Your bearded dragon may get affected by mites due to several causes. This disease does not only cause discomfort but also impacts the health of the bearded dragon.
If you do not want to see your pet lizard in this state, this article will help eliminate mites from the bearded dragon.
So, what are bearded dragon mites? Bearded dragon mites are parasitic insects that house on the beards of lizards for their subsistence. These insects are visible to human eyes. There are types of mites known as Storage mites, Harvest mites, Pteryfosmid mites, and Snake mites.
Further, In this article, I will discuss the types of mites and how to treat mites and prevent mites. In addition, I will write about the veterinarian’s conviction and everything you need to know about bearded dragon mites. So, please read this article to the end.
What Are Bearded Dragon Mites?
Mites are tiny parasites that make a living reptile their host. These mites can be found in aquatic environments, trees, leaves, or soil. Gradually, they spread everywhere in the place their host animal lives in.
The bearded dragons are also their host animals. Mites dwell on their skin and cause several problems.
These mites are harmful to bearded dragons. They are bacteria and viruses which affect bearded dragons’ health. Bearded dragon mites are tiny, but it makes the beardies vulnerable.
If it is not treated on time, then mites can make your pet’s living hell. There are types of mites. They are discussed below-
Storage mites
The storage mites feed on the food of bearded dragons. So they start from the feces as a source, and end up in the body of storage mites. You can recognize them by their color. Usually, most mites appear as brown or black spots on the beardie’s body. But storage mites mostly appear white on the bearded dragon’s body.
Lizard mites
Lizard mites mostly appear in dark colors. They are the common parasite found on bearded dragons. These mites can cause the bearded dragon several health issues. It includes skin irritation and excessive itching.
Harvest mites
Harvest mites are commonly found mites on bearded dragons. These mites look like bright-red spots. However, there is no information available on where they mainly attack. These mites do not solely target the bearded dragons. They can also attack other living beings such as humans and birds.
Snake mites
Snake mites are found on the hidden parts of a bearded dragon’s body. They appear in dark brown spots. These snake mites are the most common mites that attack them. You can recognize these mites by recognizing the tiny red-yellow dots on their body, armpits, or damp parts.
How Do Bearded Dragons Get Mites Spread? – Mite Infestation
Mites are a common worms in animals. These mites can lead to harmful diseases in bearded dragons. But you might wonder how bearded dragon’s mites spread on their body. This section will help you to discover that. So please read on to learn more-
Poor hygiene
If you are not cleaning the enclosure of the bearded dragon regularly, then it can increase the chance of getting affected by the mites. The bearded dragons get mites when bearded dragon owners come in contact with other affected reptiles from outside places.
Then you carry this substrate with you at your pet’s home. The mites eventually find their way to the bearded dragon’s enclosure. Therefore, it affects bearded dragons.That’s why clean the tank on a regular basis.
Infested supplies
If you are in a grocery store, the mites can even stay at any place at the store hiding inside things. You won’t even notice when these tiny parasitic come with you holding onto your belongings and then attacking your pet.
Contact with an infected pet
If you visit a place, where mites already infect a pet, there is a high chance that you will carry it at home. For example, you can come in contact with infested reptiles when visiting other reptiles or holding other pets in your neighbors.
You never know that they are affected by mites. So it can also spread the mite egg in the enclosure and to your bearded dragon.
Buying infected pet
If you buy a new pet who is already affected by the mites, then you would be multiplying the mites problem for the pet by taking the tiny arthropods at home. The mites can spread at your house and also make a way to the bearded dragon’s habitat to attack them.
Bearded dragon mites are external parasites that live on the skin of beardie. These mites are small but these bearded dragons can also be harmful to humans. Bearded dragon keepers should stay careful when visiting pet stores or pet expos.
Symptoms of Bearded Dragon Mites
Bearded dragon mites are very small. But these mites are such parasites that you won’t even realize that mites are taking over the body of bearded dragons. Hence, it is essential to identify the common symptoms and address the disease before things go very wrong. If you suspect that your bearded dragon has mites, you can confirm it by recognizing a few symptoms. So please read on the below points to know the signs of mites:
Itching: The mites will feed on the blood of your beardie. Mites may cause your beardie to have itching and irritation on the skin. As they keep scratching their skin, it will lead the skin to have visible scratches on their skin.
Bad appetite: The beardie that suffers from mites can also get a bad appetite from the mites. The reptile mites damage their immune system. Mites in bearded dragons can cause them to have appetite problems and ultimately become weak. It also gets hard for the immune system to encounter mites.
Lack of energy: When you notice that your beardie is always lethargic, has no energy, and is weak, it can be a big sign that there are mites on a bearded dragon. Mites on your bearded dragons are small but are surely visible. So, you need to notice if there are mites on the beardie’s body. Then you can address the problem.
Dull skin: When the mites attack your bearded dragon, the bearded dragon usually turns dull. Due to the constant biting of mites, the skin of your lizard can become yellow. When you see such signs, you need to understand that your pet is affected by the mites.
Bite Marks: You can also look for bite marks in your beardie. Bearded dragons with mites tend to create reddish skin and the eyes also become red. They cause severe injuries on the skin of the beardie. So you must take a quick action when you see the bite marks on the lizard.
How To Get Rid of Mites in Bearded Dragons?
The mites problem on bearded dragons is not life-taking. But it can cause significant problems for bearded dragons in the long term. Also, it can cause them huge discomfort.
Therefore, you must take a step toward the solution at the earliest. Treating the mites is easy. You can eliminate the mites by following the simple steps. Please have a look at the steps below to remove mites-
Step 1: Start by cleaning the bearded dragon’s habitat. Meanwhile, place the bearded dragon in a safe area.
Step 2: Now make warm water, and mix the Betadin’s antiseptic solution. Keep them mixing until brown colour appears
Step 3: Now pour the dilute on your bearded dragon’s body
Step 4: Take another small container. Make the same soapy water on that container too
Step 5: Take a fresh cloth and dab it in the bleach
Step 6: Wipe the bearded dragon’s body completely with the cloth
Step 7: Let the liquid rest on the body for 10 minutes
Step 8: After 10 minutes, you can rinse the body properly
Finally, you’re done cleaning the bearded dragon. This solution will help you to get rid of the mites completely. In a few days, you will see that the mites are gone. It is high time for the mites to go away. So remove mites as soon as possible.
How to Prevent Mites on a Bearded Dragon?
Once you get rid of mites from the bearded dragons, expect them to come back again if you are not taking preventative steps.
What it means is, they can return repeatedly to the bearded dragons through various sources. It is necessary to keep your bearded dragon healthy.
So, taking precautions can help you to save your pet from mite infestation and do mite prevention. Through the points below, you will learn how to eliminate the mites infestation by following simple steps:
Check regularly
You need to check the habitats of the bearded dragons regularly. You may see mites in the habitats. So, if you catch these mites in the first place in the habitats, then you can save the bearded dragons from these mites. It can save your bearded dragons from severe harm. And also, clean the bearded dragon tank regularly.
Stop handling reptiles
If you often visit pet stores or handle reptiles, they can go with you inside your house. That’s why, if you visit a pet store, you must stop handling reptiles as your bearded dragons can be affected by it if you come in contact with an affected reptile. It can help you to avoid mite.
Quarantine bearded dragons
If you have bought a new bearded dragon, then keep it apart from your other beardies for a few days. Examine by the vet if they are affected by the mites. Wait until they get free from these mites. Then you can put them back with the other bearded dragons.
Lookout for the source
If you are going to buy a new bearded dragon, you must buy it from a trustable store. Many store owners can often sell beardies with medical issues or mites earlier. And sometimes, your beardie pet has mites because they will sell it to you without informing you about it. Therefore, looking out for the source you will be buying from is necessary.
What A Veterinarian Says About This Disease?
The mites on bearded dragons can lead to a lot of diseases in your pet. Veterinarians have discussed the conditions that are produced by mites. According to veterinary, mites can cause skin irritation, anemia, and bad immune and fungal infections. Let’s discuss these in more detail:
1. Skin irritation
Bearded dragons face skin irritation when the mites attack them. The skin irritation will lead them to have redness in the skin, including swelling and inflammation.
2. Anemia
Anaemia is a state where the body does not have enough red blood cells. So, when mites feed on the blood of bearded dragons, the mites get lack of blood. It leads them to weakness and they become lethargic.
3. Bad immune
The mites can also affect the immune system of the bearded dragons. They will have weak appetites because of these mites.
4. Fungal infections
Fungal infections are caused by the constant scratch on the body. Mites often make the immune system weakened, this infection can overpower the bearded dragon even more. This infection affects the bearded dragon’s health heavily.
Conclusion
Mites can cause your bearded dragon a lot of pain and discomfort. The bearded dragon mites completely feed on their beards. It leads them to become lethargic.
Partially, they also face appetite problems because of these mites. If this disease is not treated on time, it’ll cause itching and irritation on the bearded dragon mites.
If you have a bearded dragon that has mites on its skin, you must follow the guidelines in this article to get rid of these mites. In addition, the mites can return to your pet’s skin, so you must take necessary precautions to prevent this problem.
FAQs
What Does Mits Look Like In A Bearded Dragon?
The Mites will appear as spots on the skin. The color of the mites can be small red, black, brown, yellow, or white. Depending on the bearded dragon’s type, the color may appear darker.
Can Mites Kill Bearded Dragons?
Mites cannot kill bearded dragons. But as these mites carry bacteria and viruses in them, latching on to the beards of the pet will cause the pet several health problems for your pet. These issues include skin itching, irritation, and inflammation of the pet.
How Long Does It Take To Get Rid Of Mites?
If you are giving proper treatment to the bearded dragons to get rid of the mites, it will take 1 month to get rid of mites. But in some cases, getting rid of mites can take more than one month.
Hugues Beaufrere is the Exoticpetia’s senior writer and reptile expert. He has been fascinated by reptiles and monkeys since he was a kid and had years of experience in herpetology and primatology. He has cared for various kinds of Monkeys, Lizards and Reptiles and loves to share his knowledge and passion with others.
Dr. Patrick Simon, DVM, is a qualified veterinarian specializing in exotic animals, especially reptiles. He has a master’s degree in zoology and a doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of California, Davis. He has worked with various reptile owners and rescues for over ten years, providing expert care and advice. He is passionate about educating people about the fascinating world of reptiles and their unique needs.