What Parasites?

[twayee]

So I've been seeing a lot of posts saying not to feed wild caught insects because of the risks of parasites. I live in Florida and have been feeding my chams wild caught bugs and lizards for years. I've never had a sick chameleon or seen any signs of parasites. I think my chams are healthier from the wide variety food items instead of the same old crickets. Does anyone know of any specific cases of parasites from wild caught feeders?

 

[jastate09]

Many types of parasites come from wild caught feeders even from store bought feeder. Your chances are much higher though feeding wild caught bugs. Examples of these parasites are hookworms, pin worms and coccidia being the worse.

I would get regular fecals if you choose to feed wild caught feeders. Your animal can still look health (for a while) and have parasites. Sometimes by the time they show signs of sickness it can be to late.

 

[elrojo]

I would add that every reptile in the wild has parasites. These can get out of hand in a captive environment, but they are in less contact with their own feces, etc. in nature. I feed wild insects from time to time, and until I found this forum had fed every hornworm I could find in my garden, even off of tomato plants (that's a toxicity issue, more so than parasites). As intestinal worms go, the eggs are easy to see with a microscope, and easy to treat. Panacur can be bought at any feed store, and it's really hard to overdose, in my experience. A simple 100X microscope is a great investment, and you can use a sugar water mixture for flotation; or if you know a vet, they have a cheap solution that keeps longer and is less messy.

 

[SSimsswiSS]

So I've been seeing a lot of posts saying not to feed wild caught insects because of the risks of parasites. I live in Florida and have been feeding my chams wild caught bugs and lizards for years. I've never had a sick chameleon or seen any signs of parasites. I think my chams are healthier from the wide variety food items instead of the same old crickets. Does anyone know of any specific cases of parasites from wild caught feeders?

I once saw a 3 inch parasitic worm pulled from the butt of a pillbug. That's enough evidents for me.

 

[elrojo]

Was it a nematode? Most adult parasitic worms would die from digestive juices of the predator's stomach, unless that species is evolved for their host being eaten to carry on the life cycle. I regularly pick the little maggots out of bad reptile eggs for my surviving babies to eat. One more worm inside a feeder animal is more nutrition in some cases!

 

[CarlC]

MOST long term captive chameleons will die from improper care before they die from being fed wild caught insects that transfer parasites. If you give your chameleon a proper varied nutritous diet and give it a stress free life you and it will be fine. Parasites get out of hand especially in stressful conditions when the animals immune system can't fight off the reactions. Once the ball is rolling down hill it is harder to stop.

To give yourself piece of mind get yearly fecals done. If a problem is found take care of it. Just remember the drugs you are giving your animal work by killing. The more that gets killed the more toxic build up in the animal. Be prepared to build the animals immune system back up. You will be killing most of the flora found in the gut. Good and bad. Replace the bad stuff with good bacteria. Yogurt is a great start. It provides a good bacteria to have established in the gut. Crush some beta glucon (immune system builder)to a powder and once a week add a small amount of the powder to your calcium powder.


Carl

 

[elrojo]

Any thoughts on pro-biotics used for other animals (such as http://www.amazon.com/Eagle-Pack-Holistic-Solutions/dp/B000VT1R7U)?