Mites?

[RJstang]

This morning when I turned on Spikes lights I spotted a small red spot running around. It was definitely a mite, I crushed it. I inspected the rest of the tank and did not see any others. I also inspected spike all over, in between his body and legs, under his belly, his eyes and ears. No sign of any others. I boiled all of his accessories, baked his stick and gave him a bath (which he successfully pooped in). I did not see anything come off of him in the bath either. I don't know how a mite would get in there, I sterilize everything when I clean him and he gets a bath at least once a week. The only thing I was thinking was maybe from the crickets. I get them at my local petlands and I'm sure that they aren't the cleanliest keepers they have. If I was to discover more mites what is a good OTC spray or medicine that I can use to get rid of them?

[SpencerH]

I'm new to owning a Beardie but we have noticed that Bruce has a family of tiny grey/black bugs (mites I guess) above each eye - in all of the folds.  There is no sign of anything any where else on him except at night when you can see some of the bugs/mites wondering around on his face.  I have bought some 'Mite Off' and we have waited until he was cold and asleep so he would stay still and we have carefully wiped all of his eylids with the spray on the tip of a cotton bud.  Tommorrow I plan to spray him all over as the directions suggest.  A good few came off in the process but many were left and I cant get them off as they are far to buried in his wrinkles above the sensitive eye parts.  The spray says one treatment will do it  - i'll let you know how things go.  Our mites arent red but I guess a mite is a mite.

[SpencerH]

Well the mites are all gone in one eye but their still appears to be some in the other.  I have been told that Mite off isnt the strongest as it is an OTC product.  I have been reccomended to use Frontline spray.  The pet shop I bought Bruce from has offered to treat him if I bring him in so hopefully that will be the end of them for me.  Good luck!

[beardielover17]

I would advise against using frontline on a reptile. Olive oil works really well and has no harmful effects. Soaking helps as well. There are products like Provent-a-mite and Natural Chemistry's Reptile relief. All of which are designed for use with reptiles.

[ladyknite]

His enclosure will be the biggest issue.  You're doing good with the furniture, but the cage it's self is a problem.
If you use plastic wrap to completely wrap and seal (air tight as you can) and set the tank outside in the sun, depending on temperatures outside (80F) range, within 2 hrs anything inside the tank is DEAD.  While this is occuring, you're sterilizing the furniture to go inside and using olive oil as Candice suggested.  A mite can't survive if it can't breathe.