General Care Discussion :: Parasites?

[sadiejude]

Hi all..

I picked up a bottle of the Reptile Xtra anti parasite pellets. The first time I did the treatment I didnt notice anything but a couple days after the treatment I found that one of the turtles passed a dead roundworm. I just started the pellets again thursday friday and saturday (directions on the bottle) and today one turtle passed 2 dead worms. What should I do at this point? continue for the next 2 weeks like the bottle says? or take them to the vet? Can these type of worms be passed to humans?

[Marcus.85]

How did you find out they have parasites?
I don't think they could infect a human host, surely it's impossible in any case unless you drink your tank's water.

[sadiejude]

When I was cleaning out their tank one day I notcied tiny little worm things in which I later found out those were coming from the filter.I quit using that filter and bought a new one and havent seen them since. I got worried about them having them worms so while I was at the store I saw those pellets and decided to get them. Other than that I would of never of known they had the worms. They are very healthy, they eat really good, they arent lethargic..they are very active. I was very surprised to actually see the worms. At this point I dont know what to do..the pellets are obviously working but I was wondering if i should take them to the vet anyways.

Everytime I check for stuff that humans can contract from turtles all I see is Salmonella, I dont think parasites from turtles can survive in the human body because their kind of worms are different than human worms (ick!) I hope not anyways...

[steve]

The worms could have been fly larvae, a sample should be collected for a vet to examine. If it is a parasite, it will require a specific prescription for that type of parasite.

[sadiejude]

yeah the other little worms were some type of larvae and came from the filter. I changed filters a few weeks ago and havent seen them since.

I do know that these new worms are a parasite for sure..they are white and about an inch long and it was inside the turtles feces. There were 2 of them in there. I made an appointment anyways..They go in monday to be checked. The vet said turtles normally dont get roundworms. I thought roundworms were the most common for these guys. Oh well...Ill find out monday what they are for sure. The worms arent segmented at all so I dont think its tapeworms...Im glad I noticed them now. I can get rid of them quickly before they do start making the turtles sick.

[steve]

Any idea on how your turtle might have gotten them? If you do get a sample, leave it in some water and put it in the fridge until it gets checked out.

[sadiejude]

No idea how they could of. Im assuming they had them when I got them. Ive only had the turtles for about 2 months and they came from a pet store. They were in bad shape and thats why I took both of them. They had shell rot which I got cleared up. They were in a tote with no lights no thermometer..no nothing so they werent taken care of properly and they told me to feed them feeder fish which I dont because I know they can get worms that way. They did feed them fish so thats probably where they came from.

[marisa]

Any live food carries the chance of having parasites.