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For those of you who don't know from other forums, sadly, my gecko collection has been infected with crypto. Nearly all the geckos are actually in pretty good health. I have lost 2 geckos (out of 80 or so) since I got the diagnosis and another 2 aren't in very good shape. The biggest issues for me are that I have about 30 juveniles that I can't sell and will have to house for the rest of their lives, and that my breeding days are indefinitely over. I wrote an article for Gecko Time about it here: http://www.geckotime.com/plague-house-breeders-nightmare/
This is what I want to say to the forum in general:
--If you get a new gecko, consider having it tested for crypto at the beginning and at the end of quarantine. I think my crypto problem started with a new gecko that I did quarantine but didn't test. There are swabs you can get so you can do the collecting yourself. You can swab the vent and not even have to wait for a fecal sample
--If you are a gecko keeper, and especially if you are a breeder and you have a gecko that has persistent cheesy diarrhea, regurgitated shed or is losing a lot of weight, don't stick your head in the sand! Have the gecko tested for crypto. I really think there's a lot of crypto out there, yet there has been virtually nothing written about crypto since 2012. Check the internet, you'll see what i mean
--I have found that reptile keepers are notoriously close-mouthed about what they do and why. If you are a breeder who discovers your geckos have crypto, for God's sake don't keep quiet about it. Contact the people who bought geckos from you this season and let them know (I did). Encourage your customers to have their geckos tested. You could even test the geckos before you sell them and then sell them at a higher price with a "crypto free" certification
I hope everyone is having a better season than I am.
Aliza
This is what I want to say to the forum in general:
--If you get a new gecko, consider having it tested for crypto at the beginning and at the end of quarantine. I think my crypto problem started with a new gecko that I did quarantine but didn't test. There are swabs you can get so you can do the collecting yourself. You can swab the vent and not even have to wait for a fecal sample
--If you are a gecko keeper, and especially if you are a breeder and you have a gecko that has persistent cheesy diarrhea, regurgitated shed or is losing a lot of weight, don't stick your head in the sand! Have the gecko tested for crypto. I really think there's a lot of crypto out there, yet there has been virtually nothing written about crypto since 2012. Check the internet, you'll see what i mean
--I have found that reptile keepers are notoriously close-mouthed about what they do and why. If you are a breeder who discovers your geckos have crypto, for God's sake don't keep quiet about it. Contact the people who bought geckos from you this season and let them know (I did). Encourage your customers to have their geckos tested. You could even test the geckos before you sell them and then sell them at a higher price with a "crypto free" certification
I hope everyone is having a better season than I am.
Aliza