Mite prevention

[Jim Smith]

I have never had any problems with snake diseases or mites and I'd like to keep it that way. That said, I keep reading where people use a mite preventative in their snake enclosures, usually when they change the substrate or do a complete cage cleaning. I spot clean my cages daily (sometimes multiple times a day if necessary) and I do a complete substrate change (Aspen) about every 4-5 weeks. When I do the complete cage cleaning, I wipe the cage down with a paper towel soaked in a 25% bleach solution and let it dry before I replace the substrate and water bowl, hides etc. My question is, should I also be spraying some sort of mite preventative as part of my cleaning process. I wash my hands before and after handling any of my snakes and also wash them between handing different snakes to help prevent spreading any possible diseases. I'd like to hear from some of the more experienced herpers out there to get their recommendations.

Thanks

Jim Smith

[Kid Boa]

Your cleaning method is sound, although your bleach fixture is a little strong for my likings.

Mites normally are not an issue as long as keep your enclosure clean (and it sounds like you are) by spot cleaning and removing any sheds. Full cleans done every 4-6 and disinfecting your enclosure.

As for your original question :) I have never used a mite prevention and have only ever had mites once and that was because waaaaay back when I bought a Boa from pet store that had mites. Learned my lesson fast. :)

On the other had, if you wanted to use it, it wont hurt. :)

[Terranaut]

I think your fine as is.

[sharthun]

With my ocd, about every two months I clean, disinfect, and wipe down my tanks with reptile relief by Natural Chemistry, wipe clean with water, then add aspen, hides, decor and then spray inside with provent and cover with towel until I can't smell any odor from provent. Add water dish and reptile. This may be a little obsessive but that's me! Lol

[LadyWraith]

I have a question... wouldn't an enclosure preventitive be irrelevant if you quarantine new animals and take appropriate personal hygeine measures when handling animals outside your collection? In other words, mites don't just randomly pop up on your animal, even in a dirty enclosure. They have to be introduced via host or carrier. This is how I understand the process. Correct?

[Kid Boa]

I have a question... wouldn't an enclosure preventitive be irrelevant if you quarantine new animals and take appropriate personal hygeine measures when handling animals outside your collection? In other words, mites don't just randomly pop up on your animal, even in a dirty enclosure. They have to be introduced via host or carrier. This is how I understand the process. Correct?

I believe this is what everyone is saying in a round about way.

Dirty enclosures with un cleaned fecal, urine and/or skin can spawn mites.

EDIT: Let me re phrase what I said above. An un clean enclosure will not SPAWN mites (POOF like magic) , it just makes a very enticing environment for them. Every time you introduce something new to the snakes enclosure (food, bedding, furniture and even your own body and clothing) you have a chance of bring home mites.

I believe the OP was asking if he HAD to use mite prevention. As stated above he does not with proper cleaning, its just added protection.

[LadyWraith]

Oh okay. I was just curious mostly. :) Wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something information wise about mites and such.

[nyx]

Dirty enclosures with un cleaned fecal, urine and/or skin can spawn mites.

EDIT: Let me re phrase what I said above. An un clean enclosure will not SPAWN mites (POOF like magic) , it just makes a very enticing environment for them.

No, it doesn't. The mites feed on snakes. Why would they be "interested" in snake feces?

[Kid Boa]

This should explain it all.

Reptile Mites - Karingal Vet Hospital (http://www.karingalvet.com.au/Pet-Care/Reptiles-and-Amphibians/Reptile-Mites.asp)

[Terranaut]

Lol. Like I said with that regiment for cleaning as long as the op doesn't come in contact with mites the snakes will never get them.
Extra cleaning is useless....extra precautions around other or new reptiles is not.
Eg. No matter how clean you are personally if you rub heads with someone who has head lice you will get it too.

[KORBIN5895]

I believe this is what everyone is saying in a round about way.

Dirty enclosures with un cleaned fecal, urine and/or skin can spawn mites.

EDIT: Let me re phrase what I said above. An un clean enclosure will not SPAWN mites (POOF like magic) , it just makes a very enticing environment for them. Every time you introduce something new to the snakes enclosure (food, bedding, furniture and even your own body and clothing) you have a chance of bring home mites.

I believe the OP was asking if he HAD to use mite prevention. As stated above he does not with proper cleaning, its just added protection.

An unclean enclosure is completely irrelevant to the mite issue.

[Kid Boa]

I think we are going too far with this, LOL.

I was simply saying that snake poop and skin will attract snake mite "IF" mites are in the area. Snake mites can tell the difference between other reptile, animal and even human fecal and skin and the will head for it.

[KORBIN5895]

I think we are going too far with this, LOL.

I was simply saying that snake poop and skin will attract snake mite "IF" mites are in the area. Snake mites can tell the difference between other reptile, animal and even human fecal and skin and the will head for it.

Ummmmmm. Do you have anything to support this? Snake mites have nothing to do with snake poop.

[Kid Boa]

Yes, I posted it above.

[Terranaut]

Ummmmmm. Do you have anything to support this? Snake mites have nothing to do with snake poop.

Clean. Dirty. Poopy..... unless you bring them home on you or a new animal none of this matters BUT I also read an article that said mites are attracted to live snakes, and snake poop as means of finding the snake. They smell with their legs. It is actually a nice complete article but I did not read the entire thing (at work).
Reptile Mites - Karingal Vet Hospital (http://www.karingalvet.com.au/Pet-Care/Reptiles-and-Amphibians/Reptile-Mites.asp)

[sharthun]

This should explain it all.

Reptile Mites - Karingal Vet Hospital (http://www.karingalvet.com.au/Pet-Care/Reptiles-and-Amphibians/Reptile-Mites.asp)

Good read!

[shaunyboy]

i think a lot of people clean their tanks too much,imo a totaly sterile enviroment is not good for a snake

i spot clean and change the newspaper substrate when required...

i only give the full tank a clean once every 6 to 12 months

re mites
i would only use a mite treatment if i had mites

that said,i use provent a mite on quarantine tanks,if i buy from someone i don't know...

when buying from reputable breeders with closed collections i don't use anything

cheers shaun

[sharthun]

I may cut back my preventative treatment to once a year after following this thread and more research,

[Chris72]

I may cut back my preventative treatment to once a year after following this thread and more research,

The right preventative "treatment" doesn't include spraying your collection on some random interval. Mites reproduce every few week so spraying once a year is money for nothing, bad for you and the animals. (Permethrin is a poison and a carcinogen at that)

Quarantine new animals for at least a month before adding to your collection.

A good idea is having a plan to follow....a quarantine procedure to follow (check for mites 2x a week, bath once a week, etc,) so at the end of that month you KNOW the new animal is mite free. We do that and have found mites on animals while in quarantine....the mites never made it to the collection.

Limit who you let in your snake room to keepers you know.

If you visit an expo touch as little as possible then shower before you go into your snake room. When you go to an expo....some there probably has an animal with mites.

The mites have to come in your front door....don't let them.

I know a guy who sprays his entire collection with PAM every 60 days. (He still had an infestation) the PAM is just going to effect his health and limit the life span of his animals.

Permethrin is for when you HAVE mites. You are not helping your collection by randomly spraying for mites once or twice a year.

.

[sharthun]

The right preventative "treatment" doesn't include spraying your collection on some random interval. Mites reproduce every few week so spraying once a year is money for nothing, bad for you and the animals. (Permethrin is a poison and a carcinogen at that)

Quarantine new animals for at least a month before adding to your collection.

A good idea is having a plan to follow....a quarantine procedure to follow (check for mites 2x a week, bath once a week, etc,) so at the end of that month you KNOW the new animal is mite free. We do that and have found mites on animals while in quarantine....the mites never made it to the collection.

Limit who you let in your snake room to keepers you know.

If you visit an expo touch as little as possible then shower before you go into your snake room. When you go to an expo....some there probably has an animal with mites.

The mites have to come in your front door....don't let them.

I know a guy who sprays his entire collection with PAM every 60 days. (He still had an infestation) the PAM is just going to effect his health and limit the life span of his animals.

Permethrin is for when you HAVE mites. You are not helping your collection by randomly spraying for mites once or twice a year.

.

Yeah understanding the biology and reproductive cycle of snake mites really helped me.I tend to overdo things including cage cleaning. Great advice thanks!:cool:

[shaunyboy]

Yeah understanding the biology and reproductive cycle of snake mites really helped me.I tend to overdo things including cage cleaning. Great advice thanks!:cool:

The Life History of Snake Mites | Vida Preciosa International, Inc. (http://www.vpi.com/publications/the_life_history_of_snake_mites)

cheers shaun

[sharthun]

The Life History of Snake Mites | Vida Preciosa International, Inc. (http://www.vpi.com/publications/the_life_history_of_snake_mites)

cheers shaun

Thanks!:cool:

[shaunyboy]

i use provent a mite with my quarantine tanks....

it remains active for 30 days,so kills any mites a new snake may bring

its always worked first time everytime for me

theres no need for repeat treatments, like some of the other mite treatments

you do NOT put chemicals directly on the snake

its designed for reptiles

its the only product i use regards mites

i quarantine new snakes for at least 6 months

that said,if the new snakes from a trusted reputable breeder with a closed collection,i don't quarantine at all

cheers shaun