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Answer
Jun 04, 2019 - 02:08 AM
What you describe is typically the grain mite Acarus siro. They come in bran, chicken meal, cereals, etc. When you get your bran or grain for your colony, you can bake it in the oven at 175° F for about 20 minutes to kill the mites. Let it cool completely before adding worms to it. The mites thrive in moist, warm conditions; so it's a good idea to leave your bins open and not put lids on them. Keeping the bedding at a depth of 1.5" or less will also help the bran to aerate to prevent mite colonies. Here is an article on GeckoTime that tells how Aliza got her infestation under control: How I Got Rid of Grain Mites Also, if you're buying your bran from a feed store, they are notorious for being infested with mites as they often sit long-term before sale. You're better off buying **organic** wheat bran (you can buy it on Amazon, or at your local grocery store under the brand name Bob's Red Mill). I am so sorry to say that there are sellers on the internet who purchase large bags in bulk at feed stores and then re-sell them in smaller bags. This is not the first time we've heard of this happening which is very discouraging - it gives everyone a bad name.
Just be sure to bake your grain before use, and with rigid cleaning techniques, you should be fine going forward.
Just be sure to bake your grain before use, and with rigid cleaning techniques, you should be fine going forward.
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