Page 1 of 1

How do mites get into the enclosure?

Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2014 7:04 am
by MechHAN
I know people had big mite problem with the reptile,so big that cause death at least one of them claim that,and she think that the reason is the aspen and strongly surggest me to replace the aspen with croncob,despite I know that many people use the aspen and never have mite problem...
But this make me thinking about the mite...where dose these blood sucking creature come from?Surely they won't just come up from the air,they can't fly,and they need blood to live so I don't think they can come from something like aspen or bark...
So...anyone know how do mites get into the enclosure?

Re: How do mites get into the enclosure?

Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2014 7:09 am
by MechHAN
Also is there any way to know if my skink have mite other than lifted check every scales?

Re: How do mites get into the enclosure?

Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2014 7:26 am
by Fatal_S
Mites get into your collection from infections elsewhere. Bad pet stores are a good example. You go to a pet store where the reptiles have mites. Those mites are not only on the reptiles, but on everything in the shop, and maybe even catch a ride on your clothing. You take them home, they find your reptiles, now you have a mite infestation. There's many other ways of course, but that's probably the most common. And mites spread like wildfire, so once they're in you need to treat every animal in your collection.

A substrate that's been near infected reptiles can carry the mites, but generally substrate is not a problem. Some substrates (garden center mulches for example) are more likely to contain bugs (springtails, isopods, etc), but those bugs are not reptile mites and aren't dangerous.

Mites are noticeable as little black dots moving around on the skin, particularly around the face, ears, and underarms. I always seem to notice them around the eyes. Many reptiles will spend a lot of time soaking in water when they have mites - an effort to drown the bugs and sooth the irritation from them.

Re: How do mites get into the enclosure?

Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2014 9:31 am
by MechHAN
Thank you!And two more questions:Dose mite on reptile attack human?Are there any other kind of bug that attach the skin other than the mite and tick?

Re: How do mites get into the enclosure?

Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2014 9:35 am
by Roarschak11
There are a lot of different types of mites, but the ones that attach to reptiles are usually "snake" mites and usually go after reptiles not really people thankfully :)