Got bugs?

[sattva]

Well Moe has mites again.... Grrrr... The last time he was treated was 9/12/16... I must have brought them home from my reptile store... I when down there to get a heat bulb and some Reptile Safe... I'v been trying to stay way from that place... and the mite war continues...

[Albert Clark]

It's a pretty good possibility they never were completely eradicated initially. The initial treatment has to complete and followed up two weeks later to get the hatching eggs. Then another 2 weeks after that for any residual or surviving mites. What treatment did you use?

[Andy_G]

Originally Posted by Albert Clark

It's a pretty good possibility they never were completely eradicated initially. The initial treatment has to complete and followed up two weeks later to get the hatching eggs. Then another 2 weeks after that for any residual or surviving mites. What treatment did you use?

I agree with this. For low long did you treat, what method, and to be safe did you treat all snakes or just Moe?

[sattva]

Originally Posted by Andy_G

I agree with this. For low long did you treat, what method, and to be safe did you treat all snakes or just Moe?

When I noticed them for the first time, way back when they started, I panicked and ran to my local reptile store and they sold me $50.oo worth of stuff... A can of PAM, something called reptile spray, and something that smelled like windex so I took it back... What I should have done was jump on this forum to learn about Nix, but that's hindsight!

The only two whom ever had mites is George and Moe... So this is the only two I have ever treated... Now I just used PAM on the two Ball Pythons cages, but this is a first for them, because not only are they still babies yet, but I've never seen any mites on them or in their cages... If you remember, I always keep my guys on white paper towels and I am pretty vigilant in looking for them; but I have to say the only time I really ever have seen them is once on George, and in Moe's and George's water dishes after I had noticed them soaking... And also in the bathtub after a hot bath...

Looking at my records I can see that George has only been treated once for mites on 9/11/16 and Moe has been treated three times now, 9/12/16, 9/26/16, and yesterday 2/14/17... Almost five months later???

I might just have to go out and get some Nix and get into a routine if I am going to completely eradicate them...

[SWDK]

Definitely do the Nix treatment. It works wonders and I'd never use anything else again.

[GyGbeetle]

Speaking of Nix, does anyone know how long the Nix solution mixed with distilled water will last? I can't find this information in a search here, or on Google. I mixed a full bottle of Nix with a gallon of distilled water, and so far have gone through 2 treatments, spaced out 10 days. I'm going to do 2 more treatments, but want to make sure the Nix solution still keeps it's potency after 2-3 weeks. Otherwise, I'm spraying the snakes and tanks in vain.

[Andy_G]

If kept cool and away from light it will increase the lifetime of the mix. I would pitch anything beyond a couple monthsnold, but the fresher the better.

[GyGbeetle]

Originally Posted by Andy_G

If kept cool and away from light it will increase the lifetime of the mix. I would pitch anything beyond a couple monthsnold, but the fresher the better.

It's in a cool, dark place. And we were going to toss this mix after our next treatment, just to be on the safe side. I bought 2 bottles not knowing how much we would need for each round.

[Albert Clark]

Also, if you have mites on one snake you should really treat all of the animals and their enclosures as if they all have them. Thy way you can be assured of containing all the mites. Be vigilant about the perimeter of the enclosures as well.

[sattva]

Couple quick questions!
The present Reptile spray for mites I have been useing states "Not to use 6 hours after shead or snakes under 12 weeks old...

Now I know you guys are recommending treating the whole collection but my Ball pythons are only 6 and 4 months old and yesterday I use the PAM on the cage for the first time, but did not treat the snakes... Keeping in mind that I have only found them on Moe And George...

Sorry for being over cautious here but I know there is not going to be any warning for young snakes on the Nix bottle and if I hurt one of my little guys because of my ignorance... Well, need I say more?

Should I stop the PAM all together once I start the Nix regiment?

[Andy_G]

Nix is safer than PAM.

[GyGbeetle]

If you've already treated the tanks with PAM, then you don't have to retreat for a couple of weeks. Then you can switch to Nix. PAM cannot be used directly on snakes for any reason.

If you want to switch to Nix to treat the body of the animal, instead of using the other stuff, please note that in younger ones you may want to treat every 2 weeks instead of the recommended every 10 days. The solution, once diluted, is relatively safe on most snakes (I have heard it can cause reactions in hognoses).

On the Nix treatment, it's going to be cheaper overall. The frequency that is typically recommended is treating the tank and snakes every 10 days. You don't need to completely air out the tank like you do with PAM (I don't put snakes back in the tanks for a MINIMUM of 4 hours after treating with PAM).

Whatever you do, please treat all of your snakes. Those stupid nasty dirty bugs will survive at any cost, and if it's cold can lay dormant for months. Assume everyone has it. I will also spray the carpet in the entire room with the snakes just to be sure. It's safe to do it as often as you want, as long as you let it dry before letting the snakes slither through it.

[sattva]

I can't seem to fine a shampoo... Just this cream... Is this what I should be using?

[Andy_G]

That's the one, Sattva. Mix that bottle to 4L(1 Gallon) of distilled water.

[sattva]

Originally Posted by Andy_G

That's the one, Sattva. Mix that bottle to 4L(1 Gallon) of distilled water.

Put the whole bottle in one gal of distilled water? Just making sure here...