Watery stool

[Gemeleon dude]

Sounds like Giardia, they are flagellates and that is the medication to treat it.

What is Giardia? Is that the medication you used

 

[Gemeleon dude]

Sounds like Giardia, they are flagellates and that is the medication to treat it.

I read this wrong nvm lol

 

[janjan20]

I just re-read it as well lol! I should have listed the medication too.

How are you feeding her? Free range or feeder box? If you free range, you will run the risk of cross contamination if the bugs walk in any contaminated stool or liquid.

 

[Gemeleon dude]

I just re-read it as well lol! I should have listed the medication too.

How are you feeding her? Free range or feeder box? If you free range, you will run the risk of cross contamination if the bugs walk in any contaminated stool or liquid.

There for a good while I was letting them free range at the bottom of the cage for some enrichment for her but I’ve stopped and been putting them back in her feeder box,, and this isnt the first time she’s been on the medication, we’ve been trying too get her stool back too normal for a minute now. Putting two and two together it’s all making since, she’s just getting re infected BUT this is the best her poop has looked in a while. I feel like such a bad parent but these creatures are so fragile and good a coving up signs when sick

 

[janjan20]

Well don't beat yourself up, 3 out of my 4 had Giardia at one point. I've also had two at one point have coccidia and all have had pinworms. Unfortunately, it comes with the territory of owning a reptile. Even the most experienced and meticulous keepers have dealt with parasites at one point or another.

 

[Gemeleon dude]

Well don't beat yourself up, 3 out of my 4 had Giardia at one point. I've also had two at one point have coccidia and all have had pinworms. Unfortunately, it comes with the territory of owning a reptile. Even the most experienced and meticulous keepers have dealt with parasites at one point or another.

So what causes it? Do I need too clean out my mister as well just incase?

 

[Beman]

@janjan20 For giardia what did they recommend for cleaning?

 

[janjan20]

No specific recommendations, I used 40% peroxide (salon grade) and dawn dish soap. Anything that poop touched I got rid of or cleaned really well. I changed/cleaned water source even though I ruled that out. But in the OP’s case any water source should be decontaminated since Giardia can infect through a water source and because this has been an ongoing issue. For the water source hot water and a soap/bleach combo should work. My issue was from feeders so I stopped buying feeders from the store.

I will say the peroxide may have been over kill but it’s my go to since dealing with coccidia lol! If it can kill coccidia, I’m confident it can kill Giardia. Just be careful and wear gloves. It can burn your skin. If you spray it make sure there are no animals around and you may want to wear a mask. I let it sit for about 20mins and then mist with water.

As of now everyone is/has been clear of Giardia since the summer.

 

[janjan20]

So what causes it? Do I need too clean out my mister as well just incase?

Yes, I would clean any water source and change where you get your feeders. Just to rule everything out.

 

[Gemeleon dude]

@janjan20 For giardia what did they recommend for

Yes, I would clean any water source and change where you get your feeders. Just to rule everything out.

Heard that, what’s would be the best way too clean out my mist king misting system?

 

[Beman]

Heard that, what’s would be the best way too clean out my mist king misting system?

I may get yelled at for this. But I literally only clean my bin out. I wash it with dawn and hot water then rinse it extremely well. then I let mine air dry.

 

[Gemeleon dude]

I may get yelled at for this. But I literally only clean my bin out. I wash it with dawn and hot water then rinse it extremely well. then I let mine air dry.

Oh okay, so I don’t have too worry about the water lines then

 

[Dartthechameleon]

If they sent the fecal out the test results would come back with the exact type. The issue is there is one that requires stripping everything from the cage and a very different stronger cleaning method for the cage. So I do not want to have to take on more work then is necessary. Pinworms for example are much easier to clean for. You can pull the plants wash the leaves really well and the oocysts wash away. The branches same thing. You could just take the entire cage outside or into a shower and spray the heck out of it then wash out the bottom really well. The other worse parasites are an entirely different process that would require throwing away all porous items such as plants and all the branches. THen a very specific cleaning process.

Hello, I am also the co-owner of this lovely chameleon dart! Thank you so much for your quick and helpful responses! We never heard back from the vet regarding the species of parasite. Unfortunately I believe they just performed a fecal smear and not an identification. Just curious, which parasite are you referring to for the specific, tedious cleaning process?

 

[Beman]

Hello, I am also the co-owner of this lovely chameleon dart! Thank you so much for your quick and helpful responses! We never heard back from the vet regarding the species of parasite. Unfortunately I believe they just performed a fecal smear and not an identification. Just curious, which parasite are you referring to for the specific, tedious cleaning process?

Coccidia is the one I am referring to. Not a simple process to prevent reinfection but you also have to make sure the cham is totally free of parasites before introducing it to a fully set up cage with real branches and plants. If you search it in the forum you will see many responses of me helping people with this one. The oocysts do not just die off and can live for years on surfaces.