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I have an Iguana who is carrying un fertilized eggs and I have noticed she has a few mites on her. I was wondering if I could give her a solution bath to rid her of the mites. Her name is Li Mai and she is one year and three months of age.

I have an Iguana who is carrying un fertilized eggs and I have noticed she has a few mites on her. I was wondering if I could give her a solution bath to rid her of the mites. Her name is Li Mai and she is one year and three months of age.

Updated On April 10th, 2017

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Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM

Veterinarian

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Hello. Good question. Mites unfortunately, are not easy to get rid of. You have to treat both the iguana and her environment. It is not recommended that you use any medications on your iguana without speaking to your vet first. Over the counter treatments do not usually work well and can often times be toxic if not used correctly. No matter what treatment you use it will likely take multiple treatments. It is best to obtain treatments directly from your veterinarian. If you do not already have a vet that you work with, this is a veterinary hospital near you where the vets are well versed in treating reptiles: http://chadwellanimalhospital.com/about-us/the-hospital/ You must also treat Li Mai's environment. Remove her from the cage. Throw away and branches or other organic material including the substrate. Soak the bowls and the enclosure itself in a 10:1 dilution of water to bleach. Let is soak for at least an hour but as long as you can. Be sure to get the bleach water in all the crevices. You will probably have to do this twice weekly over the next few months. Please consult with a veterinarian as these mites can be VERY difficult to get rid of. They can cause a myriad of other health problems including issues with shedding, damaged scales, stress, scratching, and more so you need to work together with a vet you trust to make sure all of her husbandry is correct. This includes her diet, the lighting, the temperatures and humidity in the cage. I hope this helps. Best of luck to you and Li Mai! Dr. Amber

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    Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

    Licensed Veterinary Technician

    Do not treat Li Mai with any medications or solutions without the advice of your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. An exam may be necessary to confirm mite infection after which the appropriate treatment can be administered or recommended. You will need to clean and sanitize her enclosure and change the bedding to prevent reinfestation. This may need to be done several times a week for a few weeks. A female iguana will typically not reach sexual maturity until about 18 months of age. An exam would be recommended to confirm she is gravid at her age or if there is another issue developing.

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