Mites? Parasites? Help?

[cvBon1]

Yeah my first Pacman was covered in what I thought was springtails too, but he just died one day, and my boyfriend said he thinks the mites practically ate him alive which is why I started this thread when I noticed my frogs now had what seemed to be the same thing. I didn't want them to die.

I would like to know the same thing can those bugs or another kind of mite kill cause it happened to me too long ago!



I also, for everyone else's info, cleaned the tank and they haven't been around so they were probably springtails so thank you all for replying.

Btw, stompjrkz400 ... sorry for your loss.

[stompjrkz400]

thank you, this the second weird death ive had, the last one was a green tree frog, which inturn kill a 6 year old yellow spotted salamander and a wood frog, im learning fast that it is much easyer to take care of toads and frogs from the wood, than it is to buy them from a store, and theres less infections too, there where no mites that time tho all of the frogs slowley went limp and fell alseep, then died,

[Wormwood]

You shouldn't have all these in the same tank anyway, they each produce their own toxins and even in the wild they wouldn't be accustomed to sharing the same little 10-40 gallon space, especially a water source on such a constant basis.

Either get them seperate enclosures or let them go. My guess it's not the "mites" although I'm sure they increase the stress level on the animals. Put them in some small quartine tanks/tubs for a few weeks and let the normal tanks dry out after a very heavy cleaning and baking of the wood and other hides.

Wild caughts can be more hardy but your rolling dice, many come with parasites and infections - it might have been one of the wild caught ones that introduced something nasty to the store bought animals you have.

[stompjrkz400]

its an 80 gallon tank, the only frog out of place now is the Cuban tree frog, but he also never gets off his vines or leaves, i breed the american toads, they make great pets, super hardy and even enjoy being handled, ( i know, we don't do it that much tho)

[Wormwood]

I don't think you understood my first post, all of them are "out of place". The toxins in the water source alone, if not changed every day are enough to cause them stress which can lead to death.

I've raised American Toads from childhood up, although I will agree, super hardy they are but they do not enjoy being handled. No amphibian does.

[cvBon1]

Well what about in my case? He wasn't endured to stress and was with no other frogs or animals... my only answer was those"mites". Though I do agree that having too many different species in one tank can be dangerous, yes it is bigger but best not to impose the risk of toxin contamination.

[Wormwood]

It's never good when things like that are found crawling all over the frog, especially in that one picture you posted but I do know when I do get mites I right away tear apart the tank, clean everything and set each animal in it's own quaratine until I notice them vanish. Anything crawling over them constantly will cause them stress, especially since they can't get away from them. My toads don't even like crickets moving across them and shy away from food coming right up and touching them. In wild conditions they'd be able to move from a spot and get away from the majority of them. I don't agree with the idea that it's okay to have springtails crawling all over everything.

The only mites I've had before haven't clinged to my frogs so I'm under the assumption that they might be getting something out of it, simply because things that aren't trying to be parasitic don't cling to animals without getting something out of it.

It's not heat, being cold blooded ... had to be they where feeding, or laying eggs on it. If just by sheer numbers that many where crawling around his face then you defiently need to clean and get them out of there.

My only suggestion if you don't want to clean the cage is to let the substrate dry out - This can help control any mite or bug population. I've only noticed explosions of such pests after watering down my substrate. Pacman's will actually move around more to, to their burrow site of choice and to the water bowl. Dry coco-fiber works just fine and doesn't need to be soppy wet. It's good for them to move around anyway.

Good luck!