From what I've read they eat fungus and decaying organic matter in the soil and are highly beneficial. I hope the are not eating the keratin.
I think you have a good point there. Kind of like cowbirds and cattle.This is purely theoretical, but my only guess is that they could be beneficial to the turtle itself. You mention eating fungus….The type of shell rot we see IS a form of fungus, right? So perhaps they will eat potentially harmful microbes on the shell. In the wild, tons of mosses and such grow on tortoises naturally. Perhaps there are bugs as well, maybe it serves a purpose. I don't think they pose any threat to the keratin. I could be wrong.
I think you have a good point there. Kind of like cowbirds and cattle.
Wow: I just googled "tortoise mites."
If they're mites, they're eating your turtle's blood, just like ticks do. They're just a different insect.
I learned something new!!!
This is purely theoretical, but my only guess is that they could be beneficial to the turtle itself. You mention eating fungus….The type of shell rot we see IS a form of fungus, right? So perhaps they will eat potentially harmful microbes on the shell. In the wild, tons of mosses and such grow on tortoises naturally. Perhaps there are bugs as well, maybe it serves a purpose. I don't think they pose any threat to the keratin. I could be wrong.
........they're not tick eggs. They're mites. Also, only deer ticks carry Lyme disease, not mites. I'm acutely aware of this, as I myself have Lyme disease.Their tick eggs,remove all of them as soon as possible then burn them in an open flame. DONT LET THOSE TICK EGGS HATCH!!! Tick babies = disaster for ur back yard and turtles, watch out! Ticks carry lime disease!