BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

Hey Everyone,

I just got done dealing with mites for the first time ever. They were on my male IJ, treated for 3 weeks in a row before I stopped seeing them, but continued to treat for 2 more weeks just to be sure. My question is, it seemed so easy to introduce them into my house, I assume it was introduced via a hitch hiker on my clothing. I see everyone posting pics on here of their Blues outside crawling in leaves, on the grass, etc doesn't this create a mite problem? How does everyone keep from introducing them into their collections? I would love to take both my Blueys outside and let them roam around, but at this point I am still paranoid about even taking them into my living room and holding them on the couch because of what a pain the mites were.

You had wood mites, not reptile mites.. they are completely harmless.

Dakota wrote:You had wood mites, not reptile mites.. they are completely harmless.

They were black and red little "dots" all over his eyes, mouth etc. How would those be considered wood mites?

Oh, I thought you were commenting on that thread due to that you had the same kind of mites.

jclaiborne wrote:Hey Everyone,

I just got done dealing with mites for the first time ever. They were on my male IJ, treated for 3 weeks in a row before I stopped seeing them, but continued to treat for 2 more weeks just to be sure. My question is, it seemed so easy to introduce them into my house, I assume it was introduced via a hitch hiker on my clothing. I see everyone posting pics on here of their Blues outside crawling in leaves, on the grass, etc doesn't this create a mite problem? How does everyone keep from introducing them into their collections? I would love to take both my Blueys outside and let them roam around, but at this point I am still paranoid about even taking them into my living room and holding them on the couch because of what a pain the mites were.

You can use a produce like Prevent a mite to minimize it. I'm not sure how long you have had the bluey, but I'd guess that it has had them since you got the skink.

Mites will only be in your yard if you have wild lizards that are infected living there.

Keeping your skink in open areas and away from walls or hide areas that wild reptiles are likely to have passed by will help.

Changing your clothes and shoes after being around reptiles at other locations and putting them in a dryer on the highest heat setting for 15 minutes or bagging them and putting them in freezer overnight will prevent you from bringing in the pests from captive sources.

Bird_Brain wrote:

jclaiborne wrote:Hey Everyone,

I just got done dealing with mites for the first time ever. They were on my male IJ, treated for 3 weeks in a row before I stopped seeing them, but continued to treat for 2 more weeks just to be sure. My question is, it seemed so easy to introduce them into my house, I assume it was introduced via a hitch hiker on my clothing. I see everyone posting pics on here of their Blues outside crawling in leaves, on the grass, etc doesn't this create a mite problem? How does everyone keep from introducing them into their collections? I would love to take both my Blueys outside and let them roam around, but at this point I am still paranoid about even taking them into my living room and holding them on the couch because of what a pain the mites were.

You can use a produce like Prevent a mite to minimize it. I'm not sure how long you have had the bluey, but I'd guess that it has had them since you got the skink.

I have had him for about 3 months now.

Dood wrote:Mites will only be in your yard if you have wild lizards that are infected living there.

Keeping your skink in open areas and away from walls or hide areas that wild reptiles are likely to have passed by will help.

Changing your clothes and shoes after being around reptiles at other locations and putting them in a dryer on the highest heat setting for 15 minutes or bagging them and putting them in freezer overnight will prevent you from bringing in the pests from captive sources.

Thanks for the input...glad to hear I can take him outside and let him roam and get some exercise.