I was cleaning up after my Hermann's tortoise tonight and was horrified to find three or four of these tiny worms on the exterior of her feces. I removed the stool from her enclosure and broke it apart a little on a paper plate with some medical scissors. I did not find any more inside the stool, thank goodness. The worms I found almost look like the small white worms you sometimes see outside gardening.
I am absolutely distraught. I have no idea how my tortoise could have gotten parasites. She was captive bred from a reputable breeder and has never been in contact with another tortoise since I got her as a hatchling. What should I do? I can't imagine this is a heavy infection because she is acting completely normal with a healthy appetite and solid stools. She has never acted sick in the entire time I've had her (3 years).
I've read online about people treating their tortoises for internal worms using the drug Panacur, which is sold as a paste (usually for equines) containing 10% Fenbendazole. Would it be safe to give her a miniscule dose (0.1mL per 100 grams)? Other people say it's normal for a tortoise to have a small number of worms, and that the possible side-effects of treatment outweigh the benefit. What should I do?
I attached a photo of the worm in question.
I am absolutely distraught. I have no idea how my tortoise could have gotten parasites. She was captive bred from a reputable breeder and has never been in contact with another tortoise since I got her as a hatchling. What should I do? I can't imagine this is a heavy infection because she is acting completely normal with a healthy appetite and solid stools. She has never acted sick in the entire time I've had her (3 years).
I've read online about people treating their tortoises for internal worms using the drug Panacur, which is sold as a paste (usually for equines) containing 10% Fenbendazole. Would it be safe to give her a miniscule dose (0.1mL per 100 grams)? Other people say it's normal for a tortoise to have a small number of worms, and that the possible side-effects of treatment outweigh the benefit. What should I do?
I attached a photo of the worm in question.