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Common Medical Conditions and Health Problems: External Parasites
  Background Information
  Please read our Disclaimer before reading any further into these common problems.  As with any medical problem, we strongly recommend that you immediately contact your veterinarian for assistance.

External parasites commonly found on leopard geckos include both ticks and mites. 
  Ticks
  Ticks are quite similar to mites in that they have the potential to not only stress the reptile, but can also lead to other health problems (see section on mites below).  You tend to find ticks congregating in the same spots as mites on leopard geckos such as:
  • Labial pits.
  • Skin folds near/around the vent.
  • Postorbital pits (around the eyes).
  • Under scales or around scales that are especially thin.
  • Around the ears.

How do you remove ticks?

  • Manually remove the tick using a pair of delicate forceps.

  • Forcep tip should be be fine enough to grab the tick under its head, by the mouth.

  • Do not jerk the tick out violently and haphazardly.

  • Use firm and steady pressure over several seconds while pulling the tick out.

  • It is recommended that you treat the removal site with an appropriate wound flushing agent such as Betadine and then apply a topcial antibiotic ointment to the area.

  • If the mouth is left behind, it may cause an abscess. 

  • Systemic antibiotics may be needed in severe cases of infestation if a bacterial infection is present.

  • Thorough cleansing of the enclosure and all furnishings/decorations and replacement of the substrate using same procedure as for treating mites.
  Mites
   There are a couple of hundred different species of mites, but the two species that are most commonly seen on leopard geckos are:
  • Chigger mites
  • Lizard mites
Chigger mites are also commonly referred to as red bugs because of the red spots that appear on the reptile where the mites have congregated.

Mites can be very easily introduced by putting an infested gecko in contact with other infested reptiles - which is one of the reasons why quarantine is essential.  Their growth and metamorphosis depends upon consumption of blood and the ideal environmental temperatures and humidity found in a gecko's enclosure.  They can reproduce quickly which is why the treatment regimes outlined below will have to be repeated at least twice to completely eradicate the problem.

Where do you commonly find mites?

  • Labial pits.
  • Skin folds near/around the vent.
  • Postorbital pits (around the eyes).
  • Under scales or around scales that are especially thin.
  • Around the ears.
  • Can be found roaming on any part of the gecko's body.

  • In the tight corners of the enclosure.
  • In the enclosure substrate.
  • On enclosure furnishings/decorations.

What danger do the mites pose?
  Treating Mites On The Gecko
  There are several different methods used to treat the leopard gecko itself if it is harboring a mite infestation.

Ivermectin is sometimes used by veterinarians but it can be very dangerous if used improperly!  Be sure to follow your veterinarian's directions closely if they have opted to use Ivermectin!  Most vets will recommend the use of Ivermectin topically as opposed to orally or systemically.

Some veterinarians, will suggest the use of a povidone-iodine method to treat mites.  This treatment is outlined below.  Please note that we recommend you discuss any health problems and potential treatments with your vet!

  • Keep the gecko in a warm, dry environment while you are treating its environment.

  • To dilute the povidone-iodine (ie Betadine), add enough to the water to turn it the colour of medium-dark tea.

  • Saturate a clean soft cloth or cotton swab in diluted the povidone-iodine solution.  Use this cloth or swab to gently wipe down the body.

  • Using a cotton swab, gently and carefully apply the diluted povidone-iodine solution around their eyes and nose  - be sure to not get any into their eyes and nose as it may cause inflammation and irritation.

  • Wipe the gecko down once again with fresh water.

  • Apply the diluted povidone-iodine solution to the crusty areas and bite marks to soothe and treat the bites.

  • Repeat this process daily  while the bites heal.

Things to be careful with:

  • Trichlorfan has been reported as fatal with use in leopard geckos.

  • Pest strips emit toxic fumes that can be fatal when used improperly with leopard geckos.

  • Ivermectin needs to be used extremely carefully as it can be toxic.

  • Be careful with any treatments that contain pyrethrins or pyrethroids (synthetic pyrethrins).

  • Be sure to discuss any treatment regime in great detail with your veterinarian.
  Treating The Environment
  In order to clear up any mite or tick infestation with your leopard gecko, it is recommended that you properly disinfect and treat the environment.  Below is one of the methods often used to treat the environment.

It is recommended that you treat the environment each time that you treat the gecko.

  • Remove and dispose the cage substrate.
  • Vacuum inside of the enclosure, especially in the tight corners.
  • Scrape the interior of the enclosure if its wood, with a blunt knife and then vacuum it again.
  • Wipe down interior surfaces with hot soapy water.
  • Remove all soapy residue.
  • Disinfect the cage walls and floors.  See Disinfection for more information.

  • It would be preferable if you could dispose of any porous cage decorations if possible.  Dr. Gecko prefers to use plastic hides during quarantine and mite treatments.
  • If you cannot dispose of the furnishings, you can:
    - Bake the wood in the oven at 350F for 2 hours.
    - Boil completely submerged rocks for 30 minutes.
  • If furnishings are too big, you can soak them in a bucket or tub with a 10% bleach solution for several hours (ideally 8 hours).  Rinse thoroughly and allow to air dry thoroughly - preferably outside.
  • Wash and disinfect all bowls. 
  • See Disinfection for more information.

  • Remove and unplug internal heating pads.  Wipe them down with a bleach solution and let them sit for 20 minutes.  Rinse thoroughly afterwards.
  • External heating pads should be examined closely or removed and replaced with either a human-heating pad or free-standing heat tape or heating pads.

  • Disconnect any overhead lighting and heating fixtures. Wipe down with a dampened cloth.

  • Place new substrate in the enclosure (preferably paper towel).  This will allow for easy cleaning and disinfecting, and will also let you see any remaining mites easier.
  • Replace the water bowl, hides etc... back into the enclosure.

Repeat the procedure at least one more time as directed by your veterinarian.  Even if you do not see any mites, you may want to repeat it in several weeks to make sure you eliminated all of the eggs.  Keep a close eye on the enclosure for any sign of ticks or their feces (greyish or whitish in colouration).
  Still Confused Or Concerned?
  If you would like more information or further assistance, or just want to chat some more about leopard geckos, please feel free to post on the Reptile Rooms Leopard Gecko Forum!


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