I read this somewhere in a form and I am curious. I have never heard of this. So does any one mind explaining this to me cause the first thing I thought of was that ick or common cold in fish when I first read it.

It's actually effecting joeys, and there's different things that are found and treated.

For the most part, we've figured it's from stressed out parents and the joeys get sick. Most of the issues have started with stressed out parents from what I've read. The joeys get super sick, lose weight, their hair falls out after turning an "icky" brown color and looking like doo doo. Some have been staph, some trich, some moist dermatitis.. still unsure as to what exactly is causing it all but stress seems to be some part of a factor in it.

Others know more about this, I started reading and keeping up til my laptop broke lol! Now it's so much to catch up on..

Its been dubbed "Ick" because the joeys and their fur get "Icky" looking. Kristi is correct, we have all had different diagnosis's even though our joeys all look the same. And more times than not, it isn't the "ick" that kills them but secondary issues (mainly dehydration) that will cause there death.

From experience, it is a long hard road to travel and I would never wish it on my worst enemy. If your joey gets it, you will definately know as it happens rather quickly.

ALWAYS take your joey/joey's to the vet FIRST to make sure that it is the correct diagnosis for your babies and to ensure the proper medications to treat whats ailing them.

Here are some pictures of my girls that had it and the progression of what they looked like from beginning to end.

This is the beginning, when their fur just looked a little off.



2 or 3 days later (I can't remember for sure now)



They're bellies



A about a week from when I first noticed their fur was off.



Going into the second week of "Ick"

About 2 1/2 weeks




The little mosaic girl passed about 3 weeks into treatment. The rest of the the pics are her sisters progress.

3 1/2 weeks into "Ick" with Bits (black beauty)



4 weeks



5 weeks



6 weeks



7 weeks



And this last one was taken in the middle of January when she was about 4 months old. She didn't get the "Ick" till she was 3 weeks old. So we dealt with this for a couple of months before she was fully furred and healthy again. And no she is not with my boy Delorian any longer, but I didn't want her alone till her cage mates got here.

Wow... Ive never heard of this. So heart breaking looking at those pictures! Poor babies!

It's been quite a road for many of you. Sherri...your little one looks fantastic now. Makes my heart happy to know she's doing well.

Honestly this has caught my interest cause I'm going to school to be a vet that is why that I have asked since I plan on working with sugar gliders and other exotics.

Dang Sherri, I'm glad that you have caught with them early cause they look beautiful now! I am sorry about the loss of the other one though. I thank you for posting pictures even though I'm terribly sorry that you had to go through that.

A major factor is stress huh? That is rather interesting. It made me think of how sometimes us humans get stressed when we are carrying babies too. Maybe it is some similar factors with animals too. (not sure on this)

Sherri those pictures are just heartbreaking. I'm so glad its pulled through. Her last pic looks beautiful. Does the ick seem to be contagious? What was the vet's diagnosis on them? Did they recieve treatment with antibiotics?

All "Ick" is different, in my case the vet said no it wasn't contagious and none of my other gliders/joeys got it.

I bet you were terrified others would get it. I've gone through stuff like that when hand raising orphaned kittens and one would get sick and it would kill me to watch them slowly die one by one. I could occassionally nurse one or two back to health but would loose the rest of the litter. I just pray I never have to gio through anything like this with my gliders.

Just wanted to let you all know that my joey's do not have staph, but mom's pouch culture has staph, bacteria and yeast spores. Mom, dad and 2 new joeys (that are not showing signs yet 2weeks oop) are all being treated with Baytril and Itraconazole.