mites?

[arachnofein909]

I was checking on my T's and noticed some white specks in two of my T's water dishes i used a magnifying glass and could barley make out movement but the resemble ticks my question is whats the best way to get rid of mites any imput would help.

 

[KyuZo]

try drying out the tank and removing leftovers.
also adding isopods to the tank will help.
you can't really get rid of them, but you can lower their number.
if you only have a few, then it's normal, but if you have an outbreak, then that's bad.
try doing a search on mites. i am pretty sure that this topic have been discussed numerous times before.

 

[ArachnoDude]

if you see it overflowing with mites you should change the substrate. i think theres some mites that can get into your t and cause internal damadge, you might want to check your other tanks if you have any for the mites. or they might be from dead crickets? i remember i had left a dead cricket in my pink toes tank and it was on and it was in the water dish... then i saw some squirmy things in the tank and i was like holy crap and changed everything.

 

[AbraxasComplex]

4 biological solutions:

1. (I do not recomend this one) Use a dab of olive or mineral oil placing it on the glass, and sometimes on the arachnid itself. Oil will trap and kill mites. Not suggested since it can get in the book lungs of the T and cause damage.

2. Dry out the tank. Mites need moisture to survive. Drying out will kill some of the mites, but not all. It may also cause the book lungs of tropical Ts to dry out and have respitory problems.

3. Isopods. Sow bugs, pill bugs, wood lice, etc. etc. Whatever they call them in your area, there are usually many species about in a pesticide free, moist area, and they are also available through biological suppliers like Wards. They consume leftover decaying crickets, husks, and plant material, leaving little to no food for mites.

4. Predatory mites. Work wonders. Predatory mites consume several things, from plant material to the pesky little white mites that infest your tank. Can be purchased from biological pest control companies, and can be accidently introduced from live plants (like my tanks).


I use a combination of 3 and 4. I never see the little white mites in any of my rainforest cages. I recently got in 2 red claw emperor scorpions. They were covered with white mites. I introduced them to a small quarrentine tank containing predatory mites. By the next day no mites remained. The only mites I saw were the hungry predatory mites scurrying all over the cage looking for me pests to eat.

 

[arachnofein909]

does anyone know of any dealers selling predatory mites and can you provide links thanks in advance.