Mites- Listen Up!

[T.O-SK8TER]

I used to have a boa that had mites ( he is still alive today I traded for a burm) Everything I tried would not work and I tried for months and months. I came up with a non toxic idea. I cleaned the cage and vacumed the floor every other day and every 24 hours I would cover the snake in a thick layer of non scented soap, I used dove. Do not rinse the soap off put the snake back in the cage with the layer of soap on it. Rinse the snake off in water the next day and apply again. DO NOT LEAVE SOAP ON DURRING FEEDING. I noticed no mites after a few days but I did this treatment all for three weeks to be safe. Its a lot of work but it is sure worth it.

GOOD LUCK!

[Mason]

I've got a cricket under my fridge right now that has been real loud for the past week.

[Zoe]

I'd be a little concerned about leaving soap on a snake for that long... wouldn't it irritate his scales? I used Nix and it worked awesome, and I only had to do it twice ( for safety).

Zoe

[T.O-SK8TER]

No the soap did not irritate him at all and you can also leve the water dish in the cage aswell. this method worked really well. I highly recomend it. I also wash my snakes with soap ever month and no problems!

[Zoe]

Why do you wash your snakes, of out curiosity?

As for leaving the water bowl... what would happen if the snake went for a soak and then drank from the bowl? :\

[T.O-SK8TER]

I wash my snakes because half the time they eat they usually get a bit of blood on them and I dont like handling them when they have blood on them.

If soap gets in the water dish it will not hurt the snake because it is not enough soap and it has no oils in it. It is only toxic soaps with perfumes and oils in it that can harm any animal. These are usually found in dishwash detergants.

[Zoe]

I don't quite understand how your snakes get blood on them? Sorry about all the questions, but none of my snakes every get blood on them.

Yes, but you also rinse a waterdish after washing it with dishsoap. You don't leave a film of suds in the bottom.

[T.O-SK8TER]

The reason why my snakes get blood on them is because I feed them frozen and when aI defrost them blood usually comes out the nose of the prey.

[Grant vg]

I can understand the concept of your mite killing tactics, as many ppl have used the dove-way before with success. However, i have never heard of anyone leaving there snakes covered in 100% dove for 3 weeks straight.
All i have heard is soaking them in a solution of dove (but mostly water) which i believe i read on the VPI.com website.


IMO, there are many easier and proven-safe ways to eradicate mites.
Plus, i dont like leaving anything on my snakes, and unless you have used this method many many times, i would not trust your one-time experience on my snakes.

A good soak in only water and a rub down in a towel will get rid of any dried blood. Remember these arn't dirty dishes...lol

I'd say this information could be very valuable if and when you have tried it on atleast 10 different snakes. But again, id rather use an easier, more-trusted option when it comes to external parasites.

Gvg

[Lisa]

I like my provent a mite, works well for me.

as for the blood, you're probably thawing too hot

[sSNAKESs.com]

I wash my snakes aswell... Have you never had your snake slither through the big fresh mound of morning doo doo before?? LOL Its pretty nasty, and if you dont wash them off it stinks pretty bad.... Same with when a large boa or something similar pee's and your using newspaper substrate... The whole floor of the cage is soaked, the snake in laying in the pee and if you dont wash him off, it stinks aswell... So personally i know exactly where to skater is coming from! :)

[JoeBradley]

I also wash my snakes. A snake that is kept on newspaper can become quite nasty. I think my snakes intentionally crawl through their waste just to irritate me. I have never used soap on them though. Usually just rinse them off with the hose from the sink and mildly warm water. I agree with Jeff and Skater. If I am going to let a snake wrap around my arm I would like him not to smell like poop. As for the mites and soap method (which is where this started anyway) I would not personally use that method.

[T.O-SK8TER]

I used this method as a last resort. I tried everything. Im just letting everyone know so if they are in the same position I was in they may want to try it. I believe that mites on a snake for life is a lot worse than a non toxic soap on a snake for a few weeks!

[Zoe]

Why not just use nix or proven-a-mite? They are proven methods and you don't need to leave gunk on the snake for that long.

Yeah, I rinse my snakes on occasion too. But I don't wash them off with soap weekly?

Zoe

[SCReptiles]

I appreciate what you were trying to say. This worked for you and you wanted to share it. Don’t let others casting dispersions get you down. Your method may very well help out someone. These treatments mentioned, Nix and Preventomite, are expensive. There could be a young herper out there who has lost his job and needed to read what you posted. And I know of at least one large boa breeder who lost several snakes in his collections after using nix. I would be careful with it.

[Zoe]

SCReptiles - I'm not trying to contradict you but I am curious about the person using Nix and losing snakes? Do you know how he was using it?
I use diluted Nix (1 tablespoon per spray bottle... lol not the most accurate, I know) and spray down the snake and cage (except water bowl). I use it on each new snake (and on all of them when I had mites) and it worked great with no side effects (I've used less than an 11$ bottle... I don't think that can be considered expensive :P, considering thats 3cents american).

But yeah I'd like like to see how he was using it.

I guess I'm just a little skeptical about this method because a) you leave dove gunk on the snake's scales for that long. b) the snake could easily take a swim and then drink the water. it may not kill a healthy snake, but it sure won't do wonders for a sick snake. c) Nix is so much easier! lol Can you tell I like Nix? Maybe it comes from having lice so much as a kid... joking :)

Zoe

[SCReptiles]

No, I couldn’t tell you the method he was using. A few years ago I was feeding live rabbits to my 2.2 burms and I would fight a battle with mites about 2 or 3 times a year. I was speaking with the lady at the local snake shop about new methods and she had mentioned the Nix lice treatment. She told me that she had used it and it worked, but the breeder she buys baby boas from used it and lost several snakes afterward. Since I have switched to frozen rabbits and I have not had a mite in about 2 years. (hint hint). I do like the old ways best! When my snakes had mites, I will dust the burms everywhere but the head with good old 7 dust. Leave it on about 15 minutes and spray it off. Then I would put the yellow no pest stripe in the cage. 100% success every time. This was the widely accepted method about 10 to 15 years ago, and I am well aware most people have moved away from it and claim the stripe has too much poison and 7 dust is bad….blah blah blah. It never gave me a problem and I am a firm believer in “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.” Now I don’t think I would use this on fragile snakes like tree boas, but on big burms it worked great for me. Also, about 2 weeks a go I used it on 2 cottonmouths and a copperhead. Again, 100% success. I don’t consider $11 a bottle expensive, but that is relative. Someone on a hard run of luck may have trouble even buying the food for his herps. Someone in that spot would consider $11 too much, in which case the soap may be the answer for them.

[Zoe]

Yeah I've heard lots of stuff about those no-pest-strips. I guess there really is no fail proof method (except never to get mites in the first place or kill them all by hand :P) because someone will always have a problem, or make a problem, and then others will claim its amazing. Just look at the battle between provent-a-mite and black knight. Some swear by the former, others the latter. Crazy.

However i don't really think diluted nix poses much threat to a healthy snake. This person probably used too high a concentration or left the water bowl in, or had a sick snake, I don't know.

Yeah I hear what you're saying about the $ but you can't keep animals and consider 11$ to be expensive. I could see not wanting to pay 50$ for a can of black knight, but you have to be ready to pay. Of course, if a cheaper method exists, go for it.

What do you think of mineral oil?

[SCReptiles]

I love mineral oil. Always use it for difficult sheds. Aside from the desired effects on mites or sheds, I think it also is beneficial to the animal’s skin. Always had very positive results with oil. I know what you mean on the $11, but people sometimes hit hard luck and already have the animals. Not much you can do then, but try to scrape by cheap as possible.

[theroom101]

The one time I had mites I just got an IvoMec spray from my herp vet (it was only about 8$ and I still have more than half a bottle left), bleached the tank, and then bug bombed my apartment. It is a bit of a pain to have to move all of the animals out of the apartment for eight hours, but I'd rather do that than have to vacuum every day. Of course, I don't have dozens in my collection like some others do! ;-)

[T.O-SK8TER]

I never said I had no money and could not afford a mite removing formula, look at my enclosure it was $500 worth of wood and glass and I am in the process of dubling the size of it. That was not the position I was in. I was meaning that I tried every method to remove mites. I literally spent 6 months trying to get rid of the pests and the soap worked after this long struggle. If I was broke I think I would have settled for a more simple enclosure. Also before ever putting a herp in a wooden enclosure quarantine him/her for a couple months in a plastic cage or aquarium. My new burm has not stepped a single SPUR in my cage yet. Mites and ticks burrough and leave eggs in wood. You would have to through your cage in the garbage if ever got infested!
PEACE OUT

[Zoe]

What other methods did you try in those 6 months and how did you use them?

And don't worry, we weren't implying that you didnt have any money, but that your method could help someone that didnt have any.

[SCReptiles]

T.O-SK8TER, hey man I never said you were broke. I said your method could help out someone who was. Sorry is I offended you.

[MAN OF STEEL]

i got mites about 3 times, but since i bought black night i have not seen even one.
black night is not the cheapest thing,
but i do know it works and dont have to worry about them returning.
and i wash my snakes too, the rat blood and their own waste just does not belong on them. i even believe they like it!

[python_diva_06]

i also wash my snakes...plus i put them in warm water after feeding to calm them down...