Hi. I need to know if mites can come with meal worms? I just noticed a bug on one of the hides in my leo's tank. I think that they came with the mealies but am not sure. I am going to clean the tank out and should I soak the leo? I am worried about stressing her as I just got her. I am going to microwave everything except for the repticarpet. Can I freeze that to kill the little bugs. I have only seen one and tried to kill it but it got away and now I can't find it.
Can they get into my fire bellied toads tank? If so how do I clean them and their tank? I can't use the deflea on them or near them. I had snake mites before and they look different then the snake mites.
Please help me in going about this the right way.
Cheryl

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5 Dogs
Candice a collie, Budweiser a black lab, Shotzie a rottweiler, Rocky a german shepherd, & Gizmo a chihuahua.
4 Tabby cats
Magic, Phoebe, Tinkerbell, & Skitzie. Pookie & Boo black & white cats.
Spike a cockatiel. Heaven a leopard gecko. Link & Lucy fire bellied toads. Luke and Laura fire bellied newts.
Disturbed a albino african clawed frog. Snowy a silver molly. Fire a blood fin tetra. Jaws a black molly. Another fish tank with fish and snails galore.

I have this book http://www.tfhpublications.com/defau...6&prodid=RE106 and all it says it to spray the leo with a synthetic pyrethrin spray which I think is deflea. It then says to immediately rinse the leo with cool water and to let dry in warm area. It then says to put it back in to it's home. It doesn't say anything about cleaning the tank. Will this way work? I know that it will still be stressful so I might as well clean everything. Right?

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5 Dogs
Candice a collie, Budweiser a black lab, Shotzie a rottweiler, Rocky a german shepherd, & Gizmo a chihuahua.
4 Tabby cats
Magic, Phoebe, Tinkerbell, & Skitzie. Pookie & Boo black & white cats.
Spike a cockatiel. Heaven a leopard gecko. Link & Lucy fire bellied toads. Luke and Laura fire bellied newts.
Disturbed a albino african clawed frog. Snowy a silver molly. Fire a blood fin tetra. Jaws a black molly. Another fish tank with fish and snails galore.

what color are the ''bugs''? If they are red then thry are mites....you do need to clean the entire enclosure too...maybe just saok in water for now, until you are sure about the ''bug'' being a mite...dont use deflea!!!! This is very harmful to your leo...Ive never had to deal with mites...so I don tknow what to do except soak your leo...is she scratching? one way to tell if she does have mites it to take a q- tip and rub around its nostrils ears and mouth..if you see timy red dots then she has mites..if not just clean the enclosure...and not with deflea..maybe use one part bleach with 10 parts water...make sure you rinse it very well so that u cant smell the bleach anymore, dont clean the hides with any type of cleaner...I dont think its safe to...

Definately clean the tank and everything in it. I've used the bleach/water mix, just make sure you rinse well and then let it air dry completely as bleach will evaporate. I'm not sure about the leo tho', I've only dealt with mites on my snakes. if you're not sure about deflea or retile relief, how about mineral oil? Never tried it myself, but have heard it is a safe way to get rid of them. Good luck!

Hello,

Did your mealworms have a potatoe in with them when you purchased them? Is the little bug white/gray?

I had an experience with these little bugs and mealworms in the past. It turned out that they were an insect that eats potatoes. Upon close examination of the mealworm container, I found thousands of the little critters.

Since they eat potatoes, I wasn't worried about them harming my reptiles but I did destroy the entire container. I just didn't like having the little things in the house.

If the leo has mites, you will find them in the nostral and eye areas. They are red as stated and will be noticeable against the yellow background of a leo.

Don't use any chemicals or powders on the leo. If you think you have mites, soak the leo and use a qtip to clean him.

While he is soaking, clean everything in the enclosure with a bleach solution. (Including the tank)

You will also want to clean the surrounding area around the Leopard Geckos tank. Mites will deposit eggs in the rooms carpet.

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I know if mealies are not kept in proper conditons, dampness can cause mites.. I had a colony YEars and years ago and from putting raw potatoes on the oatmeal bedding, we got mites in the mealies and had to start the colony all over again...I would ditch the rest of those mealies right away...especially if thats where you think they came from. Clean out like the others said, and hopefully you will stop the problem. I now buy my mealies 5000 at a time and store them in the fridge...its far easier than keeping the colony going...Lyn

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Warmest Regards from Lyn

OK....stupid question time! Lynn, If you keep your mealies in the fridge doesn't it kill them? We keep ours in oats and feed potatoes and carrots, but reading this thread has me paranoid about mites! (never want to deal with those again!!!)

I buy the same amount and keep mine in the fridge as well, no it dosnt kill them but it does stop them from molting/sheding..whichever its called lol so that they dont turn into little beetles or whatever..lol..I just take out about 70 a day and out em in a little container and feed em and give em water...thne they get fed to my monsters

Rich, That is what I have. They are gray. You don't think that they are harmful? Well they are getting out of my house tonight, the worms and the bugs. I am still going to clean the tank/ leo anyway just so I can feel better. What kind of bug is it.? Do you know? I wish I would have just killed it instead of trying to get a good look at it. Then it would never of got away. Thank you for the help and for letting me know not to use any deflea etc. on her.

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5 Dogs
Candice a collie, Budweiser a black lab, Shotzie a rottweiler, Rocky a german shepherd, & Gizmo a chihuahua.
4 Tabby cats
Magic, Phoebe, Tinkerbell, & Skitzie. Pookie & Boo black & white cats.
Spike a cockatiel. Heaven a leopard gecko. Link & Lucy fire bellied toads. Luke and Laura fire bellied newts.
Disturbed a albino african clawed frog. Snowy a silver molly. Fire a blood fin tetra. Jaws a black molly. Another fish tank with fish and snails galore.