Lifespan of mites-

[bonesmama]

Well, it finally happened- I've got a mite infestation in my A. avic's enclosure! This being the first time I've had to deal with this, I was wondering what the "typical lifespan" of a mite may be? I've quarantined the T, and all the other T's in my collection are kept bone dry, so I'm hoping it will go no further- although I'm in NJ and it's been really hot and humid here lately.. I put a mite trap in, but the thing is- this is a mature male who was all set to be sent out on Monday to be bred- now that's not happening, since I don't want it on my concieince if I were to pass the infestation on! I'm going to change the substrate asap- but how long will it be before I can condiser it "safe" to either put it back in my T room, or send it out to be bred?

 

[Spaceman_Spiff]

Don't panic!

Hi,

When you have mites in your enclosure, it is not necessarily a threat to your Avic.
Most are harmless, they feed on the leftover fooditems on the ground, the fungi in the soil, other small soil inhabitants or whatever!
I bet you had mites in there before, you just didn't notice them,
in humid enclosures it is just a matter of time before they get in.

As long as they're not on your Avic, it's save to send him away to pass on his genes!
When your T has parasites (most accumulate at the leg joints or at the chelicera), put it on bonedry substrate with a waterbowl for some weeks, maybe try to brush them of, they will dissappear!

hope this helps