Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all,

I'm usually not one to really worry about mites. I don't have a problem with soil mites as I try to keep a colony of pill bugs going at the same time.

The mites on my 'pede have not really been in excess...until now. I know that a number of mites is usually considered beneficial but this is A LOT! There are literally hundreds on my big guy and I just noticed them this weekend. I don't want to change substrate as I recently had babies hatch and don't want to unknowing throw the babies out with the bathwater, so to speak. However, I need to get this under control for the health and well being of all.

Any suggestions?

Thanks advance!
Mary Beth
notmarybeth@gmail.com

I have read that you can pick them off by hand if you put a small amount of vaseline on a cotton swab and pick them up. Make sure not too much, you don't want to cover the spiracles with vaseline.

I notice the the mites on my Giant African take up stations on his spiracles. I've read that they keep them clean, but sometimes I wonder if they are sucking the life out of them.

ScienceDiva

There is an easy way to combate mites on a 'pede....I had a Scolopendra SSP "Hong Kong Giant" That had the same problem and it seems to happen quite a bit with the Wild Caught Pede's... The EASIEST way I've found to deal with them is to use Either a Talcum powder or just plain old unscented baby powder. Lightly cover the area (as the powder sufficates the little pests) For at least 5 days, after that, make sure you change the substrate in your animals Cage, I would also find a mite killer (available at most pet stores) and spray the cage down as a precaution...
Hope that helps, If not E-mail me back @ SouthernStyleLEO@msn.com with any questions~
Natw