New Ball seems sick - advice needed - Page 2

shaunyboy · 04-13-10, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

You know if we use this way of thinking then I wouldn't be using rubbermaids as enclosures or paper towels as substrate. Let's not forget my flower pot hide boxes. None of these were designed for reptiles but work better or as well as any reptile specific product. In fact, I don't think there's anything I own except my thermostat that was invented purely for the use of reptiles!

aaron your an intelligent guy,so i'm left here wondering why you would think i would apply the same concerns to something as simple as hides,rubbermaids,etc as i do towards chemicals that can effect my snakes.all i was giving was my own personal view on what i use and why i chose to use it.the subject matter was chemicals used to kill mites,not vivarium furnishings.i have no problem adapting safe objects to furnish your tanks but surely chemicals are a whole different and more complicated matter.
cheers shaun

Will0W783 · 04-09-10, 05:13 PM

Yes Nix was designed to kill human lice, but it does kill snake mites very effectively, smells nice and is relatively non-toxic to the snakes. It is also a heck of a lot cheaper than PAM. I understand if you're leery of it, but I will continue to use it when the need arises (God willing it won't again, but you never know).

shaunyboy · 04-10-10, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will0W783

Yes Nix was designed to kill human lice, but it does kill snake mites very effectively, smells nice and is relatively non-toxic to the snakes. It is also a heck of a lot cheaper than PAM. I understand if you're leery of it, but I will continue to use it when the need arises (God willing it won't again, but you never know).

the point i was trying to make was provent a mite has been designed for snakes so should have had the appropriate testing done on it.when they test human products snakes dont come into the equasion.this is only my humble opinion but there must be plenty products that cause no problems for humans but might for a reptile.for peace of mind i prefer to use the safest form available imo something designed for the job in hand.i'm not trying to be cheeky but i do not see the relavance in it smelling nice or the cost for that matter.if it has not been tested for snakes im curious as to how anyone would know how toxic it can be towards them long term.i do not doubt you when you say it works but i get more peace of mind using prevent a mite.
cheers shaun

infernalis · 04-09-10, 06:08 PM

Rubbing the whole snake down with light olive oil works well to eradicate mites, it makes their skin shiny and was the method people used ages ago.

But you still have to bleach out the cage, change out the bedding substrate and boil all the hides and water bowl.

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My personal opinion of this product is "it's rubbish" If you are lucky, you may drown a mite or two, but it is not effective at all.

mykee · 04-09-10, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Rubbing the whole snake down with light olive oil works well to eradicate mites, it makes their skin shiny and was the method people used ages ago.

Dude! Seriously?..

citysnakes · 04-10-10, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykee

Dude! Seriously?..

my thoughts exactly...

and i would also never recommend wasting money on the products pictured in this thread.

infernalis · 04-09-10, 08:48 PM

Yes very seriously, I would not suggest it over the more proven modern methods, but the oil clogs up the mites ability to breathe and kills them.

the downside is it does nothing to kill the eggs.

Back before we had all these fab products available to us, oiling the snake was THE method of getting rid of mites.

Will0W783 · 04-10-10, 12:33 PM

There isn't any relevance really to it smelling nice. I am not trying to be cheeky either, but it's the only stuff I will use because I've seen myself how effective it is and how safe it is for the snakes. PAM you can only spray in the enclosure and you have to make sure it's dry before you put the snake back in. The Nix you just spray right on the snake and within an hour you'll see dead mites fall off the snake.
If you google it there is a paper on it that a well-known breeder wrote. He used it for over 20 years in his collection and never had a bad reaction to it. He also prophylactically treated snakes that he took to shows- he would treat them as soon as he got them home just in case- often several times a year, and never had problems.

I know it wasn't made for reptiles, but I just like how quickly it works and how easy it is to buy, mix up, use and keep on hand. I have personally never used PAM, but I did research on it and chose Nix over it because of ease of use and effectiveness at killing eggs.

infernalis · 04-10-10, 03:19 PM

One way to look at it is also like this, My vet has administered drugs to my snakes before that were specifically designed for dogs...

Worm meds, pain meds etc....

The vet also prescribed Silvadine cream, this is a human antibiotic.

NIX and common mite treatments all contain the same active ingredients.

mykee · 04-10-10, 04:28 PM

Nix:
1. Cheap (one $12 bottle will treat 100+ snakes if diluted properly). That's 12 cents a treatment.
2. Easy to find: any drugstore.
3. Very easy to use: spray everything.
4. Kills all three stages of mites.
5. Won't harm the users respiratory system like PAM.

infernalis · 04-10-10, 04:33 PM

Excellent point Mykee....

The warnings on PAM have always concerned me.

infernalis · 04-10-10, 07:16 PM

and Lizard food

mykee · 04-10-10, 08:20 PM

...and lizard food.

Will0W783 · 04-11-10, 06:00 PM

A lot of products may not have been invented just for reptiles, but work very well for them. I think it's really just a personal choice in the end. I like Nix, and I know a lot of people who do, but I also know a lot of people who swear by pest strips and Provent-a-mite. I just personally prefer the least toxic stuff I can use.

shaunyboy · 04-13-10, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will0W783

A lot of products may not have been invented just for reptiles, but work very well for them. I think it's really just a personal choice in the end. I like Nix, and I know a lot of people who do, but I also know a lot of people who swear by pest strips and Provent-a-mite. I just personally prefer the least toxic stuff I can use.

couldnt agree more willow,its down to personal choice.at the end of the day as long as the method you choose.

1.does no harm to the snake
2.does the job required
3.gives the keeper peace of mind

then all is well in snakeland...!!
cheers shaun