Mites!

[caudatadude28]

My whiteworm culture has mites! Mini spiderlike things that crawl all over! Are they normal to have in a whiteworm culture? Are they a danger to my health? Is there a way to get rid of them? My white worms are doing extremely well but the mite worry me quite a bit.

 

[Jennewt]

Yes, they are a normal thing to find in a whiteworm culture. They are not a danger to you or your newts. You can minimize their number by hiding the food underneath the soil rather than putting it on top of the soil.

 

[Azhael]

I have mites in all my cultures. No biggie...
In fact in some i have several different types. Doing what Jen said about burying the food really helps. they only explode in numbers when food is abundant, if you control food, you can control the mites...at least i think that´s what happens in my case.

I have to say at first i was worried they might had caused an allergic reaction in me..but i can´t say i´ve noticed anything(i´m virtually always with allergia syntoms anyway xD)..so yes i agree i can´t see how they could be a danger for you.

 

[caudatadude28]

Few! I put the food under the surface but only 1/4 inch under. I will bury it 1 inch and see what happens.