Lizard has ticks

Question
QUESTION: I've had a wild caught Western Fence lizard for six months. Just today I've noticed tiny, nymph, black legged ticks scattered all around his terrarium. I removed them but see that he still has several attached to his body. Any advice on what to do next?

ANSWER: Hello Amber,

What type of substrate are you using?
Try to bathe him or her & soak him to try & get the ticks to fall off.  You could use just a little bit of olive oil also, to help with the ticks.  A picture would be great.
Thanks.

Tracie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I'm using packaged desert sand as substrate. I'm guessing he was infected with tick larva when I got him, and now the nymphs are full of his blood and falling off. Unfortunately, I've counted about 50 of these things and wonder how many are still left on his body. Thanks for the advice about olive oil and water soaking. Do you think there's a threat of the ticks getting out of the terrarium and latching onto other pets or people?

ANSWER: Hello Amber,

Oh the poor thing. I would take the sand out of his tank, just in case any have gotten in the loose substrate.  
Use either paper towels or non adhesive shelf liner for an easier way to keep the tank clean.
Well, it is a possibility the ticks could get off of him & onto another pet or person but not if you can get them all killed.
It is imperative that you get them all of him because he will become anemic from blood loss & nutritional loss.
Let me know how he is doing.

Tracie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Tracie and thank you for your interest in following up. I covered "Rango" in olive oil yesterday then soaked him in water with a mild baby shampoo. Unfortunately this morning he was CAKED in sand sticking to the oil still left on his skin. I soaked him again, but the poor guy is still having trouble opening his eyes. I'm guessing it's from the sand. I hope I haven't stressed him too much. I haven't seen any more ticks and plan to give him a good meal this afternoon. Hopefully he can see it! Thanks for the advice on using paper towels and the possibility of anemia. I'll keep a watchful eye. Thanks a million!

Answer
Hello Amber,

Did you take the sand out of his tank & put paper towels or non adhesive shelf liner in instead?
Let me know how he is doing.  I hope you got all of the ticks off of him.  You can try using some sterile saline solution for his eyes.

Tracie