White bugs/mites. Dangerous or not?

[Just1question]

Hello, yesterday evening i encountered something i haven't seen before. My 1 1/2 inch Monocentropus Balfouri has small white bugs (about 10 of them) around his fangs/mouth parts. I read many forums but the answers differ from being extremely dangerous to no threat at all.
Does someone have experience with this "problem"?
Are they dangerous or not, and if they are dangerous what steps should i take to get rid of them?

P.s.
He/She is already 4 weeks in premolt.
The cage has 70% humidity.
I feed the T crickets and clean the leftovers regularly.

Thanks for your time!

 

[KezyGLA]

Mites. In small numbers they are harmless


This species is from arid environment.

Let the enclosure dry out and dont attempt to maintain humidity numbers. This will prevent the mites from thriving.

Just keep a full water dish available at all times.

 

[Dennis Nedry]

Don’t bother with humidity, just keep it dry with a water dish. The mites will probably leave or die on their own

 

[cold blood]

The cage has 70% humidity.

This could very well kill a baboon.

 

[boina]

The cage has 70% humidity.

The bugs (probably mites) are harmless, but that will kill your arid African tarantula pretty soon.

I know there are some ridiculous care sheets out there, but pure logic should tell anyone that a species from an island that has a desert or, at best, savannah climate will not do well in high humidity.

Btw, how do you know it's in premolt? Because it's not eating? Because if it's not eating it could very well already be sick from that kind of humidity...

 

[Chris LXXIX]

The cage has 70% humidity.

Careful with such humidity otherwise you will end with a 'Rusty Cage' (Soundgarden)

 

[Teal]

Do they look like worms/a wriggly mass? Or small white dots/round bugs?

Mites are a cleaner crew. They'll eat leftover food bits from around the mouth of a T. They don't cause harm.

But that level of humidity will.

 

[sasker]

I don't like those mites, no matter how harmless they are in small numbers. I had an outbreak once in my mealworm colony. Luckily they did not spread to my tarantulas.

If there is only a few, you can wait until they are all grouped together on a bolus and remove them.

 

[CEC]

This is not my first rodeo with these mites nor will it be my last. It happens to anyone, pretty much inevitable for any long time keeper with a large collection. I can't tell you how many slings and juvies over the years I have received with mites. Thing is, mites can be too small or in too small of numbers to see, especially on smaller specimens with the naked eye so when I receive them I check using my macro lens.
I received this girl with mites around her eyes but mostly bunched up in their favorite place, the chelicerae...
She is doing well now hitchhiker free (and has her leg back). Rehoused asap after molt before the mites reattached. This method certainly works and is great for young fast growing species cuz of the short time frame between molts. For adult or long term molt cycles, there are alternatives for removal like introducing predatory mites in addition to what has already been mentioned.

 

[boina]

This method certainly works and is great for young fast growing species cuz of the short time frame between molts. For adult or long term molt cycles, there are alternatives for removal like introducing predatory mites in addition to what has already been mentioned.

Right. You can do all kinds of stuff. Or you can just let them be.

Why do people always hate on mites and love springtails? They basically do the same: eat the organic trash.

And whoever voted 'mites are dangerous'? That person is seriously misinformed.

 

[Teal]

Why do people always hate on mites and love springtails?

The same way roaches are gross but isopods (especially if you call them "roly polies") are cute. People have preconceived notiond that originated from likely an exaggeration of a situation.

 

[sasker]

Why do people always hate on mites and love springtails?

I think also because because springtails don't congregate on the tarantula if there are too many. I had a mite outbreak in my assassin bug enclosure (they are messy eaters and I forgot to remove leftovers). They all attached themselves to the legs and bodies of the bugs after I removed the leftovers, causing the assassin bugs discomfort. They would vibrate their wings trying to shake off the mites.

I know mites don't suck blood or anything so they are not really dangerous. But I think they are not as harmless as springtails either. And even if they were completely harmless and they don't bother tarantulas anymore than springtails would, I just think a tarantula covered in mites is unsightly.

 

[NukaMedia Exotics]

Depending on the exact type of mite it might be harmful, though springtails are apparently okay. I've lost a sling due to what I'm pretty sure was mites so yes it is possible they're harmful.

 

[boina]

Depending on the exact type of mite it might be harmful, though springtails are apparently okay. I've lost a sling due to what I'm pretty sure was mites so yes it is possible they're harmful.

No. No to both. You haven't lost a sling to mites. You had a sling die for whatever reason and the mites were there, too - coincidence. Mites cannot feed off living tarantulas or damage them in any way. Parasitic tarantula mites are:

1. incredibly rare
2. only found on WC - ever
3. Don't do much damage either.

As I said: misinformed.

 

[CEC]

Right. You can do all kinds of stuff. Or you can just let them be.

Why do people always hate on mites and love springtails? They basically do the same: eat the organic trash.

And whoever voted 'mites are dangerous'? That person is seriously misinformed.

I only dislike mites because they have quite the potential to turn my macro art into redundant hobby conversation... Ain't nobody got time fo dat ignorant back lash that may inspire.

Ok, they ugly too...
I'd rather not have hitchhikers for aesthetics but they can have their way with the enclosure IDC... but dont be photo bombing my macros! Lol

 

[Teal]

I only dislike mites because they have quite the potential to turn my macro art into redundant hobby conversation... Ain't nobody got time fo dat ignorant back lash that may inspire.

Ok, they ugly too...
I'd rather not have hitchhikers for aesthetics but they can have their way with the enclosure IDC... but dont be photo bombing my macros! Lol

I am the *exact* opposite. I LOVE when I capture parasites, hitchhikers, whathaveyou in photos. It is the best!

 

[CEC]

I am the *exact* opposite. I LOVE when I capture parasites, hitchhikers, whathaveyou in photos. It is the best!

For the masses...
Educationally, Yup... Aesthetically, nope.
IME with likage...

 

[Teal]

Educationally, Yup... Aesthetically, nope.
IME with likage...

Lol! I find them quite aesthetically pleasing!

 

[CEC]

Lol! I find them quite aesthetically pleasing!

I wish more were like you... We wouldn't be having this conversation...

 

[Just1question]

Hey,

Thanks for the tips! After the T has molted (last saturday i havent been able to spot an single mite) the humidity has slowly but surely gone down a lot. The sites i used as caresheet/husbandry gave me the wrong impression of how humid it needed to be. Luckily theres no damage to the T surrounding the humidity.