this organism is within the captive community.
Signs & Symptoms
• Rapid weight loss
• Lethargy
• Swollen Vent (late stage)
• This is contagious though contact with the feces of ailing geckos
Treatment
• Highly susceptible to Flagyl (Metronidazole)
• 250mg/kg for 3 treatments is probably enough
• You must keep the cage clean and bleached during treatment to prevent re-infection.
• You should also treat all other geckos that have had any contact with the affected one. Treating the entire colony (could easily done by medicating their food) may be needed as a precaution if food/water dishes and cages are moved from cage to cage.
Take home message: If noticed early on, this is an easy and highly treatable disease!!!
There are other causes of weight loss (like intestinal blockage), but amebiasis should be part of the treatment plan straight away - if you want the best chance to save your ailing gecko.
Feel free to comment and thanks for the long read (JFYI - I'm a reasearch scientist by profession),
-----
-Randy May
www.neoscales.com
Just thought everyone should see this.