My iguana has red bugs. Are they mites? How do I get rid of them?

Hello. Good question. Mites unfortunately, are not easy to get rid of. You have to treat both the iguana and her environment. It is not recommended that you use any medications on your iguana without speaking to your vet first. Over the counter treatments do not usually work well and can often times be toxic if not used correctly. No matter what treatment you use it will likely take multiple treatments. It is best to obtain treatments directly from your veterinarian. If you do not already have a vet that you work with, this is a veterinary hospital near you where the vets are well versed in treating reptiles: http://chadwellanimalhospital.com/about-us/the-hospital/ You must also treat Li Mai's environment. Remove her from the cage. Throw away and branches or other organic material including the substrate. Soak the bowls and the enclosure itself in a 10:1 dilution of water to bleach. Let is soak for at least an hour but as long as you can. Be sure to get the bleach water in all the crevices. You will probably have to do this twice weekly over the next few months. Please consult with a veterinarian as these mites can be VERY difficult to get rid of. They can cause a myriad of other health problems including issues with shedding, damaged scales, stress, scratching, and more so you need to work together with a vet you trust to make sure all of her husbandry is correct. This includes her diet, the lighting, the temperatures and humidity in the cage. I hope this helps. Best of luck to you and Li Mai! Dr. Amber

Thanks for reaching out about your iguana. It really depends on the type of worms. Tapeworms and roundworms respond to different medications. Other parasites are microscopic (flagellates, ciliates, amoebas) and would be a totally different medication. A fecal examination at your veterinarian would be best, to identify the specific parasite and prescribe the appropriate medication. Good luck.

It sounds like Jabah has mites or lice. You will need to get him to the vet for an exam for a proper diagnosis. They can give you the correct treatment for this problem. Over the counter mite/lice remedies don't work. You will need something prescription strength. The bugs are red because they are sucking blood from Jabah. He can become anemic very quickly if you don't get this problem under control soon. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

You must treat both the environment and the pet. You can try some over the counter products but many can be ineffective if the environment is not treated concurrently. Ivermectin can be dispensed by your veterinarian to use systemically or topically. Do not treat with ivermectin without the advice of your veterinarian as it is quite easy to overdose. A 30 minute soak in a diluted Betadine bath can remove most mites and may soothe irritated skin. Remove the substrate, bag it and take it outdoors. Clean and sanitize the cage, bowls and tank furniture. You can use hot, soapy water followed by a 1:30 dilution of bleach and water followed by a thorough rinsing on the tank, bowls and non porous surfaces. Discard anything that cannot be sanitized. You may need to clean and sanitize the enclosure weekly for several weeks. The pet may need multiple treatments as well.

It is difficult to appreciate the red spots in the images provided. Monitor for lethargy, decreased appetite or spreading of the spots. Clean and sanitize the cage, bowls and hides. Use paper towels as substrate and change it daily. If Beast develops any of the above symptoms, have him examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles to diagnose and treat illness or injury.

I don't know if you tried posting a photo with your question but it did not come through. I apologize but we are having a glitch in the system. I will do my best to help you despite not having a photo. What you are describing sounds like red mites. My best recommendation is to get him to a reptile vet for treatment. You will also need to thoroughly clean the enclosure. You can certainly try home treatment first and if it doesn't work you will need to take him to the vet. Please refer to this link on how to go about treating Zeke and the enclosure. http://www.anapsid.org/mites.html Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Hello. You may have seen the common mouse fur mite. We can treat this with Revolution ( selamectin ) or ivermectin, but you will really need the help of a veterinarian, first to diagnose, & second to prepare a dose small enough to treat such a tiny patient. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.