OMG! Freakin' mites!!!!!!!!!

sunnymarcie

Celestial Spider
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Feb 13, 2003
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I was checking on my little zoo last night, same as always.
When I looked at my Pinktoe's jar there were little white bugs!:mad:

I only saw a few of them on the wall of the jar, should I change
the jar or is it ok to leave it?

I think they may have come with the
crickets, not sure. I use the same substrate materials on all of
my T's and no other enclosure has mites! The Pinktoe's jar is
pretty dry to (and clean!), so I do not understand how she
could have mites:? :mad:
 

jwb121377

Arachnoangel
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I would wash and change the substrate in the encloser just in case. Better to be safe than sorry.
 

deifiler

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Increase the ventilation, that always works when I see them - within a few hours the little bugs are all gone... Also the "pinktoes need high humidity" doesn't seem that important from my experience, although I do keep them in the 75% region

If that doesn't work, set up a mite trap:

1) Get empty film cannister
2) Make several tiny holes on the outside
3) Line the insides with vaseline
4) Put in dead cricket
5) Leave in tank corner, make sure spider can't get into it though.

Within a day the mites will off gone after some tasty cricket carrion, only to find their sticky death

Hope that helps
 

sunnymarcie

Celestial Spider
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Not crickets, mites for sure! I used a piece of tape to get them
and checked them out under a loop. So, I'm off to bake some
substrate and make up a new jar for "Boots"
I never leave the crickets in the jar, usually Boots takes them off
of the tweezers befor I drop them in. I'm still confused about how
they even got on her:confused:
We have had her for almost a month, could they have been on her when she was purchased?
:?
 

MrDeranged

He Who Rules
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Originally posted by deifiler
If that doesn't work, set up a mite trap:

1) Get empty film cannister
2) Make several tiny holes on the outside
3) Line the insides with vaseline
4) Put in dead cricket
5) Leave in tank corner, make sure spider can't get into it though.

Within a day the mites will off gone after some tasty cricket carrion, only to find their sticky death

Hope that helps
Now that is simply amazing. I've never heard of that before in all the time I've been in the hobby. I can very easily see it working though....Thank You...

Scott
 

deifiler

Arachnoprince
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Feb 22, 2003
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Originally posted by mrderanged
Now that is simply amazing. I've never heard of that before in all the time I've been in the hobby. I can very easily see it working though....Thank You...

Scott
No problems, hope it helps :)

I forgot to add that it's a good idea to put the cannister lid back on once you've completed the trap, just to make sure your T won't get curious and put it's leg in there for a 'sniff' around

EDIT sunnymarcie - my pinktoe is called boots aswell :D Also, my versicolor is named 'bootzilla' after the glittery funk bassist, Bootsy Collins
 
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sunnymarcie

Celestial Spider
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Feb 13, 2003
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"Boots" just seemed right, because of it's little pink feet! LOL!

Well, my son and I managed to wrangle the little monster into
a new jar. Boy, was that fun! Once you get him/her out, it is
near impossible to get 'em back in. It took a good half hour to
get him/her calmed down enough to go in the new jar.:D
Playing with this T is always a rush:}
 

Mister Internet

Big Meanie Doo Doo Head :)
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Aug 5, 2002
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Originally posted by sunnymarcie
So, I'm off to bake some
substrate and make up a new jar....
Don't bother with baking the old substrate... just throw it out and put in fresh. You shouldn't have that much substrate in an arboreal's enclosure anyway, correct? (correct me if I'm wrong, T keepers)
 

MizM

Arachnoprincess
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My A. avic's little pink toes NEVER touched the ground... I'm sure substrate is optional with them!! Unless of course, you happen to have the one T that does everything it's NOT supposed to do like the rest of us!!
 

deifiler

Arachnoprince
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Feb 22, 2003
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On the substrate topic - Does anyone remember the discussion a few years back regarding putting only water in the bottom of the tank instead of substrate, to aid in the myths of excessivly high humidity?

I provide a fair bit of humidity - it helps to maintain humidty and serves as good building material IMO
 

Mendnwngs

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Mar 30, 2003
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Arent there beneficial mites? I thought I remember reading that somewhere..

-Jason
 
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