De-Wormer for Reptiles?

InsanityApe · 07-31-13, 10:03 AM

I have a small problem that really isn’t a problem more like a question and hope for a good answer, is there some sort of de-wormer for reptiles without having to go to the vet?

You don’t have to read this part if you don’t want to but if you want to know more of why I’m asking this question then go on ahead and read. I had recently moved from Iowa to Texas and if you know your States you’ll know that it’s a long drive, before leaving Iowa I had given the rest of my crickets to my gecko “Barney” and I had a small farm of mealworms but I only decided to take a few to repopulate and start over. We packed everything and left, once we arrived to Texas I went to check on the mealworms and they were ALL dead probably from the heat cause it was very hot. Barney and Cheddar “Ball python” were doing fine but all of my food for barney was dead. Once we had settled in the new home I looked around the internet for crickets and mealworms I can order. We had already been here for at least 3 days and the crickets and mealworms wouldn’t come in another 4 days, this area doesn’t have a pet shop or vet, the nearest shop and vet is 4 hours away. So I went outside and saw that there was grasshoppers bigger then the crickets I would give her, and I would give her adult crickets. Well I caught a few, broke their jumping legs, and gave them to her, man she ate them fast. Even though I was satisfied that I had fed her, the thought of them having parasites was there in the back of my mind. Up till now I haven’t seen anything wrong with her, she still looks the same active and all and her stool looks the same but the thought of the grasshoppers being infected is still there. Once the crickets and mealworms came I felt better, but once I saw the crickets the thought of parasites came back cause with the crickets came in other bugs I didn’t order, little carpet beetle larva. The Mealworms also had pests of their own, ants, and almost half of the 250 mealworms I ordered were dead, 100% alive my ***. If little pests like that can come in with the crickets and mealworms I ordered, what kind of pests do the crickets have inside of THEM. If I wish to take Barney and Cheddar (which I will in the future) to a vet I’ll have to drive for 4 hours, and that’s just too far and we are still not completely settled into our new home we still have lots to unpack.

Is there something like a duster or drops I can give my reptiles so the chances of them getting parasites are low?

And what is a good place online where I can get crickets and mealworms pest free, the place I ordered them from was Flukers.

Any honest answers are appreciated.

RandyRhoads · 07-31-13, 10:46 AM

You can buy Fenbendazole in most farm supply stores. Other dewormers maybe the internet, or convince a vet you know what you're doing. But I strongly suggest you drive to the vet with a fresh fecal sample first, because certain dewormers are specific to the type of parasite. You may treat one and find out later when it's too late they are still infected. You will also have to take a sample there a few weeks after treatment to make sure it was successful. These drugs are not gently on the animal, so just smacking it with doses of everything, possibly the wrong doses at that, isn't wise.

Do you really know what you are getting into trying to dose yourself? I hope you are great at medical math. Confident in weighing and measuring drugs, and administering.

Also, yes, most wild crickets/grasshoppers are loaded with parasites.

....which is why you must cook them and remove the legs before eating them.

....I mean.....

InsanityApe · 07-31-13, 11:46 AM

MMMMMmmmmm

Chocolate covered roasted crickets with a side of nicely diced mealworms roasted and stuffed into a caramel glazed camel cricket....and a teeny tiny apple in it's mouth.

InsanityApe · 07-31-13, 11:49 AM

But all jokes aside, looks like going to a vet is a MUST, I'll have to figure out a way to make the new crickets I'm going to order last longer, even though I had her for 2 years I still love my little baby girl who in reality might be older then me in reptile years. Does anyone else have other things to say, I do love hearing thoughts and ideas of other people, kind someone recommend me to a good online cricket and mealworm breeder?

RandyRhoads · 08-01-13, 06:11 PM

Guess no one cares about your problem. Sorry

InsanityApe · 08-01-13, 07:56 PM

Apparently, well at least one person was able to answer my question, so going to the vet is a no-brainer with a stool sample and barney herself, also cheddar so they can do a check up. And Fenbendazole I'll have to look into that a little more.

RandyRhoads · 08-01-13, 11:35 PM

Sorry dude. I'm really surprised. Normally on here if one person says what to do 15 more have to at least reply with the same thing that was already said, if not add some more advice.

smy_749 · 08-01-13, 11:41 PM

The problem is when the initial post has massive amounts of text and no pretty pictures to look at. hahahaha

Lankyrob · 08-02-13, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smy_749

The problem is when the initial post has massive amounts of text and no pretty pictures to look at. hahahaha

This - i dont need pictures but big bulks of text like that are not readable for me, especially using the smaller screened ipad.

Jendee · 08-02-13, 02:43 AM

Ivermectin (spelling??) most reptile online stores should sell it

RandyRhoads · 08-02-13, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InsanityApe

You don’t have to read this part if you don’t want to but if you want to know more of why I’m asking this question then go on ahead and read.

......honestly surprised... There's too much text for me to waste time with no pretty pictures..???? Just respond to the first three sentences then...

Lankyrob · 08-02-13, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandyRhoads

......honestly surprised... There's too much text for me to waste time with no pretty pictures..???? Just respond to the first three sentences then...

I know what your saying but my thought process was "there is a big bulk of text i cant read so wont bother reading any of it"

SSSSnakes · 08-02-13, 03:06 PM

I did not answer, because I don't give advice to some one who does not know what they are doing, when it comes to diagnosing a problem, finding the correct med and then finding the correct dosage and administrating the med. If you need to ask a question like this, then you need to go to a vet or an experienced herpetologist to be taught the correct methods. No disrespect intended.

InsanityApe · 08-02-13, 04:28 PM

Well if you had the time and the willpower to read you would know that there are no vets or pet shops or anything to do with herpetology around this parts. If I did want to see the vet I would need to drive 4 or maybe even 5 hours and that's IF they know anything about herpetology, there are more horses, cows, and large farm animals here then lizards as pets. Reason why I'm asking you guys as you guys probably know more then the people here.

KORBIN5895 · 08-02-13, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InsanityApe

Well if you had the time and the willpower to read you would know that there are no vets or pet shops or anything to do with herpetology around this parts. If I did want to see the vet I would need to drive 4 or maybe even 5 hours and that's IF they know anything about herpetology, there are more horses, cows, and large farm animals here then lizards as pets. Reason why I'm asking you guys as you guys probably know more then the people here.

I do things to my own snakes that I would never advise you to do.