Freakin Mites!

Xetox · 04-21-03, 08:09 AM

I dont know how it happened or where they came from, but I found I mite breakout in one of my BP enclosures....I hate mites.

And it happened at the wrong time, the pet store I buy Black Knight from went out of bussiness, so I called ProExotics last night and ordered a couple bottles from them, he can only ship ground so it will be the end of the week before I get em. So looks like this weekend I have about 12 hours worth of work to do, I have around 25 cages to break down and clean. Its going to be a long weekend!

I HATE MITES!

Xetox · 04-21-03, 10:29 AM

Anyone have any suggestions on how to keep it under controll until I get the shipment in?

jncoclub · 04-21-03, 11:54 AM

I may not be as helpful as you wish because I can't recall the name of the product, but maybe someone else here will. From a reptile shop I have used these yellow mite sticks that you are supposed to put on top of a cage (through the screened lid part) or actually inside the tanks in a corner (farthest point away from the water bowl) and it releases some sort of agent continuously for up to 3 months that's #1 purpose is to kill mites. (Do not put near spiders, deadly to them!!) My friend who owned the reptile shop had a break out and put fresh sticks on top of/ in everyone's tanks, until all the tanks got cleaned, the problem appeared to clear up in roughly 3-5 hours. If anyone knows what yellow sticks I'm talking about, they come in a foil sealed pouch that is yellow, white, and maybe silver. I really cannot recall the name. Good luck.

jncoclub · 04-21-03, 11:56 AM

FYI- we keep them on top of their screen lids all year round and put out new ones every 3 months. They are not dangerous to the snakes and we have never had a mite problem. I will try to find out the product’s name.

Tim and Julie B · 04-21-03, 12:24 PM

Pixie is right use Nix. It works well for eggs and adult mites since it controls lice and eggs. You can get it at a pharmacy. You can also treat your snakes with it. Use a bottle of creme to one 4liter( sorry your from Kansus) one gallon water jug. Mix it in. Take a rubbermaid use 1/7 Nix 6/7 water. Only enough to submerge snake but so that it can easily keep it's head out of the water. It takes 5 hours. Swirl it around a couple of times so the mites don't just collect on the head. You can use the rest to clean the tank like Pixie said. Or there is an aresol available for cage cleaning. DO NOT use it on the snake though! If you have any other question please pm me or if it is urgent feel free to e mail me-Tim

Do all your snakes no matter if they have mites or not! They might have eggs.

Xetox · 04-21-03, 01:36 PM

I have fought this before....I get problems cause my quartine room is in the same house and mites can travel along way before dying!

Normaly I break down all cages soak snakes for 2 hours in water, then douse them with black knight and let them set in a rubermaid for a hour, I soak everthing in the tank and clean the tank with a 1/10 water/bleach and then set the tank back up. Once the tank is set up I spray it with Black Knight and put the reptile back in.

But I ran out, and did not think I would have a outbreak before I could get more......but you know how it is soon as you run out! I use BK every month when possible.

I think I am going to try the nix tell I get my shipment in.

Thanks for all the help!

If anyone wants some good information on fighting mites check this out! http://proexotics.com/FAQ_answers_get_rid_of_mites.html

uog11 · 04-21-03, 04:39 PM

ive had the most luck using ivermectin. call your vet and they should make you a batch if they are any good
good luck
i hate them too

Xetox · 04-22-03, 12:53 PM

OK, I have another question?

I found out that I can't get BK anymore without ordering a whole case, so I called around and went and got NIX.

Now my question is, what is the best ratio to mix this stuff, I mean it is a cream and it say's nothing about mixing with water. How much should I mix with a gallon of water?

And is it safe to keep and use it once a week in a squirt bottle to spray the tank and herps down?

killaclown · 05-03-03, 11:37 AM

Mites are a sighn that you are not keeping the cage clean enogh i heard that if you soak your sanke in 1/4 viniger and 3/4 water they shood fall off.