Hi Daniel, Sorry about your loss. U. lineatus are hardy as far as Uroplatus go, but new imports of any Uroplatus can be difficult. An animal that has been collected, warehoused and shipped multiple times while gravid will be especially at risk. Other than the usual parasites, Uroplatus are susceptible to heat stress and calcium deficiency (mainly females). If the geckos are weakened, they often succumb to bacterial infections. I've had several Uroplatus necropsied and the only two causes of death were high levels of coccidia in new imports and bacterial infections, often of internal organs such as the liver.
Bacteria are a problem in both new imports and long-term animals. I think that bacteria infections result from shipping, environmental and/or breeding stress. Things to address are temperature (generally 25 C daytime and 13-19 C night), ventilation/humidity and supplementation. High temperatures seem to weaken these geckos. High humidity is necessary, but the enclosure needs to dry between mistings. If the substrate gets saturated, it becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. In your case, a lack of calcium may have played a role. Females with good Ca reserves can have endolymphatic sacs similar to Phelsuma. I give all females elemental Ca mixed with water and Miner-All I once every week or two, and this has made a huge difference. I think it is import that we all share our success and failures with this group of gex if we hope to be able to establish them in captivity. The few breeders I know of are in different parts of the world, making it expensive and difficult to trade bloodlines. I fear that if there is not significantly more success and Madagascar stops exporting, that many Uroplatus spp. will disappear from herpetoculture, at least in North America. Neil -- Neil Meister Promotions Secretary Global Gecko Association http://www.gekkota.com President Nova Scotia Herpetoculture Society ########################################################################### THE GLOBAL GECKO ASSOCIATION LISTSERV WebSite: www.gekkota.com Archive: [EMAIL PROTECTED]/ The GGA takes no responsibility for the contents of these postings. ###########################################################################
