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Suspicious Behavior - Indication of Parasites?

T

tanias16

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Hey Kids,

I'm back again with yet another post...
I noticed again today that my female gecko was licking beneath her tail (genital region). I'm not sure if this is a sign of parasites and whether or not I should be concerned. Is this normal gecko behavior?

Thank you

Tania

PS If you haven't read one of my other posts, she is somewhere between 4 - 6 years old, I rescued her, and she went from 35 g to 72 g now. She lives in a 20 G aquarium, hot side is from 88 - 92 degrees. She has one humid hide in between the hot and cool side of her cage. She has two other dry hides one on each side. She was housed with a male but they have been seperated since October. They had parasites when I got them.. oxyurids (sp).. and went out medication for several weeks to get rid of them.
 
Ok, I just saw her doing it AGAIN. I'm pretty sure she just ate her own urates straight from the source. This can't be good...
 
Ive seen my female do that behavior also. I thought it might have been mites. But I used Mite-Away and it did not really help. Although mine does not eat her urate. I do not have any idea if this behavior has any correlation to parasites. Ive dewormed her and she still does lick herself down there. Maybe shes just cleaning ??
 
I have seen both my males and my females do this, often times just after or before they go to the bathroom....sounds a bit gross, but sometimes they just have something stuck down there or are having trouble pooping and it usually helps. If you notice this excessively, then you might have a problem. If its once or twice, and not on a daily basis, you should be ok.
 
Yep, it's pretty much like a dog cleaning down there. Every now and then is ok, but if it's all the time, she may have something else going on.
 
Well I saw her do it twice on Wednesday, and once yesterday...
I don't know what is up with these guys. It seems like just as soon as they get over one thing, it is something else. With everything else that is going on, it is just getting to be far too stressful :(

Do you think I need to take her in, or just get a fecal done, or what?

PS My dog cleans himself on a daily basis, lol. I don't know what excessively really means for a gecko.
 
Ok so I am back. Last night Gilbey ate for the first time in the last few days... 2 super worms.
About five minutes later I caught her standing, open mouth. She promptly puked up 2 superworms.
I am under alot of stress right now (getting layed off this week) and could REALLY REALLY REALLY use some help me.
I feel so defeated with these guys, like we go from one thing to another, and find myself considering the idea of giving them up simply because I feel like I'm losing my mind. I'm trying so hard and yet here we are again.
 
Don't give up :(....You have really done a great job with them... I understand that you are under a lot of stress but I think you will be able to pull through, and pull them through as well. Do they normally eat supers? could it have been something other than parasites? this is regurgitation, if I'm not mistaken, and not vomiting, since she did this immediately after she ate them. I believe regurgitation is not always an indicative of parasites...I have had a few regurgitate butters because they mistakenly thought they were waxies, and then they didn't like the taste so out they went. I would get another fecal done, and see what goes on from there. Also, try giving her a different feeder and see what happens...you never know. Please don't give up!
 
Thanks for the encouragement Mari, its just really hard right now :(
She always eats supers. She used to eat mealies in Oct when I got her, but I started offering her supers and she loved them... hasn't eaten a mealie since (and I have offered them).
I'm not sure how I am going to get a fecal if she wont keep anything down... and thus will have no fecal. I'm almost afraid to try and feed them to her again, the whole regurgitation process of 2 undigested superworms seems really unpleasant. I am going to have to take my dragon to the vet soon, and I find myself in yet again the same position of having more than one sick animal, and not the financial means to take them both to the vet.
 
:(

I know what you mean. Maybe try feeding her something smaller, and hope she can keep that down? if anything, you might try the slurry, just so you can get a fecal sample from her. I don't see how she could have re-developed parasites, with the great care you have been giving her....but then I'm no expert on parasites so I am sorry I can't be of much more help :(
 
Thank you for responding Mari. It is so frustrating to be in the situation and not get responses, you know? I don't know how she would have either, I honestly have no idea what's going on. They have gained weight and made such ledway, I just dont understand why they keep getting sick. I follow everything's suggestions in their setup and care by the book, and I'm trying so hard. I just know that if this keeps happening I'm going to have to get someone else to give them a good home, because I can't afford to take them to the vet as frequently as I am. :( :(
 
coyote said:
Is there any possibility at all that she is constipated/blocked?
Click to expand...
I was going to ask that too. My male leo regurgitated some mealies after I fed him just a couple days before he died of impaction. I would have a fecal done to clear your mind. I was told that pinworms come to the vent of an animal and lay eggs hoping they lick their vent and swallow the eggs starting the cycle over again. Maybe something to look into.
 
I suppose its possible that she's impacted, but she used the restroom right after I fed her last, and then hasn't eaten or had a fecal since then. I got her to eat a couple of mealies last night, I guess I'll see if she has a fecal tonight before I take any immediate action.
How do i have a fecal done if she's not going?
 
sorry to come in late...don't check back here that often, as there's a few other forums I visit, and I've been busy this month...its crazy.

Did you get a fecal sample from her? I didn't think to think about possible impaction, but if she did go, then chances are slim that that is the issue...its sad to hear that you won't be able to care for them...i would take them off your hands, but unfortunately at this time I am a little over my head as once again my male got in with my female and I'm looking at eggs and babies...which I don't have a whole lot of time or money for really.But I guess that's how it goes.

Let me know what's going on...
 
She did have a small fecal the other day, and then went into a shed. The shed got stuck on her face and I kept soaking her and soaking her. It got stuck over the same eye as last time (that resulted in vet treatment and a scratch on her eye). She just got it off tonight and now it looks like some of the shed skin might be in her eye. I'm not 100% but it looks like something is in there. I rinsed it with a saline solution but it wouldn't come out. I gave her some antibotics and I guess I will repeat tomorrow.

Do you see what I'm saying? Its just one thing after another!
And I lost my job on Friday :(
 
What do you mean, you "gave her some antibiotics"?
An ointment or drops for the eye or did you dose her with an oral or injectable antibiotic?
 
Tania -I am so sorry to hear that things are going so badly for you
It sure seems that the saying that "when it rains it pours" is really true
I hope that your Leo is OK and that things improve quickly for you
Sometimes bad luck pushes us in another direction in our lives that actually makes us better off in the long run
I sure hope that is the case for you
:D
Good Luck
Sandy
 
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