Mites on My Tarantula's Chelicerae

[ThorsWebb]

The chelicerae teeth of my adult Pterinochilus murinus. She is missing one eye. Don't know why.

 

[ThatsUnpossible]

What are those little white blobs on her face?

Edit: not her eyes, below them.

 

[ThorsWebb]

That would be the chelicerae teeth.

 

[basin79]

That's quite a lot of mites she's got.

What are those little white blobs on her face?

Edit: not her eyes, below them.

They're mites.

 

[ThorsWebb]

They're mites.

Really? What to do now?

 

[basin79]

Really? What to do now?

I don't think there's much you can do apart from when she moults getting the old skin out if possible. The majority of the mites will still be on it.

 

[ThorsWebb]

I don't think there's much you can do apart from when she moults getting the old skin out if possible. The majority of the mites will still be on it.

Thank you for your answer.
How did this happen? What can I do to prevent this? I really don't understand what I have been doing wrong to cause this. Is it hurting her?

 

[basin79]

Thank you for your answer.
How did this happen? What can I do to prevent this? I really don't understand what I have been doing wrong to cause this. Is it hurting her?

I've bought tarantulas that arrived with mites. Unless there really is a lot of them they're fine although do look unsightly. Keeping on top of enclosure maintenance is the best thing you can do but mites can seemingly appear out of thin air.

My Harpactira pulchripes cane with mites as you can see.

 

[ThorsWebb]

I've bought tarantulas that arrived with mites. Unless there really is a lot of them they're fine although do look unsightly. Keeping on top of enclosure maintenance is the best thing you can do but mites can seemingly appear out of thin air.

My Harpactira pulchripes cane with mites as you can see.

View attachment 318304

I do keep the maintenance very good.
It really is a lot of them. I simply don't know if I'm doing something wrong.
I bought her from Spidersworld.
Is there a way to get rid of those?

 

[basin79]

I do keep the maintenance very good.
It really is a lot of them. I simply don't know if I'm doing something wrong.
I bought her from Spidersworld.
Is there a way to get rid of those?

There's quite a few mites but it's not loads. There's nothing to worry about. Pretty much everyone will have had a tarantula with mites at some point. Just carry on as normal and when she moults see if you can get the skin out. Even if you can't with her enclosure being dry unless they find her pretty quick they'll dry up and die.

Nowt to worry about apart from the little buggers ruin photos.

 

[dangerforceidle]

The spider will be fine, the mites pose no risk to its health.

An OBT enclosure should be kept rather dry, so they are hanging out where there is the most amount of moisture. You could try to bait them away by placing a piece of vegetable or fruit in the enclosure. They'll be attracted to the moisture and food source, and may leave the spider.

 

[Vanessa]

You can place a pop/water bottle lid in one corner with a bit of flour and a bit of dead prey in it and try to lure them away. Soil mites will be attracted to the prey and grain mites will be attracted to the flour. Empty it out every day and start again.
The fruit idea is really good too.

 

[ThorsWebb]

There's quite a few mites but it's not loads. There's nothing to worry about. Pretty much everyone will have had a tarantula with mites at some point. Just carry on as normal and when she moults see if you can get the skin out. Even if you can't with her enclosure being dry unless they find her pretty quick they'll dry up and die.

Nowt to worry about apart from the little buggers ruin photos.

I just wanted to say thank you.

 

[basin79]

I just wanted to say thank you.

No problem. This forum is absolutely brilliant. I've had many a question answered by members.

 

[ThorsWebb]

You can place a pop/water bottle lid in one corner with a bit of flour and a bit of dead prey in it and try to lure them away. Soil mites will be attracted to the prey and grain mites will be attracted to the flour. Empty it out every day and start again.
The fruit idea is really good too.

I will try this. I do keep them very dry. Thanks for the answer. I really got worried. I will empty it out every day for the next next week. I post a picture then.

 

[basin79]

I will try this. I do keep them very dry. Thanks for the answer. I really got worried. I will empty it out every day for the next next week. I post a picture then.

If you mean the tarantulas enclosure don't. You'll only stress you lass and the mites will still be on her.

Just try the above suggestions and remove them every day.

 

[ThorsWebb]

I listening.
This will forever be my most embarrassing post. The only good thing about that is that now it's done and it's behind me.

 

[dangerforceidle]

This will forever be my most embarrassing post. The only good thing about that is that now it's done and it's behind me.

I've taken screenshots and turned them into a printed wallpaper. What's your address so I can send the rolls of it to you.

y o u m a y n e v e r f o r g e t

 

[Ungoliant]

Really? What to do now?

See All you need to know about mites (by boina, a microbiologist).

 

[laservet]

The chelicerae teeth of my adult Pterinochilus murinus. She is missing one eye. Don't know why. View attachment 318301

Nice photo!