Mites vs. Nix

[Terranaut]

Well it happened. We got mites. Don't know where they came from but they came just the same. So after reading the mite threads on here I got some Nix, added it to 4 l of distilled water and spent an hour washing everything in all 3 cages. My snakes hate me now I'm sure. But you gotta get these buggers right away. I only have found maybe 5 mites but I take no chances. I will post back my results. I first got Jurasimite but after spraying it right on a mite and watching it run away I figure that stuff is crap and should have gone this route on the first place. Wish us luck.

[stephanbakir]

Best of luck, you should be fine. Make sure to wash everything.

[alessia55]

Hmmm... How can you get mites, if it's not from an outside animal? I've never thought that my snakes could get mites since they really don't have contact with the outside world. Would love to learn how / where they originate from.

Good luck Terrnaut!!! I'll keep my fingers crossed!

[KORBIN5895]

BWAHAHAHAHA.! Jurrasimite is crap! I used it with the same result. And I thought I got mine from my new atb but I am pretty sure it came from the coco husk I bought at the pet store.

[Terranaut]

I thought it might have been the aspen I got but only my boa had visible mites. My other snakes I treated to be smart. I put the rest of the bag outside overnight seeing as its below freezing at night here now. In. A week I will do this again. Like I said I will post results but so far this morning I saw no mites on the paper towel in Macks cage :)

[Jenn_06]

you can bring mites to the snakes, if you go to pet stores or shows...i take my snakes outside all the time and never got mites but the one time i did get mites was when i went to a pet store to see what snake i can "save" and they had a ton of mites next thing i knew i had mites.

[infernalis]

That's correct, The only way you could ever get mites from your aspen is to buy it from a filthy hole in the wall pet shop that has a display room full of infested animals.

and even then, you are far more likely to get the mites on you or your clothing while looking at the display animals.

Mites require a host to survive for any period of time.

I only buy my aspen and hard goods from dealers who do not sell any reptiles.

[Terranaut]

Well in the last month I have been to 5 differnt pet stores to price feeders as well as a small expo. I plan on "saving" more snakes so I guess it was better to have this happen now rather than later when I have a larger collection. We are building a reptile room which will make a future outbreak( hopefully not) easier to clear with no nearby carpet or furniture. Yup I had to wash it all to be 100% . In the end I care way more about my snakes than the work it takes to keep them. Now that I have 3.5l left of Nix I may also just treat any new snake I get the day they come home just to be safe. Considering stuff that doesn't work is $16 a 300ml bottle,Provent a mite is over $20 a can and Nix is $14 to make 4l the choice is clear. Live and learn.

[KORBIN5895]

The place I got my bedding had just got a new shipment of snakes in the week before that apparently had mites. The guy in charge was a junkie and was doing a terrible job(he didn't last long.I actually got him fired cause I went in looking for a UV bulb for a florescent fixture and I showed him my regular florescent bulb, he asked if it was broke and when I said yes he tore open a new package and exchanged bulbs leaving my old bulb on the shelf. I promptly went to my car and called the managers cell.) Anyway he wasn't caring for the animals and he had all the reptile supplies under the display tanks.

[exwizard]

That nix solution works great. We have used this the few times we ever brought any mites home and it instatly eliminates the problem. I agree, you do need to wash up afterward. I got a bad breakout in eczema because I failed to do so last time so chalk that up to "lesson learned".

[Lankyrob]

Our reptile shop is one of the cleanest places i have been too but even so when i get home i shut the front door, strip completely, put the clothes straight in the washing machine then go and shower.

[alessia55]

wow I wouldn't known all that! That's really good to know. Thankfully I haven't had to deal with mites yet. All the more reason to be careful about when I get back from expos or pet stores. Thanks ya'll!

[KORBIN5895]

Our reptile shop is one of the cleanest places i have been too but even so when i get home i shut the front door, strip completely, put the clothes straight in the washing machine then go and shower.

Why bother shutting the door? I think you should leave it open and sell tickets!

[shaunyboy]

i'm NOT having a go at anyone or trying to be cheeky but.....

i can't understand why people preffer to use treaments like nix

if i'm reading correctly you have to wash EVERYTHING with it

also it may require multipule treatments


provent a mite is what i use.....

you spray everything once and the mites are dead,gone in 1 simple easy spray

is there a down side to provent a mite i'm missing ?

to the op
i am in no way having a go at you or your thread,i am merely puzzled why folk choose imo a much more complicated and labour intensive way to deal with mites

cheers shaun

[sassy_snake_lady]

I have just used Ardap for the first time.

Just had an outbreak of mites on one of my boas. All gone now though. I like the Ardap as you can spray the floor, carpets, everything and create a barrier the mites can't cross which helps stop the little beggars spreading further.

[lady_bug87]

the prospect of getting mites is scary... thankfully I haven't had the experience. I always go to the same reptile supplier and they are constantly cleaning

[KORBIN5895]

i'm NOT having a go at anyone or trying to be cheeky but.....

i can't understand why people preffer to use treaments like nix

if i'm reading correctly you have to wash EVERYTHING with it

also it may require multipule treatments


provent a mite is what i use.....

you spray everything once and the mites are dead,gone in 1 simple easy spray

is there a down side to provent a mite i'm missing ?

to the op
i am in no way having a go at you or your thread,i am merely puzzled why folk choose imo a much more complicated and labour intensive way to deal with mites

cheers shaun
I can't speak for anyone else Shaun but for me it was the initial convenience. I just went out and got some at the store. Where as I would have had to ordered in some PAM.
On a side note. The reason I had such a hard time with my mites is because I had purchased a bottle of Kwellada for my kids when my son's preschool had a lice outbreak. So I had put the nix in the medicine cabinet because my wife said she would mix it for me while I was working. She used the kwellada as opposed to the nix. Kwellada doesn't work fyi.

[Terranaut]

i'm NOT having a go at anyone or trying to be cheeky but.....

i can't understand why people preffer to use treaments like nix

if i'm reading correctly you have to wash EVERYTHING with it

also it may require multipule treatments


provent a mite is what i use.....

you spray everything once and the mites are dead,gone in 1 simple easy spray

is there a down side to provent a mite i'm missing ?

to the op
i am in no way having a go at you or your thread,i am merely puzzled why folk choose imo a much more complicated and labour intensive way to deal with mites

cheers shaun

I am never offended. If you know something I don't I want to hear it ;)

One thing about PAM is you can't treat the snake itself as far as I know.
Also. Its tough to get here. I either need to mail order it or drive an hour to get it. Nix is sold at every drug store around here. Plus its cheap and I can use it right on the snake as well as my carpets.

Thats why the interest. Not just brand preference.

[millertime89]

I am never offended. If you know something I don't I want to hear it ;)

One thing about PAM is you can't treat the snake itself as far as I know.
Also. Its tough to get here. I either need to mail order it or drive an hour to get it. Nix is sold at every drug store around here. Plus its cheap and I can use it right on the snake as well as my carpets.

Thats why the interest. Not just brand preference.

When I visited Travis this past weekend he had a shelf just for PAM. That's all he used. Think about it, when you spray the enclosure and the substrate, the snake crawls all over it, effectively treating itself. He religiously sprays his enclosures every time he cleans, and he coats his show displays as well to ensure he never gets mites from his neighbors. I think if a big breeder of retics swears by the stuff, its good enough for me, and good enough to spend the extra money on to have it shipped to me.

[Lankyrob]

I ordered two cans of PAM off ebay when i got my snakes (after Shauns recommendation) i keep it just in case!

[Terranaut]

Well last night I checked on and changed the paper towel in all my snake cages. The infected snake had 3 dead mites I could see and the others none. I looked again this morning and all seems clear. I have to go to Toronto this weekend so I will pick up some PAM then. Nix kills mites though. No doubts there.

[bighillreptiles]

provent a mite is next to imposabe to get in Canada so nix is the way i go but for the most part a vapona no pest strip hanging in the room keeps bugs dead dont use it if you keep feeder isects or spiders tho


All insect control items are for personal use only, and can only be used as described on the label. By purchasing this product, you agree to use this for personal use (only applied within your own home) and will only be used in the manner as described on the label and for the insects listed on the label.

Ortho Home Defense Max strip gives off a virtually odourless insecticidal vapour which will provide control of flies, mosquitoes, and other small flying insects for up to four months. This strip is for use in unoccupied (people and animals) areas. Not for use in homes except garages, attics, crawl spaces and sheds, that are occupied for less than 4 hours per day. Can be used in animal and farm buildings, milk rooms (avoid contamination of milk or milking equipment), motels, restaurants (non-food areas only), food processing plants (non-food areas only), industrial and commercial locations, kennels, garbage storage areas and containers, and similar enclosed spaces, if the areas are occupied for less than 4 hours per day. It also can be used in cottages, cabins and trailers, if areas are to be unoccupied for 4 months following placement of the strips. Please read entire label before using.

Indoor use

Remove strip from the pouch and suspend with the accompanying hook in an enclosed space of up to 30 cubic metres. This strip is NOT designed to repel or kill insects instantly. Allow free air movement but hang strips away from open widnows and doors where excessive ventilation may reduce efficiency. Strips should be at least 3 metres apart.

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KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN AND PETS. To avoid misuse, observe the following precautions. Wash hands after handling. Do not use in areas where the chronically ill may be exposed. Certain tropical fish and caged birds may be harmed by continuous exposure to vapour. Do not use in areas where beekeeping equipment and/or supplies are stored. Follow good sanitary practice by regular collection and disposal of dead insects.