looking for mite spray/killer

Mark · 04-18-03, 07:20 PM

I was looking over my blood that i got from the last pcpc show and I see that is has a mite infestation. I picked off as many as a could and Now I want to buy a mite killer. I did a search and the ones I came across were NIX and black night. I wanted to know which one was better for killing mites and safre for my snake. I was leaning more towards NIX because i was reading a post(I believe by linds) saying that black night can sometimes harm lizards and young snakes. Can anyone help me out? Also my blood is just a hatchling if that makes a difference.
Thanks

Gregg M · 04-18-03, 08:29 PM

This is an easy one.......... The best thing to use is NO PEST strips...... What you need to do is get a glass jar, The no pest strip, and some rubber gloves........ Put the gloves on before you handle the no pest........ Cut 1 inch by 1 inch cubes........ Put one cube per jar....... Put the cover on the glass jar and poke some holes in the top with a nail....... You can use two jars per cage....... Take the water dish out of the cage while the jars with the no pest are in the cage......This is very important....... Your snake can die if it drinks water inside the cage with the no pest in it........ Keep the jars in the cage with the snake, bedding, and the decor for 4 hours........ Remove the jars and let the tank air out for an hour or two before putting water back in the cage....... Do this again the next day and then again 10 days later and the mite problem will be gone.....

HetForHuman · 04-18-03, 09:02 PM

by the way the pest strips are also called VAPONA pest strips

Lisa · 04-18-03, 09:03 PM

Personally, I like Provent-a-Mite. when used correctly it works and works well. however it's not something you play with as when used incorrectly you can kill your animal. I prefer to error on the side of caution when using it and give alot longer then recomended to let the fumes disperse. I've never had a problem with it. anyways, that's my $0.02, take it for what it's worth.

mykee · 04-18-03, 09:21 PM

I would have to disagree about the No Pest Strips. I have heard nothing but bad things about this product. Yes, it does work, but if done incorrectly, proves FATAL to animals. Black knight is a good product, as is Provent-a-Mite. Both products, when used properly, will eliminate all mites and eggs usually with one dose. It boils down to what type of environment you have your snakes in. If you have your snakes in a natural environment, i.e. climbing branch, chipped substrate and such, I would recommend Black Knight or Provent-a-Mite, simply because the spray will hit all the nooks and crannies and work more effectively. However, this product CANNOT be used to rid your snakes of mites, just their environment. If you use a simple enclosure, i.e. paper towels or newsprint substrate, rubbermaid of aquarium enclosure, then Nix would be the way to go, simply becasue you can bathe your snake in it, to rid them of the mites. Secondly, a simple enclosure is easy to spray and clean out, the more simple the enclosure, the easier it will be to completely eliminate ALL mite residue. NIX will provide you with a two-pronged approach to mite elimination; snake, and environment (and is 1/4 the price of the other two products.

Gregg M · 04-18-03, 09:36 PM

I have used no pest strips for many years and have not had a single snake get sick or die as a result.......

Mark · 04-19-03, 07:54 AM

I have the blood on news paper since i have found the mites. Where would I get some of these? Also I would neeed to treat the snake more then the enclosure.

Linds · 04-19-03, 08:08 AM

Yikes. I would strongly recommend avoiding the use of vapona. Nix is by far the safest treatment you can use. It can be used on snakes of all ages and to my knowledge, there have been no negative results from the use of this product. P-A-M has been linked to deaths in snakes, Vapona is IMHO the most dangerous option, and Black Knight is effective, however it still runs a risk and I would not recommend using it on younger snakes or in the same room as inverts, thin skinned lizards, or amphibians. Nix is your safest bet and every bit as effective as the rest of the products out there. Just mix one bottle of Nix shampoo (2 oz.) with one gallon of water, and spray all over snake and enclosure (remove water dish for this). Simple and safe

BoidKeeper · 04-19-03, 08:44 AM

I used vapona twice over a year ago and there has been no problems with the animals I had to use it for. Use a small amount in a secure container and change the water three times a day. Also move the animal to a rubbermaid. They are the easiest thing to clean. If you miss a few eggs you can get infested again. The vapona kills throught chemical dehydration so it gets the eggs too. Go to the store pick up a package and read the instructions and procautions for your self and then decide. I have a piece haning in my kitchen to try and fight off the spring house flies. I live in an old farm house out in the country.

Any way right on the package it says it can be used in your tent when you're camping so how bad can it be?
Good luck,
Trevor

mykee · 04-19-03, 12:25 PM

Mark, again, AVOID No-Pest-Strips. they have too small a margin for error. Provent-a-Mite and Black Knight are also effective, but precaution has to be taken when used. NIX is my choice. It costs about $12 at any drug store. When I went in, I had to ask the Pharmacist for it, as it was kept behind the counter. Just discard the contents of the box, but for the bottle, (the rest is used for lice-removal in humans). Good luck. P.S. You did not mention where you where from, but you can find Provent-a-Mite and Black Knight at most pet stores, I've seen Black Knight at Superpet and Pj's. Reptilia in Richmond Hill has Provent-a-Mite.

Burmies · 04-19-03, 02:09 PM

To tell you the truth, I used Black Knight once and I have not had any mite problem since. I also spray down any new snake with it and it seems to keep the infestation away. It is not available here in Nova Scotia, I had to have a can shipped to me.

Burmies

Gregg M · 04-19-03, 04:48 PM

To all the people that think NO PEST is a bad idea........ Have you ever used it????? Do you know someone that killed a snake with it????? It is very simple to use and will not hurt your snake as long as you remove the water from the encloser being treated...... Like I said I have used this method for many years, maybe even as long as some of you have been alive and I have never had a single adverse reaction........ I have treated hundreds of snakes like this......... I use this as a precaution when new snakes arrive, needed or not.......... The only things killed were the mites......... The snakes, bedding, decor, and cage are all treated at the same time........

Linds · 04-19-03, 04:54 PM

To Greg and any other vapona enthusiasts,

Here's a little tidbit from Jeff Favelle in a previous thread that you may find interesting...

Quote:

Originally posted by Jeff_Favelle
Ok.

Vapona works by vapours (yikes), NIX is basically just a soap that works mechanically and chemically. The answer wasn't arrogant and it wasn't even aimed at you. I was talking to Dom (hence the usage of his name) and he replied quite nicely to me that he wasn't going to use Vapona. I'm sorry if you have stock in the company or something, but I wouldn't advise ANYONE to use it.

The active ingredient (for organic chemists) is 2,2-dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate. That's nasty stuff man. Its a freakin' carcinogen!!! Its also a stomach poison, and its only meant for professional use. I have no idea how Vapona gets away with selling the stuff, but I wouldn't be caught dead (pun intended) with the stuff in my house, near me, my animals, or my family. DDVP is NOT something to fool around with. In fact, I'd rather play on a highway than breathe the stuff in. Call that arrogant. I call it smart.

In small amounts, cancer is fine. Does that mean I want little bits of cancer? No. What is a small amount to you or I of Vapona, could be a lethal dosage to a reptile 1/200th of your size. What about long-term affects? What if it affects fecundity? As a breeder, that would definitely suck for me. NIX is approved for use on HUMAN HEADS! Its a soap that smothers the insects while working as a mild chemical agent. Probably not the greatest thing, but far, far safer than DDVP. Plus its local. Anything that is used as a local agent is 10x more effective and safer than a general agent.

Go here for some analysis: Thanks for your time...

http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/profiles...ichlorvos.html

http://www.prop65news.com/pubs/p65ne...07/920714.html

http://infoventures.com/e-hlth/pestcide/dichlorv.html

Now my point... if there is a safer, less toxic product out there that is every bit as effective, why wouldn't you opt for that?

Mark · 04-19-03, 09:06 PM

I picked up a bottle of NIX before work today and since to me it spunded safer. It also only cost $9. Do I mist the whole tank down or can i possible scrub the tank down and soak the snake in the water with the NIX? I have one of the sprayer that i use on my lizards. Can I use it and wash it out really well or should i go try to buy a cheap one tomorrow morning?

mykee · 04-19-03, 10:04 PM

Mark, you should dilute the Nix as per Linds' instructions above. Yo don't need to put the water/Nix mixture in a spray bottle, even if it is cleaned out well. You can mix it accordingly, and use paper towels or a sponge to wipe down the ENTIRE enclosure well. Do this a few times to make sure you got it all. Do not miss a spot. Place the snake back in the environment and repeat again tomorrow (just to be sure). Do a spot check on both the snake and in the environment. Problem solved. Good luck. P.S. I keep two bottles of Nix in my arsenal just in case.