My first Leopard gecko

[Pokeefe88]

Thanks Elizabeth, I will put the slate tile in there, can I put the coconut hide in there or will that deterioate it? Will the hand sanitizer be okay instead of constant washing? I think I washed my hands about 5-8 times tonight while doing a super fast switch to all clean hides and such.

Also the one hide she poos under is an exoterra rock hide that is a hard plastic and it always smells like poo, is there anything i can do to fix that? I will add that to the dishwasher as well. I dont add the soap correct?

I think they lay eggs but within the gecko.
http://www.vmsherp.com/LCDisease.htm:

Coccidia - Coccidial infections are surprisingly common in captive reptiles, and can be difficult to diagnose. Many reptiles are capable of long-term survival with very very mild cases, which may suddenly bloom to severe proportions when conditions causing stress are provided. Very common and easily transmitted in Leopard Geckos, Bearded Dragons and many other common species. An extremely severe form, known as Cryptosporidia is proving nearly untreatable and is very difficult to diagnose.

Roundworms (Ascarids) - One of two types of worm easily visible to the naked eye, adult Roundworms usually range from 1/2 to just over an inch in length. Most are white in color and resemble sections of spaghetti noodles. Veterinary diagnosis to confirm ID and treatment with prescription drugs is required, but usually not difficult, and unless severely infested, your reptile will stand a good chance of full recovery.

I will post what the vet says about infection.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Thanks Elizabeth, I will put the slate tile in there, can I put the coconut hide in there or will that deterioate it? Will the hand sanitizer be okay instead of constant washing? I think I washed my hands about 5-8 times tonight while doing a super fast switch to all clean hides and such.

Trish, I would not place the coconut hide in the dishwasher. How about using 16 ounce plastic tubs like butter containers for her hides until the treatment is done and she is cured? You might consider disposable latex gloves to wear when contacting her stuff???

Also the one hide she poos under is an exoterra rock hide that is a hard plastic and it always smells like poo, is there anything i can do to fix that? I will add that to the dishwasher as well. I dont add the soap correct?

I don't know about adding the soap or not. It seems to me that as long as the soap can be rinsed off entirely, it would be OK. I often use Dawn detergent when I am cleaning cages. And then rinse very well! Have not had any problem doing so. Have you tried soaking her "outhouse" in bleach or your vinegar/water solution?

I think they lay eggs but within the gecko.
http://www.vmsherp.com/LCDisease.htm:

Coccidia - Coccidial infections are surprisingly common in captive reptiles, and can be difficult to diagnose. Many reptiles are capable of long-term survival with very very mild cases, which may suddenly bloom to severe proportions when conditions causing stress are provided. Very common and easily transmitted in Leopard Geckos, Bearded Dragons and many other common species. An extremely severe form, known as Cryptosporidia is proving nearly untreatable and is very difficult to diagnose.

Roundworms (Ascarids) - One of two types of worm easily visible to the naked eye, adult Roundworms usually range from 1/2 to just over an inch in length. Most are white in color and resemble sections of spaghetti noodles. Veterinary diagnosis to confirm ID and treatment with prescription drugs is required, but usually not difficult, and unless severely infested, your reptile will stand a good chance of full recovery.

I will post what the vet says about infection.

Thanks for posting this info!

 

[TheOneBlueGecko]

I would recommend getting bleach to sanitize when you to a through clean of the tank, it is really not expensive and you can find it at any store. It would be a good thing to try to get the smell off of the one hide that smells.

The coconut hide would probably be ok for a couple of washes, but I think that it will eventually start to break down.

From what I have read about gecko diseases most will not infect mammals like humans, and those that do it is usually nothing worse than a temporary issue that we can get rid of easily. You only need to be super concerned about infecting something is if you have another reptile, washing hands or using hand sanitizer should be fine.

 

[Pokeefe88]

I changed out the coconut hide to an exoterra hide, the magnetic one. I'll be getting bleach & a lot of paper towels. I will soak the hides & tiles in a 1:10 bleach & then rinse in the dishwasher. I will ask the vet but I trust your judgments on my questions, this is my only reptile, I'm hoping that she will be okay, I will get some updated pictures of her soon if you want & how the tank is setup for when she is sick.

 

[Mardy]

Sorry to hear about the worm problems

I hope she'll pull through, did you buy her from Petco?

 

[TheOneBlueGecko]

I will ask the vet but I trust your judgments on my questions, this is my only reptile, I'm hoping that she will be okay, I will get some updated pictures of her soon if you want & how the tank is setup for when she is sick.

It is always good to get advice from your vet, they often know what they are doing. I like to go with the "plan on doing what my vet says, but check on the forums just to make sure people don't think it is completely illogical" approach.

 

[Pokeefe88]

The vet said that since parasites are in the digestive track that it won't be transfered to my cats, dogs, or me unless its eaten or something of that nature. so I assume I'm save then, I have some antibacterial outside her tank so,i can instantly kill it instead of washing my hands every time I touch her or her stuff.

 

[Mardy]

Next thing you have to worry about is where/how she contracted the parasites. Some of these parasites can come with the leopard geckos, often they live with them and their immune system keeps them in check. It gets bad when they get stressed or their immune system fails to fight them off.

But often they occur when they ingest food that contain these parasites. So now you gotta back track and see what food you are feeding her, or were feeding her. And where you got the feeders from.

 

[Pokeefe88]

Next thing you have to worry about is where/how she contracted the parasites. Some of these parasites can come with the leopard geckos, often they live with them and their immune system keeps them in check. It gets bad when they get stressed or their immune system fails to fight them off.

But often they occur when they ingest food that contain these parasites. So now you gotta back track and see what food you are feeding her, or were feeding her. And where you got the feeders from.

I got Alera from a breeder at an expo, lzrdgrl.com, and I bought my food from all over. My first mealworms and phoenix and waxworms were from the expo then I got my mealworms from petco and my crix from petsmart. I got new crickets at petco and she ate them fine last night, she however hasnt pooped yet which is unusual but I wont be worried just yet.

Im not sure if she is stressed by the sudden cleaning spree I did last night, or the lack of familiar surroundings, I haven't had a chance to clean the slate tiles yet but I will soon.

 

[Mardy]

Lizard girl's a reputable breeder

Although purchasing feeders at the expo, that's where you can get good prices but you also don't always know the sellers. That's the part I would be worried about.

 

[Pokeefe88]

Lizard girl's a reputable breeder

Although purchasing feeders at the expo, that's where you can get good prices but you also don't always know the sellers. That's the part I would be worried about.

Yeah, I'm having a friend help me force feed tonight and then hope that I can do with it without help as my family wouldnt help me, I think. Reptiles are my thing not theirs. :roll:

 

[Pokeefe88]

I had a friend of mine come and help/show me how to force feed Alera her medicines which wasn't nearly as bad as force feeding a dog a pill. My friend is really comfortable with reptiles and has a lot of general knowledge about a variety of reptiles. So she took a lot of my anxiety and stress away. She's going to help tomorrow but I think I might try to do it myself with her guidance so that she can help/correct me.

Alera also ate about 4 crickets for dinner so that's good, I was worried after force feeding her she would refuse to eat until I wasn't giving her meds. I think it was the crickets that did it for her. :yahoo: Either way I'm happy and she gets to chill, however I give props to the people that use paper towels and don't over heat their gecko, I'm about to scream at my thermostat as its the Repti R500 and I didnt realize it was a dial so I can't set it to a temp, I have to constantly monitor. At least she doesnt lie about and usually stays in her humid hide which stays in the 80s, not the best for digestion but I cant raise the heat too much or the rest of the tank will be too hot.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Trish ~

Where do you keep the humid hide? It is recommended to keep it on the warm end of the tank which should be in the 90-95 F range. Leos need belly heat to digest their food.

I'm a bit confused. If she is eating on her own, why force feed? or do you just mean to get the medicine down?

 

[Pokeefe88]

The humid hide is on the hot side & the hot side floor runs about 92- 95. Her humid hide stays around 88 or so unless I just spayed it then its 80. Force feed the medicine, sorry about that.