Mites!

[ShaunHolder]

I just noticed there are a few small mites crawling around with my B.Smithi sling! Crap!

I dont have any other sort of substrate to offer the little guy, but im going to put him alone in a plastic deli for now. The only substrate I have has mites in it, what should I do?

If I take some of the soil and place it in the oven and bake it for ten minutes would that kill any mites living inside still? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Pedro]

Do A Search

 

[8 leg wonder]

Baking it should get rid of the mites, once you set up the enclosure release some sowbugs into it, the do a great job cleaning up after your T and effectively keeping mites to a minimum

 

[ShaunHolder]

Do A Search

I did a serach before I posted. Im asking for advice and I have a specific question.


Baking should work then? Excellent. I think My smithi is fine, he's my favorite lil sling, I just want to make sure he stays alive. I never heard of using sowbugs to kill mites. Would it stress out/potentially harm the 1/4'' sling?

 

[Scorpiove]

No the sling wouldn't get stressed from the sow bugs..... probably eat them instead lol.

 

[Socrates]

Putting the substrate in the microwave for 2 minutes will work too, and it's much faster than baking it. (I myself had to resort to this method over the weekend since I had a sudden outbreak of baby crickets. )

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Wendy
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[8 leg wonder]

The sow bugs don't kill the mites, they just eat ckricket remains and feces so that the mite will starve

 

[Pedro]

if u want to get somthing that will actively eat mites u have to buy Hypoaspis

i think the microwave works the best for nuking soil.

 

[Immortal_sin]

I've never baked or nuked soil. I'd just buy some new stuff...
Keep it drier than you have, and meantime, put the spider in a dry container. Being dry for a couple days won't hurt it.

 

[spidergoddess]

I'm keeping my slings in those GLAD (or similar brand) microwavable disposable containers. I hate the mites so much, will be able to zap the entire spidey house if any of the little buggers appear. Also, with containers that are sandwich size or a bit larger, I can keep half the substrate damp and the other half drier, which I believe is better for the slings anyway. (And every sling living in one has been able to find its food, whether dead chopped crickets or live pinheads. I kinda like the idea of my slings getting to develop their hunting skills rather than just having food dropped on top of them in vials.) I use the smallest Dremel drill I've been able to find and drill tons of holes in the top and top part of sides, and the slings have always done well.

Only thing I do wonder about is the killing of potentially beneficial minute things living in the substrate. Perhaps if a bit of fresh soil/peat were added after microwaving?

 

[Scorpiove]

Putting the substrate in the microwave for 2 minutes will work too, and it's much faster than baking it. (I myself had to resort to this method over the weekend since I had a sudden outbreak of baby crickets. )

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Wendy
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Lol! I have the same problem, I had like 30 in my Rose Hair tank. I don't even mist! the water sometimes spills out of the dish and that is where they get their moisture. And people claim its hard to breed them. Here we go breeding them not even on purpose lol.

 

[David Burns]

Crix are easy to breed. Alot easier than Ts. I breed all my own crix, that way I always have the sizes I need for my slings.

 

[Palespider]

I wouldn't go through the hassle of nuking or baking the substrate. It's been suggested that you're killing a lot of helpful organisms that help prevent mold and other nasties.

If mites have the right conditions to survive they will just come back. Eliminate the food source and you should be fine. I wouldn't let it dry out too much since she's a sling.

Jim B.

 

[woijchik89]

What are sow bugs?

 

[Bark]

What are sow bugs?

These thingies

I have heard them called pill bugs, rolli-pollies, and woodlice(woodlouse).
But there are different species here. One is a millipede, the other a crustacean. I don't know which one acts as a good cage cleaner.

 

[karen_in_aspen]

Sow's aren't the solution

just my 2 cents here....
sows burrow and can cause later probs... especially should your T begin to moult!! I'm with Socrates and those who suggest heating your substrate.
good luck! kk

 

[Pheonixx]

umm when you nuke the soil, if you do. make sure mr. smithi is not in the container LOL.

As for baking i use regular tree branches in my enclosures, i bake them at 400 degrees for like 10 mins. Keep an eye on things you dont need a fire on your hands.

 

[Professor T]

I just noticed there are a few small mites crawling around with my B.Smithi sling! Crap!

I dont have any other sort of substrate to offer the little guy, but im going to put him alone in a plastic deli for now. The only substrate I have has mites in it, what should I do?

If I take some of the soil and place it in the oven and bake it for ten minutes would that kill any mites living inside still? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

Be careful. Mites can survive high temperatures, and might survive the microwave. If you heat the soil at 250 F for 20 minutes it should be sterile. Not sure how long soil in the microwave sould take to become sterile.

Personally, I'd throw away the contaminated soil and start over with new mite free bedding. If you error on the dry side in your enclosures that should take care of the mite problem.

 

[ShaunHolder]

Thanks for all of your advice guys. I nuked the soil and still saw a single mite when i re introduced him. Damn crazy mites. I'm extra carefull and remove any fecies and dead crickets as soon as I notice them, and I dont see any mites now.

I might be acting paranoid but I keep pulling his container to the kitchen to get a good look. Still havent seen any mites, but I just want to be carefull.

Phoenix, don't worry, I didnt bake my Smithi.

 

[jesses]

if u want to get somthing that will actively eat mites u have to buy Hypoaspis

Seems like a waste of time and money for a few mites in a sling vial. Let the vial dry out and then poke a lot more holes in it so the moisture doesn't build up and attract more mites in the future