Symptoms:
- itching
- rubbing
- lethargy
- tiny red dots around eyes, ears, or vent
- ash-like “dust” (mite poo) all over body
- no symptoms
Cause:
- poor hygiene
- contamination from another reptile
Treatment:
If you find gargoyle gecko mites, use a cotton swab soaked with vegetable or coconut oil to wipe the mites away. Follow up with a swab of providone-iodine to disinfect bite wounds.
If you find mites, clean out the terrarium before returning the gecko:
- Throw away disposable terrarium furniture/substrate and sterilize the rest with boiling water.
- Vacuum out the tank, in the corners and under the lip along the top edge. This will get any extra eggs, mites, or mite poo hiding in there.
- Wash it out with hot, soapy water. Rinse thoroughly.
- Wipe down with a strong Nolvasan (generic: chlorhexidine) solution (4 Tbsp per gallon of water) or 1:30 (1/2 cup per gallon of water) bleach solution. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then rinse until you can’t smell it anymore.
- Wipe down light fixtures.Use a damp cloth to thoroughly wipe away any mites that may have wandered in.
- Vacuum and wipe down surrounding area around the tank.
- Set up tank with clean paper towels, egg cartons, and PVC pipes.
- Return gecko to tank.
If the mites come back, repeat the above steps. If they seem to be gone by the 6-week mark, do a full treatment of the lizard and terrarium to kill any remaining eggs.
If your gargoyle gecko stops eating and seems stressed, hold off on further inspections/treatments until it is eating regularly and seems more comfortable.
If the mites persist, consult your veterinarian.