Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I took my lizards to the vet about 10 days ago for a health check (Yoshi and Yoda) as you may remember? He did fecals and said no worms, no sign of mites etc.....

However.... Today I noticed a shiny black dot that was just sat in Yoshi's mite hole next to her hips. I keep them on play sand which is pale so I knew it was not sand, and when i brushed it away with my little finger it seems it was a mite that burst all over my finger. I was mortified. They have been clear since I had them and I have not seen anything red or otherwise crawling on either of them. I'm wondering why just one and why did I not see it before?

I have Rough Green Snakes, they escaped on Friday and were not found until late on Sunday, but I have never seen anything on them either.

I have read that oil will drown mites but I dont see any more on either the snakes or the lizards. Is there anything else you recommend or should I hang on to see if any more appear?

It did look black to me not red, and it was about the size of a pin head. I'm gutted, I know it happens but the fact that it was black means the possibility of it affecting the lizards and the snakes.... the lizards run around the apartment every few days, and obviously the snakes have been in the same rooms.

And they are a pain to get rid of. Where theres one you can bet theres MORE (IF they are indeed mites)
They would look like tiny pepper dots. Get your collareds/ and snake, and rub a white papaer towel over them every where and then look real close at the towel and see if ya see what looks like moving pepper.

If you do have them the animals, cages, furniture in hte cages everything has to be de-mited There are many things out there but some are toxic to the lizards so be careful in choosing. The oil helps somewhat (especially with the red chiggers when theres just a couple) You can still use it on them with the black ones but need more, I always spray down any new wc critters with Reptile Relief, but then again I have not had to deal with snake mites.

Others may have more experience and better tips for you on them. But first make sure if they have them or not.
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PHEve / Eve

Contact PHEve

Only worry is that the lizards AND the snakes have been loose in my apartment, and I have carpets in half of it. I'm going to have to find something to treat the entire place before it becomes a problem, although i barely touched the one on Yoshi and it burst, I don't doubt for a moment that it wont be that simple to get rid of any more that might be loitering.

I might take her back to the vet if any more turn up and see if I can order something online to treat my whole apartment for mites.

Any suggestions re what's best to use?

Thanks Again
Kelly

I've been looking for something that treats mites without potential harm to my critters, and that will treat the carpets as well as the vivs and the reptiles themselves. I came across "Predatory" mites that apparently feed on various mites including snake mites. The life cycle is only 11 days for a snake mite and you buy the feeders in literally millions. They eat all eggs and hatchlings and after 2 treatments you should only be left with good mites that die when there is no food source left. They will only feed on rotting vegetable matter or other mites and therefore when the bad mites die the good mites do too.

Anyone ever tried this?

Are ya sure they have them?

Have you rubbed the white paper towel over them yet to see if it has some black peppery little moving critters?
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PHEve / Eve

Contact PHEve

I havn't found anything with the paper towel but it was definitely a tick or mite yesterday, and it was definitely not red until it burst.

I had a serious mite problem for 2 years and could not get rid of them. Until I used Provent-a-mite. It's a spray and I used it once and have had no mites for 10 years. Take the lizards out of the cage and spray it on the rocks. When the mites cross the rocks to get to the lizards, they die. You will have to feed your lizards out of the cage because it will kill the crickets also. Very good stuff!!!!

Hey Thanks Will, The paper towel trick showed nothing but I might buy some to be sure.....