Porterfield Exotics

Treating Reptile Parasites

Internal Parasites

Worms:

The most common internal reptile parasites are worms.  These can usually be treated orally with a liquid de-wormer.  I use a product called Fenbendazole.  This product is widely used by herpticulturists and veterinarians  to treat common worm infestations.  This will not remove all types of internal parasites but will kill the broadest spectrum of them.  If your herp does not improve and show weight gain almost immediately after treatment consult a veterinarian about a fecal exam.

Protozoa:

Another type of internal parasite that may infest your herp are protozoans, these are tiny microscopic living creatures that may live in your herps system stealing nutrient from your herp and sometimes causing illness and even death.  There are several medications such as Metronidazole and Sulfadimethoxine available for treating protozoa in herps, it is best to consult a veterinarian to do a fecal exam and help you choose the best treatment for the type of protozoan that may be infesting your herps system.

External parasites

Mites:

Mites are the most common of Reptile health problems.  almost all reptile enthusiasts will sooner or later experience a mite infestation.  Snake Or lizard mites are tiny little black or red spherical shape blood sucking insects.  they hatch out microscopically small and reach about the size of a grain of salt as an adult.  they will crawl under the scales of your reptile and will usually congregate around the eyes, ears, mouth, & vent of your reptile.  If left untreated they will drain your reptile of it's necessary body fluids and can eventually kill the reptile. There are many treatment methods for eliminating mites.  The best treatment I have found is the only proven, tested, and government approved commercially available product on the market, it is called Provent-a-Mite. 

Ticks:

Ticks are most common on newly imported wild caught reptiles.  Reptile ticks are  usually not a serious problem.  They are a light brown to cream color tick very similar in size and shape to a common wood tick.  Ticks start out very small and get up under the scales, usually around the nostrils, eyes, ears, mouth, & vent of the reptile.  They can be picked off with a tweezers or hemostat when they grow large enough to be seen.  Provent-a-mite also eradicates ticks quite well.