Hi Mike,
Quarantine for LTC is the same as for WC. It is definitely worth
finding out what the problem
is before treating as the wrong meds will do no good and stress a
weakened animal.
How long is LTC in this case?
What you're seeing is not uncommon. I suspect protozoa of some
sort, coccidia is the most common
problem. If your gecko is vomiting, it does need help. Keep
collecting fecal samples in case
the first one is negative. Repeat fecals at least 3 times if
negative to be sure nothing
is missed. One negative only means there was nothing found in
that particular sample,
no that the gecko is free of parasites.
your temperatures are a little cool. 60's is good for night, but
a few degrees warmer (72-76)
is better for day temps. A weak basking light placed over a cork
tube or similar hide spot
should work in your situation.
I quarantine small Uros in critter keepers or tall rubbermaids
that are easily washed and rinsed.
Bedding is paper towel (brown if you can get it) with a few bits
of dried leaves or moss
on top. Add a few climbing branches and a papertowel tube for
hiding. Clean out feces daily.
If you find parasites, cleaning will have to be more rigorous.
Having two similar cages set up
so you can move the geckos to a clean one while disinfecting the
other is a good idea.
Mist 2-3 times per day and cover part of the lid with a piece of
plastic to keep in humidity
if required.
Do not use vermiculite for a substrate. It could be ingested when
the geckos lunge at prey.
I'm not crazy about using more than one med at a time. I like to
use one, wait a few days, then use
the other if more than one is necessary. Definitely get a vet
opinion if you have to medicate.
Good luck,
Neil
Let me first apologize if this is long-winded.
Late last week I picked up a pair of LTC Uroplatus. After reading about care of recent imports I got the general idea that people didn't like to medicate their geckos for no reason and since I didn't have a fecal sample I wasn't in a rush to call the vet for debugging meds.
The evening after I brought them home they ate. The evening after that, they ate again. This was obviously a good sign but the crickets I was feeding them, although appearing small when I put them in the enclosure, were sort of big for the geckos (1/2-3/4" crix, 4" geckos). It's been 3 days since they ate but they still go into hunting pose when they see crickets. They just don't strike.
Today I found two crickets vomited up (2 crickets in the same vomit so from one gecko). The other gecko passed feces and I collected this for the vet for tomorrow <crosses fingers that he's there>. I took both geckos out of the enclosure and let them walk on my hands so I could examine them. The male looks decent enough but the female seems "ribby"; not tremendously, but ribby nonetheless. Her pelvis seems boney, too. She was the one that vomited. They jump around from hand to hand, though.
I might also mention that the temperature in the enclosure is mid to high 60's. I don't know if this is a problem. A friend suggested I use a small red bulb to bring the heat up to the low 70's but I'm afraid to try that. I also thought about a low temperature heat tape but that also scares me a bit :o) Come summer, I know the temperature will be perfect.
SO, I now want to quarantine these geckos in a "sterile" environment so I can closely monitor them and collect clean fecal samples if I need to. What I would like to know is, how can I create such an environment? Sterile enclosures are generally dry, IME. Would something like moist vermiculite be a good bedding with a few plastic branches for the geckos to climp on? How do other Uroplatus keepers quarantine their animals?
Thank for any help or suggestions. I'll suggest Flagyl and Panacur to the vet for a debugging regimen and see what he says. That seems to be the general method.
Mike
--
Neil Meister
Promotions Secretary
Global Gecko Association
Promotions Secretary
Global Gecko Association
http://www.gekkota.com
http://www.gekkota.com/html/gecko_night_2002.html
President
Nova Scotia Herpetoculture Society
President
Nova Scotia Herpetoculture Society
http://users.eastlink.ca/~nshs
