M. balfouri mites

[babykaiju]

Hi! This is my first time ever dealing with an issue like this, so I'd appreciate any and all insight.

I took a photo of my M. balfouri today and noticed what I think/assume are mites - tiny white dots around the chelicerae. Upon further inspection, I didn't find any on any other parts like joints, and none of the rest of my collection are affected. This is the only tarantula of the 15 I currently have that came from a local reptile store and didn't get an immediate rehouse.

From a cursory Google/Reddit dive, it seems like the best course of action is to try to lure the mites away with another food source, change substrate/enclosure, and hope it molts soon. Is there anything I'm missing?

Thanks for your input!

 

[A guy]

Since it's an M.balfouri , it's naturally dry environments in its enclosure should already be enough to eradicate mites.

 

[Andrew Clayton]

Hi! This is my first time ever dealing with an issue like this, so I'd appreciate any and all insight.

I took a photo of my M. balfouri today and noticed what I think/assume are mites - tiny white dots around the chelicerae. Upon further inspection, I didn't find any on any other parts like joints, and none of the rest of my collection are affected. This is the only tarantula of the 15 I currently have that came from a local reptile store and didn't get an immediate rehouse.

From a cursory Google/Reddit dive, it seems like the best course of action is to try to lure the mites away with another food source, change substrate/enclosure, and hope it molts soon. Is there anything I'm missing?

Thanks for your input!

Let the enclosure completely dry out. I have a communal and it has a couple of water dishes that get topped up that's it, so really not much for mites to survive in.

 

[jennywallace]

I've only ever had to deal with mites once fortunately, but did it by changing the water bowl twice a day as the mites get attracted to the water bowl in a dry enclosure. As others have said, this is a dry substrate species so should work.

 

[viper69]

Those are not grain mites. Those are parasitic mites.

Good luck, any chemical that kills mites usually kills Ts.

 

[Brewser]

I revile parasites with contempt and truly abhor them especially when attacking / attaching in large numbers.
Hopefully You will gain the knowledge needed to eradicate them soon.
Good Luck & Best Wishes,
Vile Creatures.

 

[TheraMygale]

You will need to quarantine this tarantula in case those are the bad kind of mites.

you could always try to catch cup it in the smallest container you can. Using a coton swab with some alcohol, and dabbing it on some of the mites to see if they will dislodge them. There are some threads here and there on the board.

maybe find predatory mites. Sometimes
they have these in specialized garden stores and online.

if i find something really relevant, i will include it here.

ps://www.theraphosidresearchteam


the pictures are useful to compare with your mites.

how long have you had it? I would return that tarantula. If they are the bad mites.


if you put a piece of mushroom near tarantula, and mites come off and go to it, then its grain mites. A dry enclosure should help too.