Signs of mites other than seeing them?

[aron77]

My sister and I got BT's about a month ago and she appears to have a mite problem. They turned out to be different species, with hers being an IJ and mine a Merauke, but they were housed together in the same pet store and she just now, a month later, is noticing small black, some white, bugs crawling on hers. I've searched mites on here and got more results than I imagined, and I've been feeling itchy the whole time lol, and I gather that there are several products to use on up to using lice shampoo that should be effective treatments, along with a good cage cleaning. This just started last night and I haven't had a chance to inspect mine closely but I have not noticed any bugs crawling on mine in the month or so that I've had him and she just started noticing them on hers last night, maybe they have been there but they have only now been noticed or maybe they haven't...

My sister's husband is in to gardening and has all sorts of soil and supplies in the garage which is just outside the door from where she keeps her BT so I'm wondering if maybe these could be some other type of mite or if hers got infested after leaving the cage that it shared with mine? I can barely see these things so how can I tell if they are the parasitic mites or some of the other variety that I've read about that are harmless? Also since I haven't seen any on mine, tho I'll be looking more closely now, is there any other way to identify a mite problem without seeing them walking around? Should I start treating even if I don't see any?

[Richard.C]

always good to treat new animals for them regardless

another sign of mites if u cant see them is small white specks all over the lizard,mite poop

[mark_w]

Yes, I would treat both animals straight away. They will also get redness in and around their ears, become less active, go off their food and such. But they have to build up in numbers before this. Treat them now and again in 7 days. I use a veterinary product (you have to get it from a vet here in the UK) called Frontline. Not sure what you would use in the US...

Mark.

[alichamp]

Oh No, speaking of, our little alpine blotchie Treasure has mites!

A few days ago we noticed that he went really dull/ dark in colour, seemed to lose the colour on his head and a bit cloudy and less definition in patterns on her underside. Of course, we thought he would be shedding soon and assume these are the signs of shed.

A couple of days later tho I noticed just a couple little white spots on him. Thought a bit odd and wondered about mites but was very mild at the time. I didn't notice any lifted scales and could not see any insects. Yesterday there were more white spots appearing and his scales just seemed ... a bit odd - a little more raised or something. Starting to realise not just a shed and today came home to see him this afternoon looking a bit 'sad' and while staring, I managed to catch sight of a little dark-coloured bug crawling around his eye!

I didn't notice any of the behavioural changes until today when I thought he looked a bit sad, but at this stage the other symptoms were also far more obvious.

Started treatment today. Hope it clears up well and doesn't affect any shed he might have been trying to have!!

[Andee]

Olive oil coupled with a mite treatment always seems to help for me. Coating them in a light coat of olive oil makes the mites unable to breathe and it actually gets under the scales. Hopefully your babies do better.