Getting rid of mites

[marvelfreak]

Originally Posted by Ivanator

I've had a lot of luck with No-Pest-Strips that you get from pest aisles in hardware stores. When I get them, I first clean the cage and all the decor and put newspaper, then I break the pest strip apart and cut the piece into small strips and place it in the enclosure and just store the rest in a plastic bag. I then just leave the strip in there for a month and I never see the mites again.

I try that before and it does work but not worth the risk.

Plus you left out a couple important steps.

1) It should be put into a container with small air hole so the snake can't com in directed contact with it.

2) Also you need remove the water while the P.S. is in the cage or it can poison your snake. I killed a Green Patternless Burmese years ago because i for to remove the water.

[KORBIN5895]

I've heard of a few people that have killed their snake with pest strips.

No Amadeus. Not sticky traps.

[Chris72]

If you are going to try the route of using no pest strips DO NOT use the entire thing! Cut about a 1 inch x 1 inch chunk....then follow the directions giving by MarvelFreak. If you are putting it onto a Sterelite tub it only needs to be in there for 2-4 hours. Remember you are making your animal inhale Permethrin. (Same stuff in Pam and Nix)

I picked up an albino pair a while ago that came with mites. (Didnt see them until we started the intake /quarantine proccess.) After a little reading we decided to stay away from using the strips because of the reported risk by some (and deaths as noted by Kevin)

I watched a YouTube video of a snake with neurological damage..(it was a mess)

We quarantined for 30 days....
-Nix bath 1xwk (ensure animal drinks clear water first...so it is not likely to drink Nix)
-Use newspaper sprayed with PAM, replace at least 1xweek. (Let dry)
-to be on the safe side we kept water out of the quarantined tubs for 24hrs after treatment.

You can kill mites easy, but if there are eggs around they will come back and find your snake. I remember reading they can travel 10 to 12 feet per day.

Reasons you may not want your animal to be inhaling Permethrin (strips):

From EPA site:
After additional toxicity data were reviewed, EPA concluded that permethrin was a weak carcinogen. Further, laboratory studies indicated that permethrin was highly toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates; therefore, it was classified as Restricted Use..(but somehow it's found to be safe to use on human food....wash you fruits & veggies people!!)

Wiki:
Permethrin acts as a neurotoxin, slowing down the nervous system through binding to sodium channels. This action is negatively correlated to temperature, thus, in general, showing more acute effects on cold-blooded animals over warm-blooded animals.

[gonesnakee]

First off before exposing yourself or your animals to any deadly chemicals (ALL of the above mentioned are straight up POISON BTW) ensure it is even required.
The "mites" need to be properly identified is step one.
If they are not even snake/reptile mites no reason to expose the snake to ANY chemicals.
IF they are actual snake mites I suggest either the NIX or the PAM route (NOT the cooking spray! LOL)
Mites are easily identified, the nasty parasites are usually a dark red or black & look like little crabs & can be seen attached to the snake usually in the facial areas & pits/nostrils & they will squish red (blood) when squashed.
Any other types of mites are just a minor annoyance & can also be rid of without exposing the animal to any chemicals. Mark

[Chris72]

Originally Posted by gonesnakee

First off before exposing yourself or your animals to any deadly chemicals
(ALL of the above mentioned are straight up POISON BTW)
ensure it is even required.
The "mites" need to be properly identified is step one.
If they are not even snake/reptile mites no reason to expose the snake to ANY chemicals.
IF they are actual snake mites I suggest either the NIX or the PAM route (NOT the cooking spray! LOL)
Mites are easily identified, the nasty parasites are usually a dark red or black & look like little crabs & can be seen attached to the snake usually in the facial areas & pits/nostrils & they will squish red (blood) when squashed.
Any other types of mites are just a minor annoyance & can also be rid of without exposing the animal to any chemicals. Mark

Yup..that. The line in bold cannot be over emphasized. Permethrin will turn your snakes water to poison. It is designed to kill things so use great care.