Mites?

[roguemako]

I believe one of my Slimy Salamanders has mites, it looks as though its a kind of Trombiculid mite (red mite). I looked over and seen four of these on the body. I think they may of entered the enclosure via some bark. Any suggestions on how to deal with this?

 

[Herptiles]

Adult trombiculids are free-living (feeding on plant material), and not parasitic like the larvae (just-hatched life stage). You can easily check this by counting the pairs of legs. Four pairs means it's an adult or nymph, three pairs means it's a larva.

You could oven-bake to sterilize your bark and substrate, since these guys may reproduce and you could end up with parasitic larvae (although I don't think that they typically prey on amphibians (except toads?), which are not appealing to a lot of ectoparasites thanks to their skin secretions). This could kill off beneficial bacteria in your substrate, though.

I certainly wouldn't use any pesticide out of fear of toxicity to your Slimies.

 

[roguemako]

It is true once the mites mature past the chigger stage they are no longer parasitic, so in time the issue will correct itself? Also, what is the risk of them spreading to the other sally enclosures?

 

[JoshBA]

Re: Mites

Mites are usually found in most established terrestrial setups. And like said before, they are most likely detrivors, which won't be parasitic to your salamander. Although I have never seen red mites in my enclosures before. Unless you've brought something from outside in the tank, your other setups are jst as likely to get them. I really wouldn't worry about them, as they are a common detrivor in an established enclosure.

 

[roguemako]

Chiggers are parasitic, they are burrowed into the salamander, around the toes and ''arm pits''....

 

[JoshBA]

That seems like a pretty bad situation then! Do you think chiggers could survive submersed in water? Perhaps keeping the salamander in really shallow water will drown them? I'm really not sure if this would work, as any eggs laid by the mites will likely survive.

 

[Herptiles]

I don't think that they would make the trek to get to another enclosure, since most mites really prefer sitting put (unlike some other parasites).

Do you see them attached to your salamander, or only in the enclosure?

The only issue with leaving free-living adults is that they may reproduce, and then you'll have parasitic larvae.

 

[roguemako]

Only seen them on the salamander, have it on unbleached paper towel and a PVC pipe for a hide. I don't think the mites can reproduce without moist soil.

 

[Herptiles]

I don't think the mites can reproduce without moist soil.

That's probably your safest course of action. Please keep us up to date as to what happens.