Dreaded mites again

[Toggsy]

Last year I had an out break of mites right pain in the backside but I got rid of them well I've had another outbreak of mites again found some on the spotted python and some on the carpets in the viv above.
The only place that can think I got them from is the substrate as I recently changed the substrate in the spotted python tank when I was moving them around.
So today I've spent most of the day sorting the vivs out which is a task in itself given the amount of vivs I have.
So today everything's been taken out and steamed cleaned with a hand steamer all the vivs steamed inside as well and all the substrate replaced with paper.
All the water bowls have been removed for the 24hrs and all the vivs were then treated with callingtons mite spray.
I shall keep them all on paper now for the next 3 weeks and repeat the callingtons weekly I will also soak the snakes daily for 15 mins.

Now normally I buy my substrate in bulk sacks as the cost works out a lot cheaper admittedly I think this outbreak might of been my fault as the bag was in the shed for while.
Now my question is, would buying smaller bags and freezing them in the freezer reduce the risk of mites happening again and also does freezing them kill the eggs.

Top tip for anyone treating for mites invest in a handheld steamer it's great for getting into all the nooks and crannies so you can be sure you will get any hiding mites or eggs, plus the steam sterilises the viv and it's great for getting stubborn stains up.

[KORBIN5895]

Those aren't snake mites of you think they can from outside.

[Aaron_S]

My question to you would be, how would reptile mites survive and thrive within substrate out in a shed with apparently no reptiles living in it?

[Toggsy]

My question to you would be, how would reptile mites survive and thrive within substrate out in a shed with apparently no reptiles living in it?

Apparently I've been told the eggs can lie dormant for months very similar to fleas eggs hence why I'm suspecting the substrate as I can't think of where else they could of come from.
Any other suggestions where they came from ?
But regardless of where they came from I've got them :hmm:

[SSSSnakes]

Snake mites only come from other snakes, not substrate or rodents. Never heard of snake mite eggs going dormant.

[Aaron_S]

Apparently I've been told the eggs can lie dormant for months very similar to fleas eggs hence why I'm suspecting the substrate as I can't think of where else they could of come from.
Any other suggestions where they came from ?
But regardless of where they came from I've got them :hmm:

If they are in fact snake mites then you most likely never got rid of them. Barring any new arrivals or anyone else with reptiles being in your home.

If your substrate is of wood they could be wood mites.

[Donnie]

I always leave my new substrate in the garage for at least a month to make sure if any mites who have piggy backed a ride from the shop die off before it comes into the house. Shaun has put a good link on here regarding the mite life cycle so if you search you should find it (I'm on my phone or I would do it) but I am sure the eggs don't stay dorment for a while. If you have been into a reptile shop or somebody else's house who keeps reps it is possible/probable they came from them. As regards to the paper substrate, yes I would keep them all on it until you are certain the little buggers are gone.

[Toggsy]

I always leave my new substrate in the garage for at least a month to make sure if any mites who have piggy backed a ride from the shop die off before it comes into the house. Shaun has put a good link on here regarding the mite life cycle so if you search you should find it (I'm on my phone or I would do it) but I am sure the eggs don't stay dorment for a while. If you have been into a reptile shop or somebody else's house who keeps reps it is possible/probable they came from them. As regards to the paper substrate, yes I would keep them all on it until you are certain the little buggers are gone.
It's a possibility that I may have picked them up from the local reptile shop as I do help out in there and I'm always handling snakes and various lizards.
I'm not panicking as I've treated for mites before so I know its treatable I shall be keeping them all on paper until the little buggers are gone.
I'll check that thread out regarding the life cycle.
It just seemed strange I change the substrate then I get them hence the conclusion of where they came from.

[BC Arboreals]

Last year I had an out break of mites right pain in the backside but I got rid of them well I've had another outbreak of mites again found some on the spotted python and some on the carpets in the viv above.
The only place that can think I got them from is the substrate as I recently changed the substrate in the spotted python tank when I was moving them around.
So today I've spent most of the day sorting the vivs out which is a task in itself given the amount of vivs I have.
So today everything's been taken out and steamed cleaned with a hand steamer all the vivs steamed inside as well and all the substrate replaced with paper.
All the water bowls have been removed for the 24hrs and all the vivs were then treated with callingtons mite spray.
I shall keep them all on paper now for the next 3 weeks and repeat the callingtons weekly I will also soak the snakes daily for 15 mins.

Now normally I buy my substrate in bulk sacks as the cost works out a lot cheaper admittedly I think this outbreak might of been my fault as the bag was in the shed for while.
Now my question is, would buying smaller bags and freezing them in the freezer reduce the risk of mites happening again and also does freezing them kill the eggs.

Top tip for anyone treating for mites invest in a handheld steamer it's great for getting into all the nooks and crannies so you can be sure you will get any hiding mites or eggs, plus the steam sterilises the viv and it's great for getting stubborn stains up.

You need to treat the whole room. All it takes is one mite or one egg and your infested again I know people who have problems with mites and they never treat the whole room. This is a must! I had a outbreak from getting a new animal 6-7 years ago, and I did what you did the first time and within 2 months bam they where back. I then treated the whole room, Carpets, blinds, walls, cages under the cages, behind the tubs in the racks, I mean everywhere, I even treated outside the room and high traffic areas. I did this twice over a 2 week period. I have not seen a mite since that first time I sprayed everything down. I have a strict no mite guarantee on my animals so this is why I am so picky, and so strict with this.


I spray new cages and animals down before they reach my place, I also keep a strict quarantine and there cages are sprayed down the day the animals come in and a few weeks later. I had 2 snakes come in infested with mites and because of my strict practices the animal was mite free the day I got it and no mites made it to my collection. This is why people have to be strict with animals they have come in and don't just introduce animals straight into there collection.

I also use NIX and not any aresol. I have never had any issues even with baby snakes using NIX.

[BC Arboreals]

It's a possibility that I may have picked them up from the local reptile shop as I do help out in there and I'm always handling snakes and various lizards.
I'm not panicking as I've treated for mites before so I know its treatable I shall be keeping them all on paper until the little buggers are gone.
I'll check that thread out regarding the life cycle.
It just seemed strange I change the substrate then I get them hence the conclusion of where they came from.


This is also why I use newspaper in all my enclosures, because you cannot carry any mites or other backpackers in to your collection. I even use newspaper with my green tree pythons. Never have an issue with sheds, or humidity using paper. I even only buy my rodent bedding from feed shops so there is never a issue with my rodents transferring mites to snakes.

[Toggsy]

Good point raised with treating the room.
I haven't chemically treated the room but I have steamed the carpets and floors around room with the steamer and then used the carpet washer afterwards.
I've also imposed a strict no handling rule on the snakes much to my kids disappointment and annoyance but better safe than sorry.

[SSSSnakes]

Adult male and female mites are lively, crawling insects, actively seeking a blood meal. Often the mites will not be seen until they have fed. Whether they feed or not, the adults live for up to 40 days. The males copulate with several females before and after feeding, and within 5 to 8 days of eating, the females will lay eggs. Only fed females will lay eggs, but breeding is not essential for the eggs to hatch. A female mite can lay up to 80 eggs in her limited life span. A fed female that was bred will lay about 20 eggs, and these fertilized eggs will all hatch into females depending on temp and RH, in about 40 to 56 hours at 77 degrees F and greater than 50% RH. The fed females that were not bred will also lay about 20 eggs, and these unfertilized eggs will (through parthenogenesis) develop into males. The larvae that result from all the eggs are small, white, and non feeding. they live off the reptile and are very susceptible to drying.

After 18 to 24 hours at 77 degree F and greater than 50% RH, the larvae develop into the protonymph, which is an active, aggressive, and feeding stage. Once the protonymph has obtained a blood meal, it will transform into a deutonymph in 3 to 7 days. The protonymph can endure starvation for up to 31 days but is very susceptible environmental conditions. At the previously mentioned temperatures and RH, the deutonymph will develop into the adult within 24 hours.

This information was from the book: Understanding Reptile Parasittes, by Roger J. Klingenberg, DVM

[Tsubaki]

Not sure if anyone here ever mentioned this tip, or even knows it.. But it does really help! If you put double sided tape around the openings of a viv, where a mite could get through (around sliding doors, ventilation openings etc).. They can't walk back into your vivs through slide door openings etc. It does work annoying though, you sometimes stick yourself to the tape :D (olive oil works too, but that is even messier and needs more replacing). But that one time, i had a quarantine animal i suspected having mites, i couldn't be happier with my tape when i found dead mites on it. - they never spread! :D

Btw, if you happen to vacuum the room, a good thing you could do is put a small piece of cut up anti flea/mite dog or cat collar in the vacuum bag (make sure its one that works on mites as well) Just like when you have a flea infestation, mites can survive in the vacuum cleaner!

[BIGT FROM F.B.]

This is what I've always used. Seem to work perfectly.

Provent-a-Mite (http://pro-products.com/provent-a-mite/)

[SSSSnakes]

This is what I've always used. Seem to work perfectly.

Provent-a-Mite (http://pro-products.com/provent-a-mite/)

Agree 100%

[shaunyboy]

Good point raised with treating the room.
I haven't chemically treated the room but I have steamed the carpets and floors around room with the steamer and then used the carpet washer afterwards.
I've also imposed a strict no handling rule on the snakes much to my kids disappointment and annoyance but better safe than sorry.

PROVENT A MITE

use once mites dead,it's that easy mate

easy to use spray can,that does a lot of viv's

it's designed for reptiles

you don't put chemicals directly onto the snake

it remains active for 30 days,so is great for quarantine tanks

no need for repeat treatments like other products

cheers shaun

[Tsubaki]

Why don't they sell that stuff here, everyone here uses flea shampoo ... sigh.

[shaunyboy]

This is what I've always used. Seem to work perfectly.

Provent-a-Mite (http://pro-products.com/provent-a-mite/)

^^^^^
thats the BEST mite treatment available,its the only product i use


cheers shaun

[shaunyboy]

Why don't they sell that stuff here, everyone here uses flea shampoo ... sigh.

it's difficult to get over here in the UK, because no one from provent a mite paid for a UK licence

but you can get it if you know the right people


cheers shaun

[Lankyrob]

it's difficult to get over here in the UK, because no one from provent a mite paid for a UK licence

but you can get it if you know the right people


cheers shaun

Ebay is the way to go ;)

[MH4C]

Regarding the difficulty to get Provent-a-mite. In the Netherlands there are anti-insect sprays with the same active compound as provent-a-mite (Permethrin I believe it was called). It takes some looking at the ingredient list of canned insect sprays, as most use either tetramethrin or pymethrin which are not suitable.

Tsubaki: I used a can of anti-ant spray from the intratuin (low percentage of permetrhin, half of it compared to provent-a-mite I think it was) once and it worked perfectly on the enclosure. Also seemed to stay active for a long time, as I got rid of all the mites with a single treatment.

[Tsubaki]

Hmm ill check that out thx :D