How do I get rid of reptile mites and clean their habitat properly?

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

Clean and sanitize the enclosure, bowls and any tank furniture. Discard anything that cannot be sanitized. Replace the substrate temporarily with paper towels and change them daily. You can purchase a commercial mite treatment to use. Confirm it is safe to use in reptiles before use. Follow label directions carefully. You can also soak him in a warm bath of diluted Betadine. Wipe him gently during the bath. The diluted Betadine will kill the mites and clean any wounds or irritation caused by mite infection.

It should not be used in areas where your anole will come into frequent contact with it. This may lead to skin irritation. Instead, clean and sanitize the tank, bowls and any hard, non-political tank furniture. Discard anything that cannot be sanitized. A soak and bath in a diluted Betadine solution may rinse away mites and treat minor infection. Soak for 15 minutes and use a cotton swan to gently clean around the head. You may need to bathe your anole and clean the tank several times over a few weeks time to completely eradicate the mite infection.

Mild scale rot can be managed at home by controlling humidity and treating the affected area topically. Keep the enclosure and substrate dry and provide adequate ventilation. Use a diluted betadine solution to gently clean the affected area once or twice daily. Dry thoroughly afterwards. A dab of a triple antibiotic ointment or silvadene cream can be applied after each cleaning. More serious rot or rot that does not respond to conservative treatment should be addressed by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles.

Look him over closely for mites. Clean and sanitize the cage, bowls and any furniture. Discard anything that cannot be sanitized. Use paper towels for substrate and change them daily. Soak him in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte for 20-30 minutes daily. This may aid in any impending shed. If he has mites, they will migrate to his head where you can wipe them off. He may need to be treated by your veterinarian to completely clear any mite infestation.

The best treatment for mites in Rabbits is Ivermectin drops, you might be able to find them over the counter in pet shops, otherwise at the vet's. regarding the bedding i would recommend throwing away everything you can and washing very well in high temperature everything you cannot.

Without a close up image, it is difficult to determine what these dots are. They could be springtail mites. These are harmless mites that feed on decaying matter. High humidity levels and a food source draw them in. They may have hitched a ride in on the live food or new fat tails you acquired. Treatment involves removing food sources, decreasing humidity and sanitizing cages, bowls, etc. Soaking your affected geckos in water may clean them off.