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Post by Thunder380Lady on Jun 22, 2004 9:29:53 GMT -8
Hello everyone.
I have been having some major computer problems lately and haven't been able to get on Iguana Zone.
But I was finally able to get back.
Now I have a question.
Lenore still has mites and I am trying desparately to get rid of them, with no success. Can anyone please tell me how to totally get rid of them?
The people at the pet shop said to put olive oil all over Lenore to smother the mites so they will kill them even under her scales. Is this a good idea? I really need some advice. Any advise will be GREATLY appreciated.
Karen
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Post by dominick on Jun 22, 2004 9:37:09 GMT -8
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Post by Merlin on Jun 22, 2004 15:48:42 GMT -8
Mites YUCK!  The oil may kill the mites on the Ig but the cage will still be full of them, not to mention the eggs. The most effective thing I know of on the market is Reptile Relief by De Flea. It's safe enough that you can even spray it on the animal. |
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Post by IguanaKing on Jun 29, 2004 15:24:39 GMT -8
Arrgghh, mites!!!  To start with, I would recommend removing and disposing of every organic object in the habitat (except your ig of course  ) Plants and wooden objects are known to make good homes(egg-laying sites)for mites, they leave their home only to feed on the skin of your ig. So, first you need to get rid of any place you can that mites can use as their home. Then, once you get them all off of your ig, put your ig into some type of disposable, temporary enclosure (probably a large cardboard box would work well for this). Now its time to go hunting...EVERY SINGLE mite must be killed. Mites, and other arachnids of this type, are basically born pregnant with 10's of thousands of offspring, so, leaving one alive can turn into a huge problem again within just a few weeks. The most effective hunting method I have found is also very time consuming, I used a pair of tweezers and a coffee can full of bleach. I picked up each mite with the tweezers and dropped them into the bleach until there were no mites left. Next, closely and carefully, inspect your ig again and make sure there are no mites on her. The olive oil or other stuff that Merlin recommended should probably also be used on her and her habitat before she goes back in. Once you are reasonably sure that there are no mites on the ig or in the habitat, you can put your ig back in with new cage furnishings. Removing the items I mentioned in the beginning should take care of most, if not all, of the egg problem because they generally don't lay eggs on their host (but of course there are always exceptions). While your ig is outside the enclosure, make sure she doesn't get out of her temporary housing or she could spread mites to other parts of your house. When you're all done, dispose of the box you had her in and everything should be back to normal. Pretty simple, right? Good luck, they're definitely no fun. Sean |
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Post by Thunder380Lady on Jul 7, 2004 17:25:22 GMT -8
I have been keeping Lenore in a very large glass aquarium since I got her, so I am hoping that since her home is made of glass it will be real easy to kill any and all mites in there.I have another 55 gallon aquarium which I am going to transfer her to while I clean and disinfect the other one. But before I put her in it I am going to bathe her in warm water for about 10 minutes and then add some betadine to the water and soak her for another 20 minutes. Then I will put her into the clean aquarium. Meanwhile I will take her other aquarium outside and fill it with extremly hot water and add clorox to the water and let it sit for 24 hours. Then I am going to rinse it very well, empty it and rinse it again. Then put her back in the warm bathe and betadine, and transfer her again and clean the other aquarium the same way I did the first one. I am going to repeat this process for 1 week. This should totally eliminate any and all mites.
What do you all think about this course of action?
I will appreciate any replies to this. Thank You!
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Post by Tesa on Jul 7, 2004 18:32:09 GMT -8
Hi Karen. It sounds to me like it should be effective, but I haven't had any personal experience with mites, so I can't really offer any honest input. All I can do is wish you luck.  |
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Post by Tesa on Jul 7, 2004 18:36:50 GMT -8
I just checked the link Dom gave you. It says you should fumigate the tank, but doesn't say what to use!  I haven't a CLUE! I'll email some people and see if I can get you any further info. |
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Post by Merlin on Jul 8, 2004 2:42:58 GMT -8
Be careful! If the water is too hot it will crack the glass. Wiping the tank down with a 1/10 solution of bleach and water should do it no need to soak for 24 hours.
Seriously pick up the Reptile releif. I know of a number of people who have had very good results with it. Including a friend that has a collection of over 100 snakes! There is nothing better on the market and you can spray cage and all with it.
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Post by Tesa on Jul 8, 2004 5:22:26 GMT -8
I knew you'd have an answer Merlin.  Karen, another friend just gave me this link also. You might wanna take a peek at it. www.igniche.com/mites.htm |
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Jay
Full Member
Learn something new everyday.
Posts: 30
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Post by Jay on Jul 8, 2004 7:18:59 GMT -8
I second Merlin's advice, I have used Repti-relief on lizards and snakes and it does a good job. Everytime the tort's go outside for a walk they get sprayed on the way back to their enclosures.
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Post by Thunder380Lady on Jul 10, 2004 14:09:43 GMT -8
Thanks everyone for all the advice for mite treatment. I called vets and pet shops where I live and I got all types of advice. But none that I was liked alot. One pet shop said I could buy NIX that is used to treat humans for head lice. But I was afraid to use that. Then I went to a vet and she suggested either using a dog flea spray or shampoo, which I was totally against because I know they are too strong and would probably make Lenore sick or maybe even dead.  Then she also said she could give Lenore an injection to kill the mites. That was a big question mark in my mind. I never heard of an animal getting an injection to kill mites. So I scrapped that idea. I was trying desparatly to find the Reptile Relief but no place around here sold it. Well I got online and looked up some pet shops and finally found one in PA that had the Reptile Relief! ;D So I am going to start treatment on Lenore with it tomarrow. I read the bottle and it sounds safe enough. Thanks Merlin for suggesting it!  I will let you all know how things turn out. I do have another question. About the injection the vet suggested to kill mites? Has anyone heard of this before? She didn't say what medication would be injected. It just didn't sound right to me. Thanks again. Karen |
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Post by Merlin on Jul 10, 2004 17:45:26 GMT -8
An injection to kill mites? Never heard of it. I would be wary!
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Post by prism_wolf on Jul 10, 2004 18:32:43 GMT -8
From injection info. is off MK's site (this is from the link you were already given on mites):
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Post by Merlin on Jul 11, 2004 6:22:35 GMT -8
With all due respect to Ms Kaplin I would be hesitant to wipe a tank down with this stuff. Since igs lick EVERYTHING, the chance of them ingesting it is just too great a risk in my opinion.
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Post by prism_wolf on Jul 11, 2004 6:35:20 GMT -8
I was just putting out the info on injecting since you had not heard of it, Merlin...and others may have been curious, too. Seeing as MK has had the experience to back up her research, I would have to say it is safe to use...as long as you allow the stuff to dry completely before putting the ig back in the cage. I have been VERY lucky not to have had to deal with mites myself so my experience is 0. I just have to trust what others have used and what I read. After all...reading is the bigger part of learning...experience just adds to it... . |
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) Plants and wooden objects are known to make good homes(egg-laying sites)for mites, they leave their home only to feed on the skin of your ig. So, first you need to get rid of any place you can that mites can use as their home. Then, once you get them all off of your ig, put your ig into some type of disposable, temporary enclosure (probably a large cardboard box would work well for this). Now its time to go hunting...EVERY SINGLE mite must be killed. Mites, and other arachnids of this type, are basically born pregnant with 10's of thousands of offspring, so, leaving one alive can turn into a huge problem again within just a few weeks. The most effective hunting method I have found is also very time consuming, I used a pair of tweezers and a coffee can full of bleach. I picked up each mite with the tweezers and dropped them into the bleach until there were no mites left. Next, closely and carefully, inspect your ig again and make sure there are no mites on her. The olive oil or other stuff that Merlin recommended should probably also be used on her and her habitat before she goes back in. Once you are reasonably sure that there are no mites on the ig or in the habitat, you can put your ig back in with new cage furnishings. Removing the items I mentioned in the beginning should take care of most, if not all, of the egg problem because they generally don't lay eggs on their host (but of course there are always exceptions). While your ig is outside the enclosure, make sure she doesn't get out of her temporary housing or she could spread mites to other parts of your house. When you're all done, dispose of the box you had her in and everything should be back to normal.
I haven't a CLUE!
Then she also said she could give Lenore an injection to kill the mites. 
I will let you all know how things turn out. 
