Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I think I've got some mites in one of my cages. I was not aware this is a problem with monitors/tegus! What is the best way to get rid of these little buggers without harming my animals and how can I keep them away? Thanks

You need to first determine exactly what you have. Could be mites, chiggers, or even wood lice if you use a wood base substrate. We use natural limbs, stumps and other things that we field collect as our monitors love them and oftentimes see little buggers in the exhibits...it has never posed a problem or issue unless we know that they are parasitic such as mites, ticks, etc. in which case we do treat. There are many products out there that work quite well. I use pro product's provent-a-mite but that's just me; others have used other products with excellent success. Make sure you that you not only treat the lizard and the cage but also treat the room that it's in (mites leave their hosts to lay eggs). Obviously, if you are feeding insects to your monitor, you need to be careful as these mite eradication products will also kill any insects in close proximity where you spray.

>>I think I've got some mites in one of my cages. I was not aware this is a problem with monitors/tegus! What is the best way to get rid of these little buggers without harming my animals and how can I keep them away? Thanks
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Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

I tried to take a picture. Maybe this will help? Its pretty small, so I left the piece of wood in the pic so you could approximate the size....

any ideas?

I too, like Rob and probably most use logs and such collected from outdoors.
What I do to kill off unwanted pests is cut a small piece of "no pest" strip place this piece in a small plastic container with a few hole poked in it and hang it from the top of the enclosure.
In a weeks time anything openly moving about will be dead!

DO NOT hang near the water source!
DO NOT spray your enclosure!
DO NOT feed insects while the "no pest" strip is in the enclosure!

The best part is all of the benifical inverts will burrow in and survive!
Mike
Mike's Monitors!

no pest strips do work, but they do kill all bugs (including your roach colonies or cricket setups down the hall). the one inch square size in an aired out deli cup is the way to go (you can cut it with scissors) but i will DISAGREE with Mike on the time period.

no pest strips can be strong, and can cause neuro damage. i wouldn't use longer than overnight, wait a week, and do it again. leaving in for an extended period can be, uh, "trip" : )
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

I have never lost anything but free roaming pests with this method!

Like I said even the Millipedes, Centipedes and Roly Poly's survive, and soon come out and get back to work cleaning my enclosures!

With literaly THOUSANDS of Roaches in the other room thats pretty reliable!

Of course you need to be carefull with any pestisides!!
Mike
Mike's Monitors!

Nice pic Mike. It looks like they are already putting on some nice size.

Leave them bugs alone…

Killing them will do more harm then any good, bugs aren’t the enemy in your monitors cage, they are beneficial and process waste, this keeps your lizard clean.

I have 100 micro organism in my cages, from dung Beatles to sand mites and none are detrimental to my lizards, in fact I believe they are important to my lizards health.

If you feel theirs to many, you can control them by using glue traps, sunken vessels or even vacuum.

One of the most prolific bugs in my cages have proven very valuable as there larva (mini mealworms) are favourite foods to many hatchelling lizards. I now consider all bugs in my cages useful in one way or another.
Some of them predate on parasites others feed on mould, they all have a part of the puzzle.
In most regards they highly contribute to your lizards immune system.

I observed how mites infested an abbesses on my lizards mouth, they where in fact feeding off decaying flesh, once I cleaned the wound they disappeared, I bet they where actually part of the lizards healing process?

Remember this, a sterile lizard is a dead lizard.

to everyone for your suggestions and ideas! I greatly appreciate it.

First, that does not appear to be a mite or tick. It could be a termite. Ours are not so dark. Whatever the case, its not a mite.

I am not a believer if bugs coexsisting in the cages of monitors. In my opinion, it simply bugs them(joke and true) They don't like things crawly in them. Particularly when they are sleeping/resting.

The thing is, not all insects bug them, thats a decision you have to make. Termites do not appear to. Its up to you how you approach it. I do not have to many problems, a vaccum cannot fix, As we are pretty dry here. Cheers