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Post by tim3ringo on Dec 8, 2008 7:33:18 GMT -8
My name is tim and i'm new at the iguana thing. i've read countless sites and got all my information together as well as been reading this site for a while. I got a baby iguana from the pet store four days ago all though they could not give me his age. He is about a foot long including tail. he is doing pretty well getting used to his cage. i talk to him but avoid touching him or putting my hands in for him to get used to me before i start all that.... just trying to gain trust. But this morning i noticed a few maybe four little red mites on him. i have to get rid of them and i would like to know the best way i can... without upsetting him too much since we are new together. i want him to be healthy though so am prepared to do whatever i need. please respond so i can start treatment asap
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Post by Jen on Dec 8, 2008 8:26:49 GMT -8
Your best bet is to make a vet appointment, and go from there. Other methods have been used but I am not famailiar enough with them to give you the info. And welcome to IZ! I hope you enjoy it here.
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Post by tim3ringo on Dec 8, 2008 8:32:55 GMT -8
thanks. will look into a vet soon. was hoping to give him some immediate relief before i can find a vet. he is now pooping solid which he was not doing for the first two days. so he is getting healthier than when i first got him... just wanna get rid of those bugs. i only saw them after he shuffled around in his cage running from me cleaning his stuff and getting his bowls. now that he is calm agian i can't see the bugs on him anymore
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Post by Jen on Dec 8, 2008 8:42:51 GMT -8
That doesnt mean the mites arent there. You may be able to give him some mild relief by a nice warm soak in the tub.
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Post by tim3ringo on Dec 8, 2008 8:55:13 GMT -8
o they are most definitely there. i was just stating that becuase it seems that it is not a heavy infestation since they are not swarming around his body.... i was hoping to say i caught them soon and can get rid of them.
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Post by Jen on Dec 8, 2008 8:56:58 GMT -8
Ok so far this is what I found out, you can use Jurassic Park mite remedy Ive never used it but it was recomended, and its works.
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Post by crazybaby on Dec 8, 2008 11:36:39 GMT -8
Do not wait to get a vet appointment. Get one ASAP. it will not be long before the mights crawl all the way out of the enclosure and into the surrounding area which will make it nearly impossible to get rid of and you will always have them coming back. Gut the enclosure completely (wood, greenery, everything) Stick alllllll item in hot bleach/water and soak. Take iggy out and place in a betadine bath (betadine in water, make it look a little darker than weak tea) and soak for 20-30mins. Try to get the head and eye area a bit (not in the eyes). Betadine is available a most (if not all) pharmacies...likely behind the counter. While iggy is soaking, you can uses a diluted Nix solution. I'm not sure of the dilution quantities but I think it's a capful for every litre of water. Spray the interior of the enlosure (I assume it's a tank) all the way into the corners and the lip of the lid area and even the outside (the mites crawl and they can go far in a matter of hours). If you can spray the surface area or any shelving the tank was sitting on as well...just in case. Once this is done, DO NOT RINSE let it soak for a bit then wipe with paper towel but DO NOT rinse with water first. Once the bowls are done soaking in the bleach use REALLY hot water to rinse and then air dry overnight. While you're waiting for them to dry, use a different bowl for food but do not give water. Line the bottom of the enclosure with paper towel and change as your ig defecates. Take iggy out of the bath then spray him with the same solution of Nix. Do not give water over night, in the morning give him his water bowl. Repeat in 1 week or sooner if mites reapear. We have used this MANY times for our reptiles at the store and we have never seen anything re-appear. Prevent a mite works very well we give the doors and the lids a spray down as a pre-emptive strike should a mite want to cross that border. Defintely seek a vet to verify for possible other issues (internal parasites etc). If I were you, I would spray any sufrace with the Nix that was close to the enclosure (even if it's as far away as 1 foot), just to be on the safe side. And if you have other reptiles spray them as well...you will be saving yourself a lot of time and frustration. All the best in your battle. There's a lot of mite stuff out there but I've never seen anything work so well as the diluted Nix and it doesn't smell bad so it's not like there are toxic chemicals to breath in.
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Post by tim3ringo on Dec 8, 2008 21:18:47 GMT -8
thanks very much. i will do that i only have the one tank so i'll have to figure out what to keep him in overnight while his other tank airs out. i also bought something called natural chemistry to get rid of mites which another senior member on this site had recommended in another post i read as something that works. wouldn't have known about treating the outer area though. i'll definitely do that... i also plan on just tossing the carpet he sits on.
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Post by tim3ringo on Dec 9, 2008 6:57:04 GMT -8
ok. just finished treating ring. my iguana for the mites he had. i used the natural chemistry mite stuff this time. when i soaked his stuff thats in the tank with him i only saw two mites floating on the top after a half hour of soaking. i gave a thorough rinse and they are now airing out. i soaked him in a warm bath for twenty minutes but did not see any mites in the water. i then treated him with the mite spray.... the nix mix. and i also treated his tank with it and the dresser the tank resides on. o and his first vet appointment is next tuesday.... man is it expensive just for a visit.... good thing i make decent money. so i'll watch him very closely to see if any criders come back.... he also appears much greener now
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Post by prism_wolf on Dec 9, 2008 8:00:27 GMT -8
Sounds like you're off to a good start and able to get the treatment of the mites done so soon on your own. As CB stated - Keep him on paper towels for the time. It's easier to see the mites if some of the little scally-wags managed to make it.
Welcome to the forum.
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Post by tim3ringo on Dec 9, 2008 8:07:08 GMT -8
i'm doing my best to make sure he is healthy. when can i put his water bowl back in and maybe give him some greens. i think he also misses his perch... can i put that back in?
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Post by tim3ringo on Dec 9, 2008 8:12:12 GMT -8
another quick question. i have a twenty gallon tank i'm keeping him in for now. i plan on building the big 6' by 6' by 4' cage after christmas while i'm on break. i have two digital thermometers in his tank now. his perch area reads a pretty consistent 96 degrees and on the opposite side of the tank down low it reads a fairly consistent 79 degrees and higher from time to time depending on when the heat in my house kicks on. this is an acceptable variance in temperature right?
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Post by prism_wolf on Dec 9, 2008 8:49:54 GMT -8
You can place his accessories back in...:-) And certainly feed the little beast...:-D
I'm not sure how you're getting temps so close to where they need to be in such a small tank. The minimum is a 50 gal to get the right heat gradients. This was tested by a rehabber several years ago. You are pretty lucky. As far as the larger enclosure you're getting ready to build...by all means make it full size, but what you might want to do it to partition part of it off until he gets to be a year old or more. This is for a couple of reasons.
1) A cage that big makes catching ig more difficult. The more you have to chase the more stress and fear effects the socialization process.
2) That much room IS stressful for babies. The smaller the space when they're small the safer they feel.
Once it is big enough then simply remove the partition and his scent will still be present making the transition to more space much easier...:-)
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Post by tim3ringo on Dec 9, 2008 10:00:09 GMT -8
i think it is working because my room gets so cold. so the right temps are only right right below the lights and the rest leaks out slow enough to keep the right temp. just luck i guess. i found it odd too especially when i read about the 55 gal tank which i didn't know prior even though i knew about the temps. just my freezing room working out with two 50 watt bulbs. will do for portioning out the cage. he is pretty freaked out after me handling him today. runs around as soon as i get near the cage. few steps back after having to handle him so soon. hopefully he will forgive me when he feels better... and it won't take to long to trust me. you guys are awesome and have helped me so much!
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Post by tim3ringo on Dec 9, 2008 14:00:16 GMT -8
is there a tip in getting him to warm up to me any faster. obviously he isn't ready to be handled but just cooler when i'm around... any kind of tricky incentive? just wondering.
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