Mites on my Rose Hair

[Rainfrog]

Hello, It apears I ahve mites on my Rose Hair! He has an odd mottled look to his rump that I thought was a balding spot but looks like mites. I saw a piece of dead cricket and when I went to take it out I noticed it seemed to be moving. I pulled it out and moved the substrate and saw tiny little white bugs! I know how to remove them from the tank but how can I get them of my pet? he is not friendly (bites) and handling him would be so stressfull for him. please help!

[Pavel]

He bites? Really?! How odd! Mine has never bitten me.

You might [if you haven't done so already] also post at kingsnake.com -- & if anyone there has a solution please post it back here too!

I don't see how you can avoid stressing him.

First is to get him out of that tank so you can clean it properly. You might try brushing the bugs off him with a soft brush -- & no he is NOT going to like it. The "shake & bake" method I recommended to tindo for a millipede he knew of with a mite problem [check the millipede thread] might work BUT I truly think that a taran is far too fragile for such a rough treatment.

[Scott C.]

I doubt it's mites on your t's abdomen. More likely it is built up urticating hairs, especially if you have a rosie with an attitude problem. If you can get a decent pic of it, I may be able to tell you for sure........ Don't shake and bake. In addition to the mentioned problem, you can damage/block the book lungs, and injure/kill your t...... Clean the cage. Keep it dry. Remove the next molted skin immediately. That should cover your mite problem. Good luck,
Scott

[Rainfrog]

His last shed was over a year ago. I tend to keep his tank on the dry side anyways and only Dampen it ocaisonaly I dont want to dry him out to bad. I just completly cleaned the cage a short time ago (had a super worm infestation). Is it possible they are baby crickets? I have had that hapen before but I never noticed them so small.

[Scott C.]

Having mites on cricket remains is totally reasonable. Crickets almost always come with mites. If your set up is dry, and you keep the remains cleaned up you should be fine though. The mites, for the most part, will leave with who they rode in on...... The place mites usually stay on t's is in the crevice between the carapace(plate with the eyes on it), and the chelicerae(where the fangs attach to). If your t has mites there will most likely be a gathering of white bumps in there. Shine a flashlight on your t, or take a pic with flash, from the front and they will be apparent....... If your tank is dry enough, and you don't leave prey remains in for very long you should have no problems though with mites on your t....... I will see if I have any pics of what a t with mites looks like for you........

[Scott C.]

Here you go:



This t is also a desert sp.. You can see the white bumps built up. They are mites, and they hang there because that is the only place in the cage where they were able to get some moisture to complete their life cycle. The moisture came from the ball of crickets that was collected there once a week. The mites most likely came from that too. I still have this T, and she is now mite free. I just removed the molt immediately from the cage with most of the mites still on it, and rehoused her when she hardened up a bit........ If you don't see something like this on your rosie, she probably doesn't have mites. There are some sp. of mites that act as parasites on the t, but they are rare, and usually come in on wild caught t's. It sounds like you have had this t for a while so I think you are probably alright there. If you can get a pic of the abdomen I may be able to help you with that. I tried to find a pic of what I think you're seeing there, but I don't have one........... If your rosie cage is as dry as it should be you should never have crickets breeding in there. The Grammastola rosea comes from the northern, slightly more hospitable, reaches of the atacama desert in chile. They don't need a moist environment. Most hydration will come from their food. If you want you can keep a full water dish in the cage so she can drink when she wants. You can also not have a water dish, and just offer one overnight every now, and then, or mist the side of the cage lightly once or twice a week to somewhat reproduce dew that they may, or may not, drink in the wild. The substrate should be dry though at nearly all times, and never really needs to be damp.......... Hope some of this helps you a bit. Cheers,
Scott

[Rainfrog]

Thanks a ton Scott. That realy helps. I will take acloser look but I dont think he has mites after all. I do keep a small water dish in there at all times. He seems to drink alot so I just keep a small dish with rocks in it to control depth (mainly to keep crickets from drowning, havent had it hapen yet) full of fresh clean water. I also keep it clean.

A comment was made about his temperment. I know rosies are usualy pretty sweet but Kurgan has an ohnry streek. I have never been bitten (by any critter I have had as a pet) But with his agro level I dont want to take the chance. I have severe reactions to bee stings (could even be fatal) and react badly to other insect bites. a comon brown house spider bite gets real nasty and the last one took months to heal up and left a scar near my eye so I figure its a gamble I should not take

[Rainfrog]

Oh, Beautiful pic!

[Scott C.]

Glad to help BRFrogger. Take care,
Scott