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| Ticks
and Mites |
What
External (Skin) Parasites Commonly Affect Reptiles?
Ticks and mites are the most common
external parasites found on reptiles, and can infest lizards,
snakes, and chelonians (turtles and tortoises). There are
7 genera of ticks and over 250 species of mites that affect
reptiles, including chiggers. "Acariasis" is the
medical term for an infestation with mites or ticks.
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| How to Detect |
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| Ticks: |
Mites: |
| Ticks can be brown, black,
or gray in color |
Mites can be seen moving over
the herp's body. |
| Ticks are most commonly found
between scales, in the nostrils, near the vent, below
the neck, or where limbs join the body. |
Mites are commonly found around
the eyes, between the scales, in folds of skin, around
ear openings, and where the limbs join the body. |
| Ticks rarely move around. (If
you see something moving on your herp, it's more likely
to be a mite.) |
Mites are very small and can
be black, gray, orange, or red in color. |
| Adult ticks are generally large
enough to see with the naked eye. |
Mites can multiply to large
numbers before being detected in the terrarium. |
| Immature ticks can be difficult
to detect. |
In a heavily infested terrarium,
mites can be seen running over surfaces. |
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Mite infestations may cause
the animal to have a dull appearance. |
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Quarantine:
Always quarantine your new herp for
the first month. A small terrarium like the Faunarium, will
work well as a temporary home for your new pet. While your new
herp is under quarantine, you can look for signs of a parasite
infestation.
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Handle
Use precautions as you handle your new
herp. You can inadvertently transmit mites or ticks from the
new animal to your other reptiles by carrying the parasites
on your clothing or hands. You may want to use Pet Handling
Gloves. Always feed and handle the new reptile last, and clean
that cage last, as well. Wash hands and utensils well afterward.
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Remove
Use tweezers to remove any ticks that
you might find. To kill the ticks, place them in a jar of alcohol.
Do not flush ticks down your toilet, as they have been known
to crawl back out. Mites
can be more difficult to remove. Placing your reptile in a
water bath for about 30 minutes a day will drown mites on
the reptile’s body but not on his head. You can also
use Jurassi-Mite, a nontoxic spray that helps control ticks
and mites.
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| Clean
and Disinfect
Before placing the herp back in the
cage after the parasites have been removed, clean and disinfect
the cage to remove any mite or tick eggs. Relocate your reptile
to a safe place in another room. Wipe down the cage, decorations,
and accessories with a wet cloth or pre-moistened Jurassi-Wipes.
Use a bleach solution (1 part bleach to 16 parts water) to
disinfect the cage, decorations, and accessories. Rinse completely
with clean water and dry thoroughly before returning the herp
to his home.
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Products
we carry are:
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Reptile Handling Gloves
Long, starched cotton forearm helps
prevent scratches caused by pet nails. |
Black Knight II spray
All-natural mite, flea, and tick control
for your reptile. |
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2008 Reptile ShowCase, All rights reserved
Web design by RFWinterkorn |
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