I have bathed her frequently during the week. Bleach her aquarium. I have bought the De Flea reptile relief and the discs for bird mites. She is on news paper. No more bark or sand. I had friend today tell me to use 7 dust. He swears by it. I am scrared to death. She is my pride and joy. I need to get rid of the mites and save my Lola. I am open to suggestions. Please help.
Answers:
I spoke with the director of our local wildlife center who has raised skinks for many years as pets. She advised that it is not safe to use 7 dust on a skink. 7 dust is very strong and we only use it for our wild pelicans that come in to the center either sick or injured. Those are huge birds and we only use a very small pinch of 7 dust on our pelicans to get rid of mites. If you use 7 dust on your skink it could possibly kill it.
If you can find anyone who has Ivermectin, you can use one and I mean only one little drop of it. Place the drop in the center of the skinks back. Ivermection is also strong and this is why only one drop is to be used. This has worked for her skinks.
You can also go to a pet store or pet smart and buy a spray specifically designed for reptiles to get rid of mites. Flea spray will not get rid of mites on skinks.Skinks do not get fleas.
If either of these two suggestions do not work, then you will need to bring your skink to the vet for further medicine to get rid of the mites. I know that the ivermectin will work as it has worked on her skinks with no problems when properly used. If none of your friends have any ivermectin, you can purchase this at any local feed store for farm animals.
Hope this helps :-)
if you tried all that stuff, try a vet. not 7 dust, it may kill her. some shops sell mite relief.
What do you mean "this time of year"? Mites aren't like dry skin.thy don't just "happen". They come from somewhere. Have you taken her to the vet? Are you sure they are reptile mites and not wood mites from the substrate you're using? I have had this happen with bark before. Take her to the vet to make sure, then if it is reptile mites, he or she can give you the proper medication (proper dose of ivermectin and proper administration of it) and suggestions for preventing reinfestation. If you are using bleach for the aquarium, make sure you rinse it very thoroughly and then, instead of putting your usual substrate in it, just use plain white paper towels (not printed ones) until the mites are gone completely and then consider using astroturf, which is cheap, aesthetically pleasing to the eye, and they seem to like it. Good luck!!
Hi there;
I have a solution that does not involve the use of harsh or potentially harmful chemicals. Use olive oil. While you are off to a good start with stripping down your habitat, you are not following through as thorough as you may think. You must stop the re-infestation by applying olive oil (which is harmless) to your pet as well as applying the oil to the outside surfaces in and around the habitat. Please wash your hands before touching ANYTHING including your skinks food. Inspect all substances (the use of a white sheet of paper or paper towel will do) for parasites. The beauty of using olive oil is not only is it harmless but can reapplied as needed.
Mites, as well as any blood sucking parasite breath through their bodies and will avoid anything that coats their outsides. By applying the oil the parasite can not breath and dies off. Those that have not found a living host (in this case your skink) will avoid surfaces which have been treated.
Good luck :)
take your skink to the vet to be treated,clean your skinks bedding,clean the tank with bleach and water,best yet change bedding completely.to make sure your new bedding is clean of any mites put it in the microwave to heat it to over 120 deg to kill any unwanted pest
