Air Sac Mites

[Mandi]

Hi

My Canary died recently, i belive it was air sac mites. I didnt notice anything wrong with the canary, after he died I read about the air sac mite symptoms and it seems to fit.

I have 7 Budgies, they all appear to be in good health, but can they get air sac mites too? the budgies had their fly time with the canary, they shared baths, food, toys, and occasionaly preening.

Is there something I should keep my eyes open for?

Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated.

Mandi

[Kate C]

I would go to an Avian Vet. Budgies can get Air Sac Mite also. I know that Canaries can pass air sac mite onto Gouldian Finches and this is one of the biggest killers of Gouldians. The wild Gouldians in Australia got infected with Air Sac Mite and they had to trap them and treat them all with Ivermectin Water Based product. As far as I know this is the only treatment for Air Sac Mite, nothing else will kill it. It is a very simple treatment and it is usually 1 drop of medication directly to the beak if it is the water based product. I believe in America they use an injectible type but none of the vets in Australia use that form of Ivermectin as an injection. With Air Sac Mite it may need more than one treatment. I would definitely treat them as it could be possible for the Canary to pass it on.

Many Gouldians here are fostered under Bengalese Finches as they do not seem to get Air Sac Mite and it is the parents that pass it onto the babies when they are feeding them.

[lorri]

Check the breathing in that bird. If that bird has a crocking noise it has air sack mite. We give special tablets for our canaries. But I don't think you can get them where you are. You can get them over the net though.