Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just made my twice-a-week check on my veiled eggs (there WERE 29), and there were three that were leaking and one completely colapsed! All of those were totally surrounded by tiny white mite-looking bugs. I sprayed all they eggs down to get the bugs off and got all the good ones out and dusted them quickly with anti-fungal powder that I'll wipe off in another day or two...

What can I do to make sure I don't have these again? Would lice spray kill them but not the eggs? is there anything else I can do? I'm trying to save my babies, but... They've still got another 3-6 months before hatching, I think, so... AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is just frustrating. My husband is working 12 hr days 6-7 days a week, my toddler is completely acting like a 2yr old now and driving me nuts, we're trying to get ready to move in another week, I'm preparing for the Christmas play at my church, Tony accidentally didn't secure the milksnake's cage and it's loose in the house, I just got rid of the snake mites on my Burmese python, I'm just getting over a cold, and NOW I have to deal with more stupid bugs that are killing my future babies!!!!!!

*sigh* At least I got that out. Now, any suggestions? All are appreciated.

~Krystie

There were 2 completely destroyed, 2 more I'm fairly sure are dead, 4 that had TINY leaks that might pull through, and 21 that might pull through after the ordeal of getting basically hosed down and switched to a new container and coated in antifungal powder...

So 21 with no bite holes from the mites. four others that may have almost the same chance. Two gone, two likely gone. This is frustrating. My first set of eggs (diff sp of lizard) we weren't prepared for and killed from inexperience. This set I though we'd be ready for, but now we're losing them too! I'm just really frustrated right now.

Whatever help is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

~Krystie

Did you get rid of the vermiculite (or whatever medium you have the eggs in)? The mites or their eggs may be in it. Before you put the remaining eggs in new medium I'd treat it by sterilizing it by either cooking it or soaking it in some type of herp safe disinfectant...maybe dilute Nolvasan? I'm not sure what would be the best way, but researching what would kill any mite eggs without destroying the medium or the eggs might give you ideas.

Vermiculite is produced by volcanic activity so I doubt you will destroy it by immmersing it in boiling water or by baking it in your oven (unless you have one heck of an oven) both methods will sterilize vermiculite or other soil products btw. You can bake at 200f for 15 minutes or so. If you use other soil products it may smell so you might want to use an outdoor grill if you have one or just use the boiling water method.

I was told to "microwave" my vermiculite...and I have never had mites.
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