my alligator lizard

Question
my son caught this wild alligator lizard. we bought acouple thing for it as in cage tank and stick n stuff to put inside...well in a couple weeks my son notice little black mites on the lizard he cleaned the lizard but the came back twice as much..what are these things? are they harmful to humans? i have a newborn i dont want my newborn to be effected by these mites...please help me

Answer
Hi, Johnny,
To be honest, the most humane thing to do at this point is release the lizard exactly where it was found.  It's clear from your description that you do not have a full setup that will allow this animal to survive in captivity.

Alligator lizards require controlled heat (a heat source connected to a thermostat or rheostat, and checked with a digital thermometer that has a remote probe), UVB reptile light, and dietary supplements, and a wild-caught lizard must be taken to a veterinarian to be deparasitized, or internal parasites will build to lethal levels in captivity.  The mites are reptile mites--they will not bite humans, but they will kill your lizard if left untreated, and they go everywhere, so they're very difficult to eradicate.  The best product available for treating them is Provent-A-Mite, which will eliminate them within a month if used according to instructions.  Since the lizard is an insectivore, you would have to feed it in a separate enclosure during the treatment, as the mite spray would kill and contaminate the feeders.  I must stress, however, that I do not recommend a wild-caught lizard as a first reptile pet...establishing wild-caught animals is best done by intermediate to advanced keepers who intend to introduce new blood to captive breeding lines.

If your son really wants a pet reptile, and you are willing to take responsibility for its care if he doesn't follow through, then I recommend you get a captive-bred leopard gecko.  There are many great books on leopard gecko care which you can pick up, to research the pet before you get it.  They require controlled heat (as do all pet reptiles), but they don't require UVB.  A captive bred leopard gecko won't require immediate vet care the way a wild-caught animal does.  (Yearly checkups for pets are still recommended).  They are hardy, long-lived, and generally docile and accept handling.  If you decide to go this route, you will still need the mite treatment.  Mite nymphs can go dormant while waiting for a host...for up to 4 months in some cases.  So, you will have to clean and disinfect the enclosure with a bleach solution (if you re-use it), and then should probably treat the outside of it with Provent-A-Mite, to keep out wandering mites. :)

With a newborn in the house, of course, be certain that hands are thoroughly washed after handling a pet reptile, or its caging, and keep reptiles out of the reach of young children.  (Like birds, they may carry salmonella in their intestinal tract).  Your chicken dinner is a worse threat for this, but it's good to be cautious. :)