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parasites...

P

Pennebaker

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Hi all,
I'm just looking for some imput on this. Am I crazy or does it seem like problems with parasites have skyrocketted this year? Every other post I read on dragon forums is about parasites this year, and every dragon I get in is loaded with them. I know that parasites have always been a problem, but it has never seemed as extreme as this year.
I'm thinking it is a combination of weak genetics and quality of crickets and food--but anyone have some better insight?
I'm beginning to take the dog/cat approach for dragons now--deworm, deworm, deworm....and I started using the parazap on young guys once per month.
Dana
 
Your not crazy, we have noticed it too. I think its a combo of things that are meeting a head.
  • More people raising/selling dragons that do not know what they are doing or take the sanitary care they should have.
  • A huge import of dragons last year that were loaded with coccidia and I think that spread it to existing colonies, certainly it created an epidemic in Pet Stores
  • Weaker immune systems in them from inbreeding/weaker genetics so they are not able to control it in themselves as they have in the past
  • More people buying these already infected ones from pet stores or non quality breeders
  • Over use of drugs to treat parasites without the steps taken to support the treatment, which in turns runs down the immune system as beaded dragons try to fight off the side effects of the drugs. This allows coccidia to re-infect them due to their weakened condition and starts the whole cycle over again.

What can we do to help?
  • Encourage people to STOP supporting and buying from non quality breeders, no matter what the price, you get what you pay for. People that think $100 for a quality breed and raised common baby is too much, should not have a beaded dragon to begin with!
  • Use support method when treating bearded dragons for coccidia, help them fight it themselves with proper cleaning and sanitation methods. Many cases can be treated with meticulous cleaning and rechecks. We've eliminated it with that and parazap alone. If drugs have to be used make sure they are kept well hydrated and probiotics used to replace all the "good things" the drugs are killing off along with the "bad things". This way the beardies are not having to fight off potential yeast infections that can wreck their immune system and can cause death
Dana, this is not directed to you at all, I know that you are one of the better caring breeders out there that put first emphasis on health and quality, unfortunately, your in a minority.
 
Hi Guys,
(Geez... kind of forgot about this forum...)
I agree - even just occasionally reading the boards, it seems like a lot of people have been having parasite problems within the last year or so.

Great advice!
(In case anyone new stumbles upon this forum...)
I can only stress what's already been said... (and highlight)
Clean! Clean! Clean!
Frequent substrate switchouts, and bleaching enclosures helps out a LOT. Keeping crickets clean is also VERY important. The only thing worse than a dirty dragon enclosure is a dirty cricket bin.
Hardy as they are, dragons are pretty high-maintenance animals, as far as reptiles go. I think a lot of new people just don't realize this... (and it looks like it's only going to get worse with this new Disney movie comming out...)
Brace yourself...
:)
Liz
 
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