Mites

[unknownclown]

Hello :)
I was just going over my mice and noticed this little teeny tiny red dot cruising around on a toilet paper roll. Im pretty sure its a mite and now I am totally disgusted.
Is there any way I can get rid of these dang things? I mean I know when I freeze the mice they will no longer be a threat but I realy dont them in my apartment! UGH I doubt I will sleep tonight just the thought of having mites in my room makes me itch! Please tell me there is a way to rid myself of these disgusting things without killing my whole stock of mice :(

[unknownclown]

ok I am an impatient little wench I could not just sit by and let mites live in my room without trying something. So I put one drop if that of Hartz flea and tick on them like I would my cat. If I kill the mice then I kill them. I havent noticed any in the tank in the living room with a prego and a nursing female so Ill leave those alone.
I guess if they live I have just made all my feeders breeders since there is no way Ill feed my snakes mice with that crap on them and I have no idea how long it will take to wear off nor do I care to chance it.

[Linds]

Eek. I wouldn't recommend using them as feeders anymore once you have used that on them. {{If they even survive}}. Those treatments are geared towards much larger masses, think about the amount of medication you use on a 10lb cat, and then think about the relation to that of a 30 g mouse :eek: There are commercial treatments for fleas/mites for rodents, however I would avoid using them on feeders, because you don't know how much residue may be retained, and the last thing you want to do is end up poisoning your herps. Your best bet, IMHO, wouldve been to go with vapona :confused: As awful as the stuff is, it is probably your best bet for feeders. Place a 1" square on (or as close as you can) the cages where the rodents cannot come into contact with them, and nobody else will be able to either (the stuff is so toxic). If there are water bowls, make sure they get changed frequently, as a residue can develop on the surface of the water. I know its too late, but maybe this will give you more idea in case this happens again in the future. Good luck.

[marisa]

I am not the most informed about mite control in rodents....BUT....on another forum during a similiar discussion, a few people suggested SevenDust. I think its like a powder you sprinkle around your cages and possibly in them. They said they had good results. But you'd have to research this a bit more. Like I said I am no expert.

I would make sure you don't feed any mouse that has come in contact with that Hartz flea control to a snake. I would think it could be harmful.

Marisa

[unknownclown]

Like I said IF they survive they will become breeders they will deffinately not be fed to the snakes I love the snakes too much! The mice... well they are only a $1.50 to replace and I just cant see spending more on a cure.
After treating (or poisoning) them I remembered that there are mites that eat other mites that are perfectly safe for the animals. I cant believe I didnt think of them since I recomend them to people whos plants have developed mites. Oh well too late now :/ I wonder if I should give them a bath...haha... may not be a bad idea.
I just spent the last 10 minutes staring at the tank with the nursing and pregnant females and it seems to be clear. So I guess at least I still have them. Man I hope that next litter is a big one!

[unknownclown]

YAY they are still alive and running around as if they are healthy. I also havent seen any live mites on the newspaper that I put down in the cage. I think Ill throw them in the tub today and run the shower. Ive talked to my vet about Advantage before and he says it will just wash off my dog when I give him a bath so hopefully Hartz will do the same.
Of course now I need to go to the pet store and buy another tank since I didnt have a chance to take enough males out from my last litter to feed the snakes. Oh well at least I have enough females for every one and they are alive. Ugh Ive been stressing out all night watching for even the teeniest sign that they may not make it.

Does anyone know how long a mite can live without feeding? I was up till 2 in the morning trying to find anything about it and for the life of me I cant.

It neveer fails as soon as I ask a question I find the answer.
In case anyone cares Mice mites can live a week without feeding acording to this...http://www.accupest.com/html/rodent_mites.HTML

[reptilesalonica]

the longest the mites could survive is 40 days. But of course this is for very low temps. I would suggest cleaning the cages, put newspaper, then put vapona for 3 days. The 4th day throw away vapona, open a window where the cages are and at the 5th day continue another 3 day mite-control with a brand new vapona.
Good luck ~Greg~

[Burmies]

Nice thinking. You are right to make them breeders instead of feeders.

Burmies

[Linds]

I would be weary of the offspring as well. If this product does work like advantage flea control, it is absorbed by the animals, not just creating an external residue. Anything the mothers absorb is excreted in their milk.

[unknownclown]

haha Thanks Burmies for the nice words :) I fell like such a twit putting the stuff on them but UGH I was just so grossed out by the thought that I had to do something. All the cages, water bottles and wheels have soaked in bleach over night and so far so good.

\Oh and Linds there arent any adult males in the 2 tanks so none of them will be expecting for a while. The males I do have were just weaned last week. If any pop out babies in the next month or so Ill dispose of them.

[Linds]

Originally posted by unknownclown

I just spent the last 10 minutes staring at the tank with the nursing and pregnant females and it seems to be clear. So I guess at least I still have them.

I'm confused now......

[unknownclown]

Oh ok I get ya now ;)
I was refering to the mice I have in the front room. I havent noticed any on them and since they are pregnant or nursing I havent messed with them.
Its the ones in my room that have the mites. Sorry about the confusion.