Aren't Mephits only gaining fast healing in some rare conditions. (eg. lava/ water/dust)
RARE conditions is a bit overworking it. Water is not rare at all, nor is a fire bigger than a torch, but some are extremely hard to fin. Lava is a good example.
With the Dust, he needs dry places...I only sprinkled my bag with drying dust (900 gp) and put him in there.