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Thread: White mites in cricket keeper.

  1. #1
    BArnold
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    Default White mites in cricket keeper.

    Hi everyone,

    I need some information. I just found white mites all over my cricket keeper. It has been a couple days since I last looked at the keeper and I didn't notice them then. I am concerned for a few reasons. First, are they harmful to my red eyes? Second, are they harmful to me or my son? I cleaned out the keeper and everything surrounding it but I just am on the cusp of freaking out. I don't want to end up finding these things in my bed or climbing up the walls. I looked in the enclosure and didn't really see any, I saw some fruit fly larvae and it seemed like there was a small spring tail like thing in the water moving, but it didn't look like what was on the keeper. I have made a custom background so it would be really difficult to clean the cork flats in there. I am assuming I should not feed my frogs what's left of the crickets I have. I didn't notice any on them but I am unsure right now, I have to order more and I know they are ready to eat. Any advice would be helpful.

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  3. #2
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    Default Re: White mites in cricket keeper.

    White mites only eat decaying organic mater - Plants, food, dead crickets. They are not harmful to you, your family, or your frogs. The crickets on the other hand will get out competed for food and will die off. The best way to avoid this ti to clean your cricket bin frequently. I buy my crickets 6 dozen at a time which lasts me 2 weeks. Then I put the next 6 dozen in a new cricket tub and was the old one. I rotate like this through 2 to 3 tubs every 2 weeks. Mostly because the cricket smell makes me was to hurl, but also becase keeping things cleanish helps keep the unwanted stuff away.


    Paul
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  5. #3
    BArnold
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    Default Re: White mites in cricket keeper.

    Thank you for the reassurance. I'm working on getting rid of them now. I have 7 frogs so I usually buy 1000 crickets at a time and they last about 3 weeks. I will try the second bin and maybe ordering less more often. Would you have any idea about what could be in the water? They look similar but not circular and a little bigger. I do about 75% water changes every week.

  6. #4
    BArnold
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    Default Re: White mites in cricket keeper.

    I also forgot to state my crickets aren't by my frogs at all. They're two rooms away from each other. That probably doesn't even matter.

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    Default Re: White mites in cricket keeper.

    With out a picture of what was in the water it is tough to say. I use to buy 1000 crickets at a time as well, but lord the smell could get over powering. I decided saving money on crickets just simply wasn't worth it anymore.
    1.1.0 - Oophaga Pumilio 'Blue Jeans' (2014 Nicaragua Import)
    1.1.0 - Oophaga Pumilio 'Chirique Grande' F1
    1.1.0 - D. Tinctorius 'Citronella'
    1.2.0 - D. Tinctorius 'Azureus'
    0.0.2 - D. Tinctorius 'Sipaliwini'
    0.0.2 - D. Tinctorius 'New River'
    0.0.4 - D. Tinctorius 'Leucomelas'
    0.0.4 - Terribilis 'Mint'
    1.1.0 - R. Ventrimaculatus 'French Guiana'

    Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/hashtagfrogs
    Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgC...sEZiZQoT8sOuuw

  8. #6
    Super Moderator flybyferns's Avatar
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    Default Re: White mites in cricket keeper.

    Your mites. We ALL gt them time to time
    However you do want to try to eradicate them if at all possible.
    Yes, basically harmless...but this can get out of hand.
    I just wanted to add that IF they get into the red eye tree frog enclosure they will stress-out your frogs.

    Mites are free! The hitch a ride with the crickets. Crickets are disgusting !
    They are more work than the frogs
    Keep the cricket bin spotless ( remove the cricks ) and run it under HOT tap water/ wipe down the entire bin ( in and out) including the lid.

    If they are very visible ---the you likely have a lot

    Wipe down the entire area where any insects bins and containers are kept with an old wash cloth drench in rubbing alcohol ( supermarket) and then rinse.
    Obviously, you don't want this cloth to touch anything the frogs will come into contact with.
    I would move the cricket bin to an entirely different area for now.
    The rubbing alcohol is a great product to use on more of a regular basis to keep your work area clean.

    I have this ....but have not used it.
    I purchased it to simply be prepared as I typically keep 25 or so fruit fly cultures at one time.
    Mites in the ff cultures are not good
    Josh's Frogs Bug Blade Mite Control Powder (5 oz) | Josh's Frogs
    If I get mites in my cricket bin ---OUT it goes ---> cricks and all !
    As Paul mentioned, it's good idea to purchase a smaller amt of cricks more frequently/ and clean the bin between new batches. That way ....they will never smell ! If the cricket bin smells ---> it is not being cleaned often enough.
    So, size of the batch and bins can make a huge difference.

    Do you see any walking inside the red eye enclosure?
    If so, may I respectfully suggest you wipe down the interior glass of the red eye enclosure with a soft cloth drenched in distilled water.
    You may have to repeat this a few times.

    ***********************************

    FYI there is a type of herp mite - that is a problem- called Trombiculids that can cause little bites ( areas of redness) on the frog's skin.
    The frog is treated w/ ( I believe ) a very diluted tetracycline bath.
    It's unlikely you have this if they were found in the cricket bin.

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    Dendrobates tinctorius "French Guiana Dwarf Cobalt"

    Phyllobates terribilis “Mint”
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    Phyllobates bicolor "Uraba"

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  9. #7
    100+ Post Member MatthewM1's Avatar
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    You can actually make mite traps using an old pill bottle or similar container. Put a row of pin holes around the container then smear a layer of Vaseline around the inside of it under the holes. Then bait the trap with a dead cricket inside of it. The mites are drawn to the cricket, get stuck in the Vaseline and die. Rinse and reuse as needed. Haven't needed to try it out myself yet but its supposed to work quite well.
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  11. #8
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    Default Re: White mites in cricket keeper.

    There are some very helpful tips here. I put bug blade powder from Josh's Frogs around my cultures as a preventative. I also have it around my Vivarium for the same reason. It's powdered diatomaceous earth, which is non toxic to vertebrates but kills off insects if they get some on them. It is sometimes used in buildings as an insulator and bug barrier.

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