How to Get Rid of Mites in My Scorpion Tank
Although it may seem like a strange idea to keep a scorpion as a pet, many people around the world do just that. One of the most common types of scorpions kept as pets is the emperor scorpion, a large, somewhat chunky-looking black variety. These large insects are interesting to observe and relatively easy to care for. However, all types of pet scorpions can face some health issues. One of these issues is mites, which commonly occur in the scorpion habitat. Although most mites are harmless, some can pose health issues.
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Instructions
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Remove any old food from the scorpion's tank. Old and decaying food can attract mites. Always remove extra food that your scorpion hasn't eaten, especially if you're feeding it live food and the food has died in the tank.
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Keep your scorpion's tank clean. Frequently pick up any scorpion droppings or other waste that you see in the tank. Mites are attracted to these waste materials.
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Pick the scorpion up out of the tank in order to remove the mites that are clinging to it. Handle it very carefully. If you have an emperor scorpion or another docile variety, this shouldn't be too much of a problem. However, all scorpions are dangerous, so always be knowledgeable about the safest way to handle a scorpion.
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Make a solution of alcohol and water, adding only the barest amount of alcohol, as it can be harmful to your scorpion.
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Dip a cotton swab in the solution, and then gently use it to clean away any mites you see on your scorpion.
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Fill a jar or other small container partially with damp moss. Put this in a corner of the scorpion's tank.
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Lower the humidity in your scorpion's tank by allowing air to flow in. This slight drying of the tank kills many of the mites. Mites that are not killed move toward the damp moss, and then you can dispose of the container. Because low humidity can potentially harm your scorpion, use this method only if your scorpion has not molted recently and is in good health.
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Introduce predacious mites to the scorpion's tank if the low humidity has not removed all the mites. These mites are different from the problem mites you have in your tank. They eat the other mites and do not cling to your scorpion. They are readily available in pet stores which cater to exotic pets. Once all the problem mites have been eaten, these new mites should die off from lack of food.
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References
- Photo Credit 2007-05-01 besançon la citadelle scorpion image by Ségolène Roze from Fotolia.com
