NIX revisited

[jlax786]

i was reading a thread from a little while ago about using nix to get rid of mites...it says to spray encloser and all that stuff and leave water dish out for awile....my question is do you have to rinse that stuff out after you've sprayed......or do you just leave it on the encloser and snake...........also something off topic what do the numbers next to an animal mean....like 1.1 ball python

[mykee]

1.2 would mean 1 male, 2 females.
As for your Nix question, I wipe it all away, along with the dead mites. For more information, do a search on "Nix" on this site, and you'll be absolutely inundated with good information.

[RobV]

I agree with Mykee, I've used many other "mite prevention" and "mite cures" that are out there, and nothing works as well and fast as Nix. Again, do a search on this site and you will find out how much to dilute etc.

As for cleaning, My method involves:
1. Remove snake from enclosure and put in a Nix-bath (make sure it's escape proof) ~2inches deep or whatever so he's submerged, but can still get his head out to breath comfortably.
2. Take EVERYTHING out of enclosure and spray down with Nix. For the substrate, put it in its own plastic garbage bag and keep it well away from any of your other reptile stuff (ie. put it outside, at the curb for garbage pick-up, whatever, just get it away from everything)
3. I spray down the entire enclosure and ornaments with a very concentrated Nix solution. Let it sit for like 5 minutes, then rinse it out really good - take it to the bathtub if possible, or better yet, outside and hose it out. if it's too big to move, wipe it down well.
4. Add new newspaper to bottom of enclosure, as well as a hiding place - but keep everything very minimal now so its easier to clean - ie. one hiding place made of smooth plastic.
5. Take snake out of bath and 'dry' him off with a towel or paper towel - *gently* squeeze it down his body away from his head so you remove all the dead mites (and possible alive ones climbing around). Make sure to immediately throw the towel in the wash, or throw out the paper towels (with the old substrate).
6. Put snake back in enclosure - and keep an eye on him.

I repeat this every day or every other day for a total of up to 5 treatments, and that's been fine for me.