Posted in Getting Started - Rhacodactylus
Reptiles have an amazing ability to hide diseases. Their ability stems from having to survive among predators that pick on weak prey - especially the sick. Hey it is easy food. The best way to see if your reptile is sick is with quarantine and a fecal exam. From there we can determine the possible disease, which I have given basic information for below.
Quarantine
Prevention begins at the start. With all new additions to the collection a quarantine must be performed. I recommend quarantine to anyone who keeps reptiles and amphibians - for your safety and the safety of the animals.
Quarantine helps prevent the spread of disease to an otherwise disease free collection by means of isolation. Any new addition purchased online or from a reputable breeder should be placed in a plastic cage such as a Kritter Keeper. All decor should be plastic and the substrate should be paper towel. You want to create a hospital like setting in the sense that everything can be cleaned and is less likely of harboring disease.
After setting up the quarantine cage find a veterinarian in your area that is experienced with reptiles. See if they can perform a fecal exam on a newly acquired reptile. These exams are relatively inexpensive and the start to quarantine. With the results you can determine the course of medication if any through the veterinarian or with the products available through Repashy Superfoods.
Quarantine the animal in another room away from your collection, crickets and insects that can fly from your quarantine cage back to the collection. Duration of quarantine should last roughly 3 months. By this time any disease that can be harboring itself in your newly acquired reptile will have potentially exposed itself through some of the symptoms.
Entamoeba invadens
The black plague of the Rhacodactylus genus, OK not really but great emphasis should be put on prevention. The spread of Entamoeba invadens is through carrier species that are normally not affected to the same degree as Crested Geckos. Entamoeba Invadens are believed to be from Amphibians such as frogs or even turtles. The capability of spreading the disease from one gecko to another through feces is another potential carrier.
Crested Geckos do no fare well in a vivarium mixed with amphibian species for this reason. Cages with amphibians should be housed in another room away from any Crested Geckos. Washing hands prior to and after handling or cleaning an amphibian enclosure or suspected carrier gecko such as a new addition are recommended. Using Nolvasan or the generic version Chlorhexidine, as a cleaner for cages and decor is highly recommended for routine cleaning.
The symptoms of Entamoeba invadens include rapid weight loss, lethargy,and swollen vent at late stages. For further information you may find the article on ciliatus.com helpful. Entamoeba invadens
Nematodes
These are parasitic organisms that will infect the intestinal tract. Either wild caught or captive bred are both susceptible. Contact with a carriers feces is generally the route of transfer. Symptoms will include; loss of appetite, lethargy, weight loss, anorexia and diarrhea. Although, not all infected reptiles will show symptoms and can be a carrier without knowing. A fecal exam done by a veterinarian is recommended to rule out Nematodes.
Coccidia
Often associated with crickets, Coccidia is easily transferred through feces in the form of oocysts or eggs. A cricket may consume, travel through or otherwise become a carrier and "recycling" crickets from one enclosure to the next can be a means of transfer. This single-celled intracellular parasite can only be identified through a fecal exam much like Nematodes. Systoms include lethargy, anorexia, dehydration and secondary bacterial infections. Prevention is done through proper cage cleaning with Chlorhexidine, and routine fecal exams.
Pneumonia
A severe respiratory tract infection affecting the lungs. Observed to affect captive reptiles more than wild caught and is a result of husbandry practices. The enclosure may be to high in humidity allowing for bacteria to thrive. Symptoms include a gaping mouth, sneezing, mucus from the mouth and a weezing sound during br
eething. Prevention should start with the right husbandry practices including a humidity cycle through the day. Keep suspected reptiles seperate from other reptiles as infection is highly contagious. Seek a veterinarian for help.
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