So many solutions for mites

[PDXErik]

I'm seeing mites lately. I figure that if I do something about it before it becomes a real plague, they will be better off.

I have read all over the place, mostly here, about solutions for mites.

Some of you stand by Nix, some of you stand by Provent-a-Mite, a few hold the "elbow grease" method. All have good arguments, pro and con.

I'm going to be doing something this weekend, whether it's Provent or Nix, I don't know (the "elbow grease" method doesn't really have much of a vote). I'm leaning towards the Provent as I hear it is effective and doesn't require a great deal of manual labor.

I'll be replacing all of the substrate, of course (another good argument for paper towels vs bark, but I can't maintain humidity without). The snakes will sit in warm water tubs in cardboard boxes while I'm doing the enclosure.

Some questions: How long do I let the snakes drown the mites? How long should the Provent/Nix take to dry? What is the proper procedure for the Nix treatment? Should I pre-treat the new substrate before/after it goes in? Is the residual treatment really enough to kill the remainder of the mites on the snakes? Confirm: I should NOT treat the snakes themselves, correct?

Thanks again.

(I told you I was new!)

[reptilenut4sure]

Personally I use reptile relief it works wonders. You can spray it on anything inside their cage. You can even spray it in the water and it will NOT harm your snake. You can even spray it on your snake and its safe. And it kills the mites eggs and everything else on contact.

[PDXErik]

Hah. Googled Reptile Relief and got a bunch of hits. Looks pretty good. Some helpful sites, most just wanting to sell it to me.

Similar to Provent, spray it on, that's about it (outside of the normal cleaning and re-substrating)? I found 8 oz bottles and 16 oz bottles, how much am I going to need for about 32 sq ft plus walls?

Thanks!

[ffollett]

We use permectrin on any animals we have gotten with mites. When MIXED PROPERLY it can be used on the animal and the cage. The only thing you will need to do is take out the water bowl.

[reptilenut4sure]

im not sure how much you will need for that, but ive used 1 8oz bottle of reptile relief on a
75 gallon aquarium
55 gallon
2 custom cages 36in x 18 inches
15 gallon tank
and a 20 long.

And I still had some left. not to mention I sprayed all the snakes too.
Multiple times.

so I think a 16 oz or a 32 oz would be plenty.

[PDXErik]

Well, I have a bottle of both Provent and Reptile Relief. I figure a two-stage approach will fix the deal. Still some mites will remain in the face, pits and nostrils, eyes and such, but those will die fast enough. 40 litres of new substrate, and time tomorrow.

Just one thing: the Reptile Relief sure tastes better than that Provent.

Nasty.

Edit: I got new water bowls, too, all of the hidey-holes are rubbermaid and are dishwasher safe, and now all of their soaking bowls will be, too. Gotta love that machine.

[TailsW/Scales]

Becarful using P.A.M. (Provent)!!!! It will harm your snake is it's ingested or is on the skin to long. Use that for the cage only.
Use R.R. on the animal itself. Also don't use a substrate when treating external parasites. Use news paper or paper towels. You can soak them a hell of a lot better and with better coverage then a substrate which will always have dry spots.
With proper treatments you and your snake should be mite free in two (maybe three) weeks.

Good luck

[PDXErik]

Becarful using P.A.M. (Provent)!!!! It will harm your snake is it's ingested or is on the skin to long. Use that for the cage only.
Use R.R. on the animal itself. Also don't use a substrate when treating external parasites. Use news paper or paper towels. You can soak them a hell of a lot better and with better coverage then a substrate which will always have dry spots.
With proper treatments you and your snake should be mite free in two (maybe three) weeks.

Good luck

To be clear: I got the Reptile Relief for the snakes themselves, I understand it's not necessary, but I had the $10 so what the hell. I will NOT put PAM (thanks, I was wondering what PAM was) on the snakes, I'll use the RR lightly.

Thanks for the heads-up, though, I can see how that can be misunderstood.

Two-stage, PAM for the enclosure, RR for the snakes (not the face!!).

Edit: brand new substrate as well. Should I just treat the new substrate after it goes in? I have to use substrate, I cannot keep the humidity up without it, paper towels, while preferable, won't work for me :(

[TailsW/Scales]

You're on the right track! BUT (hah! lol) ..................................
DRENCH THAT BABEH!!!!!!!
That's right I said drench the snake in R.R. Even on the face! Won't harm them. I've been using R.R. for four years and have never had one health issue or death.
Here is what I do on ALL new arrivals regardless.

I grab my latex gloves, pick up snake and start spraying! I massage the snakes nose tip to tail tip, to the point they are dripping. Then I place the snake into a completely empty plastic container.

That's it. :D

[PDXErik]

You're on the right track! BUT (hah! lol) ..................................
DRENCH THAT BABEH!!!!!!!
That's right I said drench the snake in R.R. Even on the face! Won't harm them. I've been using R.R. for four years and have never had one health issue or death.
Here is what I do on ALL new arrivals regardless.

I grab my latex gloves, pick up snake and start spraying! I massage the snakes nose tip to tail tip, to the point they are dripping. Then I place the snake into a completely empty plastic container.

That's it. :D

I'd really wait for a second opinion on that. My mites aren't at a plague stage, I only see one on my hand after handling every once in a while, this is completely "nipping it in the bud" stage (as far as I know).

I understand that RR is pretty freaking safe for my little buddies, but I also understand that the normal procedure will take care of my little enemies as well.

I'm not going to kill another snake, dangit, I have to be extra cautious, but thanks for the encouragement!

[ffollett]

She is right I would follow those instructions if I were you.

As for the humidity problem using paper for now. Mist more often to help off set the humidity being lower due to changing substrate. Paper will help you control the mites better. Once they are gone you can go back to using aspen or what ever. I would also use the PAM on the floor around the cage. Make sure you get it in all the little cracks and crevices if you have a sliding glass door on the enclosure. Mites will hide anyplace they can.

[BlueClover]

Something else to be aware of, PAM says on the bottle that it is toxic to the animal if it gets wet. I assume they meant if they actually ingested, but that's something to think about. Also, PAM is pretty strong stuff. I would treat outside, if at all possible; at the very least, make sure there are no animals in the room when you do spray and make sure the fumes are gone before you put any of them back. But that RR is awesome! It says to treat 3 times, but I didn't see any mites after the first treatment.

[PDXErik]

Well, I did the thing today. I emptied the enclosures as best I could (there was dust I couldn't get completely out, but it was just dust, no vaccuum).

After everything was empty and as clean as I could get it, I hosed them down with the PAM (I hope butter-flavoured is ok) according to the directions on the can. After the PAM had dried, I replaced new substrate, I treated the new substrate, allowed that to dry, set a fan up and let all of that sit for about an hour and a half.

While that was going on, I put all of the water bowls (mostly rubbermaid stuff) into the dishwasher and set that to go.

Once everything was set and ready, I took the snakes from the bathroom, where I had set the heater to 80, out of their cardboard boxes, hosed them down with the RR (according to the directions), and replaced them.

It all says to wait a day before replacing the water dishes. If I can't humidify or water for a day, will this be ok?

Everything looks so clean now. Nice. That was a horrible pain in the butt.

[PDXErik]

Ack, I was going to edit my last post so I wasn't double-posting, but I can't. Some forums really frown on it, I try not to when I can.

I have everything so dang clean. My snakes get in there, notice all of the work I've done. And think, "This is a really great place to take a great BIG poop" Not two hours after they're reintroduced. Poop everywhere.

[chu'si]

Ack, I was going to edit my last post so I wasn't double-posting, but I can't. Some forums really frown on it, I try not to when I can.

I have everything so dang clean. My snakes get in there, notice all of the work I've done. And think, "This is a really great place to take a great BIG poop" Not two hours after they're reintroduced. Poop everywhere.
lol i know how u feel on that 1

[PDXErik]

It reminds me of the movie where Gary Busey is talking about a big dog and he says something like, "It <craps> like a man!"

[ffollett]

LOL get use to it.

Ack, I was going to edit my last post so I wasn't double-posting, but I can't. Some forums really frown on it, I try not to when I can.

I have everything so dang clean. My snakes get in there, notice all of the work I've done. And think, "This is a really great place to take a great BIG poop" Not two hours after they're reintroduced. Poop everywhere.