Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I noticed my dragon has some little black spots. If I look closely it seems like they are located under the scales. Can dragons have mites? How could I have gotten mites? How can I get rid of them? Or what is this anyway?

Let's try teh picture thing again...

Link to the picture if image doesn't work

I had mites on my BD. I found out that they were snake mites (search on google for pics). They didnt sit under the scales like the ones in your pic though but stayed around the eye lids. I treated the viv n BD's with Frontline spray as directed by the vet. Its cleared them up. Frontline is marketed for cat fleas n ticks etc.
If you poke the ones my BD's had they moved and didnt seem to anchor in like a tick. Maybe worth a vets visit?

One of my dragons had mites a little while ago. They are actually like little bugs. So I don't that's what your beardie has.

Best of luck figuring it out.

Dragons can get mites and ticks. It isn't very common but like any animal these parasites can get on them.

From the picture it does look like it could be a mite or tick wedged underneath the scale, or it could just be a black 'freckle'. One good and easy way to know for certain it is a parasite and not just pigment, is give your dragon a soak in luke warm water for about 10-15 minutes. Make it deep enough so the water is about level with the dragon's armpits and he can easily stand and keep his head out of water. If he has mites they will drown fairly quickly or move up onto his back or head (and they can be easily seen moving around the body of the dragon especially when they are already engorged with blood). Also, after removing your dragon from the water, check the bowl you soaked him in for any floating black specks. These will be drowned mites that fell off.

If you see either moving mites or dead mites in the water, then what I recommend is buying either Reptile Relief or Provent a Mite. Both are safe for reptiles and are pretty easy to use. Pretty much remove everything from the dragon's cage, throw out anything that is made out of wood and not sealed with something (ie varnish, paint, etc), everything else including the entire cage, soak in hot soapy water and scrub it down completely. Rince well then soak in a bleach solution to disinfect the cage furniture and the cage itself. Rinse very well, then rinse it a couple times more to ensure all bleach is removed. Air dry in a ventilated area to ensure all bleach is gone. Then, spray the cage with Provent a Mite or Reptile Relief. Let dry. Put in paper towel substrate (whether this is your normal substrate or not), bare essentials for cage furniture (ie basking spot, hide). Put in the dragon. Repeat again in about a month, whether you see signs of mites or not on the dragon or around him. THis ensures any hatching nearly invisible mites don't mature and start the cycle again.

Typically after the second treatment, the mites will be gone for good, unless they come in on a new animal.

There are other ways to get rid of mites, a websearch will find many, though most are used with snakes more so than lizards. However, the above method works the best from what i have heard and from personal experience. Reptile Relief may take a few more applications before it rids all mites, but Provent a Mite works very well.

One other note, if you have any insects, either as pets or feeders, remove them from the room the bearded dragon is going to be housed in while getting rid of the mites. Provent a Mite and reptile relief can easily kill other kinds of insects as well. Or, the chemicals may be absorbed by the insects and if your dragons eat them, it may be harmful. Though safe to have on the outside of the reptile, it isn't good to consume regardless.

Nix, a product used to rid humans of head lice can also be used, but not sure on how it is prepared. A google search on reptile or snake mites should bring up forums with information on how to use Nix. This product apparently has the same active ingredient to kill lice as Provent a Mite uses. I think you mix it with water and with a mister, spray the cage with it after washing and disinfecting. Let it dry and pretty much follow the same steps as above. But I am not 100% how strong it should be. Also, I would use a mister intended for no other use, to ensure the chemical doesn't leach into the plastic then back into clean water put into the mister.
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PHLdyPayne

So I use the Provent stuff only on the cage and not on the dragon itslef, is that correct?
I am just wondering because now I see some on her head and they won't drown in her bath?

http://www.beautifuldragons.503xtreme.com/Mites.html

I recommend reading this site. I have also heard that you can use olive oil as a home remedy too.

By your description, I'd say they are mites. You can get them from anyting that is put in the tank, like new furniture (not properly sterilized) or even from sand right out of the bag.

Shucks. I might have done it with a particularly nice log I found outside...

Great link. Thanks! Tucked under the scales - that's exactly what these are. I'll do the bath.

They actually sell reptile cleaner to rid your lizard of mites but my local petshop suggested I try regular shampoo first on my chuck. I bought a wc chuck from an expo that was in bad chape and he/she had red mites. They looked like dots but came off it you scratched them. I put human shampoo on the chuck a let it soak for a few minutes while rubbing it in really good. Avoid the eyes. I did repeat the process a second time after rinsing. Every one of the mites were gone after the second rinse. I was told a main ingredient that is in human shampoo is listed on the label of the reptile cleaner you purchase from the store.