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LEOPARD GECKO VS. LOCUST
WRITTEN BY: TONY HARDY
http://funkygeckos.webs.com
http://funkygeckos.webs.com
Just thought I`d put these pictures up to show that being on the ball really does pay where reps are concerned, and that care must always be taken when any live food is used that has the potential to bite back.
In no way do I want to scare monger against, or put people off using Locust, thay ARE a fantastic, nutrient packed food item for a whole host of reps. The advantages of using locust far outweigh the disadvantages, though it`s important people use any live food as knowledgeably as possible.
Anyhow, shortish story is:I thought I`d treat my breeders to a nice little nutrient boost at the start of the season in the form of locust. Being medium to large ones, they were only getting one each, obviously though, where 2 leos are housed there needs to be 2 locust. So I put 2 locust into a female duos viv, one was snapped up straight away by the leo below, and the other jumped on her back trying to escape the gaping jaws of the 2nd leo. It only landed on her for a couple of seconds before being `shoo-ed` away. Nothing more was thought of it, as it was quickly captured by the other leo. Checked all the leos over again after their little treat, and saw absolutely nothing untoward with any of them - that was last thing at night. All fed, all accounted for and everything in the garden was rosy.
I did the usual check first thing in the morning, and was staggered to find this lovely leo, with 2 very clear, easily visable puncture marks above her hind hip (easily seen on pic below) the leo that the locust landed on for a matter of seconds. Oddly though, they simply weren`t there - or least weren`t visable the night before, nor had the leo shown any signs of stress, and didn`t even flinch to indicate it`d been bitten. As you can see, her back leg was swollen badly, massive bruising and a lump on her underside just below the hip.
Thankully, I managed to get her in to see a superb rep vet within 20 mins, and within 25 minutes she`d been administered anti-inflammatories and was put on a course of anti-biotics. The vet said it was 100% down to a locust bite, and though locust in themselves aren`t poisonous nor carry any particular bacteria, the simple bite wound itself and the `regular` bacteria found with any bite had led to this reaction, and it becoming infected OVERNIGHT!!!
Luckily, she`s now on the mend, the swelling has gone down and the bruising starting to colour down - there`ll be no lasting damage as it was caught quickly. The normal advice given, is that it`s perfectly safe to leave locust in a viv overnight with leos, as they don`t bite or attack them - something I`ve just found out to be completely naive where anything fighting for it`s life is concerned (and I include my own naivety in that too). This is the first time I`ve seen anything like it in over a decade keeping leos, and whilst it won`t stop me using them (their benefits massively outweigh the risks), I will certainly be even MORE careful when feeding them - and cruel as it may sound, no locust will be going in the viv with their jumping legs capable of jumping!!!
Just hoping that this thread will help to show that it always pays to as careful as possible when dealing with any live food that has the potential to bite a reptile back - it`s natural and pretty obv when they`re acting in self defence. Hoping too, that it will help show that even a quick check over of reps a couple of times a day - just for the sake of a check over - never goes amiss either. Dread to think how bad it may have got if it wasn`t spotted straight away.
The readers here at the Bamboozoo appreciate you sharing this unfortunate event in your life and passing this information forward.
Tony can be found at his own site: http://funkygeckos.webs.com
Tony can be found at his own site: http://funkygeckos.webs.com
