Mite prevention

[sharthun]

Originally Posted by Kid Boa

This should explain it all.

Reptile Mites - Karingal Vet Hospital

Good read!

[shaunyboy]

i think a lot of people clean their tanks too much,imo a totaly sterile enviroment is not good for a snake

i spot clean and change the newspaper substrate when required...

i only give the full tank a clean once every 6 to 12 months

re mites
i would only use a mite treatment if i had mites

that said,i use provent a mite on quarantine tanks,if i buy from someone i don't know...

when buying from reputable breeders with closed collections i don't use anything

cheers shaun

[sharthun]

I may cut back my preventative treatment to once a year after following this thread and more research,

[Chris72]

Originally Posted by sharthun

I may cut back my preventative treatment to once a year after following this thread and more research,

The right preventative "treatment" doesn't include spraying your collection on some random interval. Mites reproduce every few week so spraying once a year is money for nothing, bad for you and the animals. (Permethrin is a poison and a carcinogen at that)

Quarantine new animals for at least a month before adding to your collection.

A good idea is having a plan to follow....a quarantine procedure to follow (check for mites 2x a week, bath once a week, etc,) so at the end of that month you KNOW the new animal is mite free. We do that and have found mites on animals while in quarantine....the mites never made it to the collection.

Limit who you let in your snake room to keepers you know.

If you visit an expo touch as little as possible then shower before you go into your snake room. When you go to an expo....some there probably has an animal with mites.

The mites have to come in your front door....don't let them.

I know a guy who sprays his entire collection with PAM every 60 days. (He still had an infestation) the PAM is just going to effect his health and limit the life span of his animals.

Permethrin is for when you HAVE mites. You are not helping your collection by randomly spraying for mites once or twice a year.

.

[sharthun]

Originally Posted by Chris72

The right preventative "treatment" doesn't include spraying your collection on some random interval. Mites reproduce every few week so spraying once a year is money for nothing, bad for you and the animals. (Permethrin is a poison and a carcinogen at that)

Quarantine new animals for at least a month before adding to your collection.

A good idea is having a plan to follow....a quarantine procedure to follow (check for mites 2x a week, bath once a week, etc,) so at the end of that month you KNOW the new animal is mite free. We do that and have found mites on animals while in quarantine....the mites never made it to the collection.

Limit who you let in your snake room to keepers you know.

If you visit an expo touch as little as possible then shower before you go into your snake room. When you go to an expo....some there probably has an animal with mites.

The mites have to come in your front door....don't let them.

I know a guy who sprays his entire collection with PAM every 60 days. (He still had an infestation) the PAM is just going to effect his health and limit the life span of his animals.

Permethrin is for when you HAVE mites. You are not helping your collection by randomly spraying for mites once or twice a year.

.

Yeah understanding the biology and reproductive cycle of snake mites really helped me.I tend to overdo things including cage cleaning. Great advice thanks!

[shaunyboy]

Originally Posted by sharthun

Yeah understanding the biology and reproductive cycle of snake mites really helped me.I tend to overdo things including cage cleaning. Great advice thanks!

The Life History of Snake Mites | Vida Preciosa International, Inc.

cheers shaun

[sharthun]

Originally Posted by shaunyboy

The Life History of Snake Mites | Vida Preciosa International, Inc.

cheers shaun

Thanks!

[shaunyboy]

i use provent a mite with my quarantine tanks....

it remains active for 30 days,so kills any mites a new snake may bring

its always worked first time everytime for me

theres no need for repeat treatments, like some of the other mite treatments

you do NOT put chemicals directly on the snake

its designed for reptiles

its the only product i use regards mites

i quarantine new snakes for at least 6 months

that said,if the new snakes from a trusted reputable breeder with a closed collection,i don't quarantine at all

cheers shaun