Question on parasites from feeder insects

[Dooter]

I've been pondering this, and I tried researching it a bit on Google, but not really getting any satisfactory answers. :study:

Reptiles can get internal parasites from their feeder insects, correct?

Okay, so if you treat your reptile with medication, but he keeps eating the insects, doesn't he just keep getting re-infected? :?:

How can you keep your reptile parasite-free?

 

[Rory]

I guess one of the best ways to do that would be to breed your own feeders! That way you know exactly how healthy they are. I always worried about that when I was still ordering feeders. It's hard to know how the conditions they were raised in were. Poor conditions make it a lot more likely for parasites to flourish.

 

[Dooter]

True, this is one of the reasons I've decided to try breeding my own dubia roaches. That and for the cost savings, lol.

Unfortunately, I'm just starting out so its going to be awhile until I've got a good colony going and breeding enough nymphs for Stanley.

There's so many posts on here about beardies with parasites, it just got me thinking about how it might be an endless cycle. :?

 

[Katie007]

How likely is it that a beardie can get parasites from their feeders? Im also just starting to breed dubia for the same reasons, but after reading this Im a little worried. Norberts poo has been really lose lately, and Iv been assuming it was just because he's been eating more and different greens lately. But a couple weeks ago I ordered crickets and they seemed really dirty. More than usual came dead and a lot died off way quicker than usual. I ended up just not feeding them after the first week because I was worried, but I did feed out of them for a week. Is it likely that he could have parasites?

(am I thread jacking? Im sorry if i am, just tell me and Ill post my own thread.)

 

[Rory]

Well, since the medicines only treat the parasites and do not prevent new ones from settling in, it's possible. I suppose it's a good practice to be choosey about where you get feeders from, and not to feed anything that isn't alert and fighting.

 

[Rory]

But a couple weeks ago I ordered crickets and they seemed really dirty. More than usual came dead and a lot died off way quicker than usual. I ended up just not feeding them after the first week because I was worried, but I did feed out of them for a week. Is it likely that he could have parasites?

It could have been parasites, but it's probably more likely it's that darn 'cricket virus' that killed them off. It's not contagious to beardies, but will absolutely destroy your crickets. I think you were probably smart to not feed out of them, just to be safe. If you're worried about parasites, you can save a poo sample and take it to a vet to get it tested for parasites. It's pretty cheap! It only cost me $20 at my vet.

 

[Katie007]

Ill probably do that if I can get a good sample. He'll only poo in his bath, but because its so loose, its pretty impossible to fish any out. And I also don't think my vet will do a fecal without an exam :? .


I think Ill post my own thread about this, sorry for hijacking!

 

[Dooter]

Ill probably do that if I can get a good sample. He'll only poo in his bath, but because its so loose, its pretty impossible to fish any out. And I also don't think my vet will do a fecal without an exam :? .


I think Ill post my own thread about this, sorry for hijacking!

Nope, it's totally fine, after all the reading I've been doing I'm thinking I'm going to have a fecal test done on Stanley just to be safe. Because I just don't have enough in my life to worry about *sarcasm* :lol: Seriously tho, I just want to know.

As for fishing the poop out of the bath, you might be able to scoop it out with like, a net or something mesh.

 

[Rory]

The first vet I called told me they wouldn't do a fecal without an exam. So I called another, and they told me he would only need an exam if he tested positive and they needed to prescribe medications, which made a LOT more sense to me, and saved me a hundred dollars or so. :roll: