Ahh!! Mites!!

[tHeGiNo]

You know, I always thought I was ready should my collection be blessed with mites. However, you really dont think of all the different things that could happen. I have a 7 foot BCI in a 6.5 foot tank. Let me tell you this is a REAL pain to clean. So far, I have taken her out of the enclosure. She has had 3 baths: one in hand soap and water, one with golden listerine and water and another with nix and water. I filled up the HUGE tank with 3 inches of water then sprayed down the walls. Ive replaced the substrate with newspaper. So far I have not encountered any problems. However, the boa was in shed. With all this bathing, her skin has started to come off in the middle of her body. Is this a problem?

[JDouglas]

The rest of the skin should come off fine. It is probably just so water logged it is coming off in the middle.

[Beardonicus]

Uhhh....I hate to break it to ya, but none of the stuff you mentioned gets rid of mites. You might kill a few but you really need some stuff geared specifically toward mites, like Black Knight or Provent-a-mite.......you gotta kill EVERY single egg as well or else you've done nothing.

[redtail]

I have used Reptile Relief and it is awesome.

[Zoe]

I hate to break it to ya, but none of the stuff you mentioned gets rid of mites. That isn't true. Diluted nix works great, just spray the tank and snake (without the water dish of course). DO it again in a few weeks and you should be fine.

Zoe

[Wizer69er]

i have used diluted nix not to long ago and it seems to have done the job so far.

[BoidKeeper]

Diluted nix is like making your own home made proventamite. It's probably the number one treatment in Canada because we can't get proventamite very easily. I've used vapona too but I don't recomend it anymore since I was told how to use nix. Luckily I've only ever had mites onece over a year ago.
Cheers,
Trevor

[Pixie]

I agree with the others, the diluted Nix solution is a great way to get rid of mites. I've used it in the past with good results.

I would recommend to spray down the snake and it's enclosure once a week for 3 weeks. Usually after the first treatment, you shouldn't see any mites left. The other two treatments are to kill off any mites that were born of eggs that weren't eradicated. Apparently Nix also kills the eggs but I have no confirmation on that info.

Pixie

[Orryll]

what is the full work for nix?

my baby colombian has mites :( and would like to get that stuff. I used ivory soap on my two ball pythons once a week for 3 weeks. with out the water bowl of course and that has worked perfectly for them never had mites since on the balls. tried ivory soap with the colombian and the skin got all shrively so I don want to try it again. But the mites gave gone onder the belly scales and side scales. They are more anoying and a eye sore then anything else but, I still want them gone.

[Zoe]

Orryll, check out my site (www.moreliaspilota.com) and there are step-by-step instructions there.

And yeah don't use soap anymore. And don't forget that they can pose a health risk to your snake (dehydration, etc, more info in the link)

Zoe

[justinO]

We received the same blessing last month. Thankfully, someone posted the proper NIX procedure to assist us. It worked like a charm :)

here's the link to the thread. http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=21147&highlight=mites

good luck

[Orryll]

Thanks Zoe!! u r the best!!

[chas*e]

Mites and other external parasites are a natural thing for snakes to have in the wild. Of course in captivity they are a pain because of the stress they cause the snake, not to mention the cross disease contamination if you have more than one snake.I have found that NIX(dilluted) is safe and easy to manage any mite problem...spray the enclosure and the snake once for 2 weeks and they will be gone...another dose may be required ..play it by ear...good luck

[Zoe]

chas*e, yes mites do bother snakes in the wild, but it is different and not as dangerous because the snake is constantly moving and changing locations, not giving the mites a chance to develop into a huge population. Whereas in captivity, the mites just keep mulitplying ang multiplying around the snake, thus creating and bigger problem :S.

Zoe

[BOAS_N_PYTHONS]

THEGINO:

LOL, yeap mites go away and die fast on NIX treatment like everyone said here the solution works perfect.

Hey Dave how are things?

Cya...

Tony

[tHeGiNo]

Beardonicus, funny you should say that, I got rid of the mites within two days. And there was quite the large population. However this was at a LARGE cost, more time wise though. I had to throw a way 3 inches thick of substrate from a 6.5 foot glass tank. I did numerous soaks in just water, once with soap, once with listerine solution, the rest with nix. Then i filled the tank with water, yes filled it, with a nix solution, then emptied it out. SOMEHOW, there were like 15 mites left. I resorted to killing them one by one then soaking the tank again. Finally I dried it and put the snake back in with a large waterbowl. She soaked and now is mite free, thank god.

Tony: Things are great, thanks. Yourself?

[tHeGiNo]

Wow, I forgot to say thanks for all your advice. Zoe, I couldn't find on the site why soap is bad but thanks for letting me know. It was suggested to me by a few people which is why I used it.

[Zoe]

Yeah I didn't write it.
Soap may not be bad, but I don't think it's good to leave goop on the snake's body. It only kills the adult mites, anyway.

Zoe

[spyderman]

Originally posted by Orryll
what is the full work for nix?
never had mites since on the balls.

Lol...Sorry, I just saw this & I was wondering...Who has Mites, you or the python???

Seriously, though. I have heard that the spray stuff you get for dog & cats fleas is the most effective method of getting rid of mites on a snake. I can't remember the name of the stuff but when I do, I'll post it straight up. A breeder friend of mine uses it all the time.

[Orryll]

lmao me and my bad spelling and grammer!! can u belive I am in college? :P


I meant

What is the full name of nix ( I know what it is now)

never had mites on my ball pythons.

[spydermrs]

I have just remembered the name of the cat/dog flea spray a breeder m8 of mine uses on his reptiles. Over here, in the Uk it's called FRONTLINE. in spray form. It's the best thing for any mite.

[Linds]

Originally posted by Orryll

What is the full name of nix ( I know what it is now)


Nix is the full name.

[reverendsterlin]

I prefer Black Knight, safe and kills eggs and such, cheaper and in a larger can than Provent-a-Mite. Nix can usually be found in the Grocery store in the medical area, used to get rid of lice in children/adult's hair and supposedly safe for pets, spray and liquid I believe.

[Kathy]

I used Nix and was totally rid of all mites in about 2 hours. You have to dilute it quite a big (4 gallons of water to 1 little bottle of the shampoo) and mix it really well, then put it in a spray bottle. Spray the snakes (everywhere on them, including hte head) and their entire enclosure, as well as about a 5 foor radius around their enclosure (in case there are any hiding in the carpet). Make sure everything is soaked in the stuff, and don't give your snake a water dish for 24hours (so that he wont soak in it and wash off the Nix solution). The full instructions are at www. k i n g s n a k e .com/TARAS/contents/nix.doc

[reverendsterlin]

lol, I figure 1/8th bottle to 2 quarts will work as well

[lolaophidia]

Black Knight works for me! I recently had mites in a couple of my enclosures and Black Knight did the trick. It also works great on flying insects too- had to take out a paper wasp nest in my doorway yesterday...