How widespread is crypto in UK leopard geckos?

[GeckoMorphs]

As per the title...

After a chat with an expert earlier today I got thinking about crypto amongst captive bred leos in the UK and how widespread the problem may be.

I realise that some people may not want to reveal publicly details that may incriminate others, so I am happy for people to PM me (I will treat all responses with the strictest confidence).

Look forward to hearing from you.

[sparkle]

your post highlights one of the main issue with crypto sort of .. i hope u dont mind me saying this...
let me explain.. the word incriminate suggests we pshycologically blame the breeders.. the owners.. the humans as such... and whilst at certain stages of the issue they are responsible intially people are not to blame this is why it infuriates me that everyone hides problems..

i applaud some american breeders that close breeding down and publically admit when things go wrong.. thats exactly also what i would do.. but how many others genuinely would????

crypto can happen at any time no matter how careful we are or how much we quarentine but people are so scared of being blamed they keep it quiet due to the rest of the reptile community making them think its some dirty terrible thing.. it can be dormant for years and not kill the animal yet when it comes in contact with a new one.. it could be dead within weeks..

so whos at fault... AFTER a keeper or breeder finds out.. they are responsible for it spreading if they continue to breed or sell... before.. they are not...its a horrible disease BUT the owners and breeders are only at fault if they find out then are NOT honest and NOT public..

We need an attitude check in the Uk .... transparency and honesty when it comes to problems within snake and lizard collections.. without being hung drawn and quartered. i cannot stand breeders who wont admit issues.. it sickens me and happens so often.. what you find out off the forum on msn and in private is unreal... u can have ANY public face on here.. what happens off forum is often VERY different... as I have discovered

there are many many so called GOOD breeders who sweep deaths and issues under the carpet.. and dont bother with PMs.. i will never forget one such person telling me the following..

Oh i know why im having deaths in my snake collection the snakes are not eating...
i then asked

why are they not eating..??

she said.. they are refusing..

I suggested she get her collection checked and she went nuts at me.. yet she is a very respected breeder .. hmmm

SIGH
what a stupid way to look at it... but thats the way it is

I would always be 100% public with any issue i had... problems happen ....its the encouraged secrecy and fear of reprisal that makes issues like IBD... crypto etc etc.. much worse... and way more easily passed on...
people stay schtum and get scared to say a word.. or they are money grabbing and dont give a damn...

[GeckoMorphs]

I completely agree... if people were open and honest about matters they could be dealt with much more effectively.

I also don't think breeders with crypto in their collections are the problem; it is the way they hide the matter that creates accusations being thrown... and the breeders having to be defensive as a result (or indeed the other way round)

The wording on my post reflects the reality of the attitude towards crypto (and other such issues) rather than my own opinion.

[Jonny357]

can someone explain what crypto actually is? ive had a leo for.....13 odd years now and never had problems, just wondered what it is?

[sparkle]

hi jonny

http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/lizar...oridiosis.html

[sparkle]

Originally Posted by GeckoMorphs

I completely agree... if people were open and honest about matters they could be dealt with much more effectively.

I also don't think breeders with crypto in their collections are the problem; it is the way they hide the matter that creates accusations being thrown... and the breeders having to be defensive as a result (or indeed the other way round)

The wording on my post reflects the reality of the attitude towards crypto (and other such issues) rather than my own opinion.

yes totally agree too...

i reworded some bits..



its not just leos or crypto its genrally every issue... I just got so sick of seeing this glossy image some breeders and keepers potray publically and in real life its nonsense..

I am honest.. mistakes and all.. and trust me ive made them and put my collectioon at risk with impoper quarentine once with 2 snakes.. but boy did i learn.. and i admitted it all publically..

you can have fancy websites and import from the states.. but if u dont admit issues to make sure u secure business in selling hatchlings then its pathetic..

these people KNOW what they do wrong.. however getting them to admit it wil never happen sadly.. as with all areas of life you get people who would rather take the consequences and be transparent and open and those who will hide everyhting they can unless forced to be honest..

[Jonny357]

thanks for the link, heavy going tho lol

[GeckoMorphs]

Originally Posted by Jonny357

can someone explain what crypto actually is? ive had a leo for.....13 odd years now and never had problems, just wondered what it is?

I've been beaten to it. Thanks Sparkle

I think I should clarify a bit more; the conversation I had concerned US breeders and a tendency to hide issues like this rather than be open about them. I don't recall ever being told about a case of crypto in the UK so it got me thinking that the same type of "hiding" may occur here.

Hence the post...

[fantapants]

i have a group of crypto positive tortoises. the problem only became apparent when one of them died suddenly and i had a full necropsy done. the histologist found that he died of liver failure. The fact that crypto was found was (in the vets words) neither here nor there. he said it was a very low level and that was most definately NOT what killed my tortoise. He also said that crypto is way more common than people assume because 99% of people just dont get fecal tests done as its "just" a reptile pet.

these days i keep my group seperate from my other reptiles and employ strict routines to prevent cross-contamination. i also know of another keeper that has a positive group and has also bred. so crypto isnt always an instant death sentence.

[James_and_Hana]

We picked up a book today called "Understanding Reptile Parasites" and it says its believed that 40-50% of captive leopard geckos have crypto, which really suprised me.