Mites. I got 'em now

Norm66 · 12-30-11, 10:39 PM

So a while back I searched and searched thinking my JCP might have mites. Tonight I got a phone call from my friend Shannon telling me I had mites because some of hers had them (our newest acquisitions were delivered to her house). Sure enough I found some in my boa's water dish. No possible doubt.

So luckily the pet store had the stuff Shannon uses (natural Chemistry Reptile Spray). I bought two bottles for her (my mites, my meds) and a third for myself, came home and turbo-cleaned cages, hides and dishes and treated snakes. I got peed on twice but didn't get bit even by the JCP.

So, welcome to the reptile hobby for me I guess.

What about the bedding I have drying out? I assume it's infected, is there anything I can do short of tossing it in the trash? I took it out of the tubs because it turned out to be too wet and was making the humidity go too high but it's definitely infected with mites. It's not going to be below freezing here until Monday night and then only 29. Is there any chemical that I can use on it that'll be safe for the snakes or do I just bite the bullet and chuck it in a garbage bag?

Any advice is appreciated.

KORBIN5895 · 12-30-11, 10:58 PM

I don't think freezing will kill mites. Someone is .totally going to tell you to treat it wit pam. While someone else will say nix. I uses nix and it worked great. Someone on here said to use rid for the bedding. Good luck

Shmoges · 12-30-11, 11:45 PM

Provent a mite!!!! FTW For enclosures and substrate only. Remove snake and water dish spray everything down inside. I still replace bedding myself and spray the new bedding. While its drying, oil up your snaky with mineral oil and let it chill in the tub. Put it back in the enclosure and mites will die from the proventamite/oil combo. X fingers I havn't had an outbreak yet.

CDN_Blood · 12-31-11, 07:52 AM

Once substrate has been exposed to any kind of parasite, it's finished. Just pitch it all and use paper until you're positive they're all gone. There is almost always a 2nd batch of mites that will crop-up just when you think you've gotten rid of them, so be on the look-out for that.

I strongly recommend not putting oil of *any* kind on your snake at any time! Just stick to the treatment recommended on the label of whatever you're using and don't forget that this entails treating any shelving your tanks sit on, carpets they may sit on, walls they may be in close proximity to, etc.

Here's hoping the little buggers are contained quickly! It can SO suck when these things make an appearance. The only good thing about it is that it usually teaches a body the value of quarantining new snakes, which is another thing I always strongly recommend

Terranaut · 12-31-11, 10:00 AM

The stuff you bought will not work. I had mites here once and used Nix as shown on here. I put the bottle of Nix ( its a shampoo for human headlice) into a 4l jug of distilled water and mixed it good. I sprayed all my snakes ( not just the snake with mites) all of my enclosures and tossed all my aspen including the 1/2 bag I had not used yet. I used white paper towel as substrate. 2 weeks later I did it all again even though I didn't see any mites. They are gone. If you use pam ( prevent a mite) do not put it on the snake just the enclosure and bedding. Also treat the outsides of your enclosures as well as any carpet that is near them.
Yes this is a crappy part of the hobby but oh well it happens.
Treat it like they have ebola and wash everything with your pam or nix and it will go away.
These are the only things that actualy work so toss that other stuff and get the right stuff before you have a huge infestation.

shaunyboy · 12-31-11, 10:07 AM

i only use provent a mite

its worked first time everytime

it can also be used as a preventative measure,when quarantining snakes

i don't like nix because you have to apply it to the snake directly

cheers shaun

Norm66 · 12-31-11, 10:31 AM

OK. Ordering PAM now. Thanks folks!

shaunyboy · 12-31-11, 10:39 AM

just make sure all the snakes are put in a different room while your spraying mate

also leave a window open and allow 2 hours for the fumes to dissapate

don't spray your water bowls,just wash them in hot soapy water and keep them in another room,until your ready to put the snakes back in their tanks

i usually just put my snakes in pillow cases on a bed in another room,while using doing treatment

cheers shaun

Terranaut · 12-31-11, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaunyboy

just make sure all the snakes are put in a different room while your spraying mate

also leave a window open and allow 2 hours for the fumes to dissapate

don't spray your water bowls,just wash them in hot soapy water and keep them in another room,until your ready to put the snakes back in their tanks

i usually just put my snakes in pillow cases on a bed in another room,while using doing treatment

cheers shaun

Perfect advice.

Brazen17 · 12-31-11, 11:22 AM

My GTP had mites and I used diluted NIX. Worked like a charm. Killed the mites on the first treatment but did a follow up treatment to be on the safe side. I was a little leary applying the NIX directly to the snake but it did not harm it.

If it were a warmer time of year you could put your substrate in one of those dark green lawn bags and let it sit in the sun all day. It gets very hot inside the bag and will kill any critters in it. On the other hand substrate is relatively inexpensive so replacing it is probably the safest route. I still "bake" my new substrate just to be sure to kill any of the wood mites that may be present.

Norm66 · 12-31-11, 11:23 AM

PAM ordered.

OK, gotcha. I have snake bags for most of them that they came in. I'll make sure they're safe before I use them.

Shmoges · 12-31-11, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CDN_Blood

I strongly recommend not putting oil of *any* kind on your snake at any time

Elaborate please.

The "Mineral" oil helps to get adult mites off of the snake because they can't breath, it also helps with shedding, and is safe. If you put a snake in a tub of oil yes thats not a good idea and expensive but there is nothing wrong with what I explained. Its similar to soaking a snake in water except you can cover there head as well were mites are hard to remove.

Shmoges · 12-31-11, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brazen17

On the other hand substrate is relatively inexpensive so replacing it is probably the safest route.

Exactly why try to save $2 worth of substrate with possibly more expensive chemicals? Pitch it and no worries.

Shmoges · 12-31-11, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaunyboy

just make sure all the snakes are put in a different room while your spraying mate

Heck yeah you don't want anything breathing the fumes while it drys

I think it says on the can but also if you have any invertebrates food or pet I would recommend removing them from your house. proventamite is like a bug bomb!! It will kill tarantulas ded!

ventilate ventilate ventilate

When I used it I set the rack outside so I didnt have to open every window and hide everything that was alive. Lucky for me the rack was a tinny thing.

alessia55 · 12-31-11, 11:49 AM

Good luck getting all the mites out!