Help with mites!

Mutimbo · 11-14-12, 06:16 PM

Hi all,
Haven't posted for awhile because everything has been going well. Even my baby retic who went the first 9 weeks in our care without eating is eating like a pig and growing like a weed. Everything was going well until today. Melvin the previously mentioned retic has spent the whole day in his water bowl. I took him out a few minutes ago and checked the water. Small black specks about the size of ground black pepper that I assume are mites. If they are in fact mites, where did they come from? No new snakes in the house or handled elsewhere. Melvin spent 2 months back with the breeder, who helped us get him eating again. We have had him back in our care since mid-Sept. with no signs of mites. We have been using a different brand of aspen substrate for about a month now. If they are in fact mites how do I eliminate them?

bcoop1234 · 11-14-12, 06:54 PM

Prevent-a-mite... Works fantastic! You will most likely have to order it off the net though.

Mutimbo · 11-14-12, 07:14 PM

Since posting I have been researching both proven-a-mite and reptile relief. Still need to know where they might have come from so as to reduce chances of getting them again.

Gungirl · 11-14-12, 07:38 PM

If you went to a pet store that has reptiles, you can get them. If you where around someone else that has reptiles, you can get them. Basic thing is if you where around any reptiles ( besides yours) or you where around someone else that has them, change your clothes and shower before getting near your collection. Mites can not live on people but we can transfer them from one snake to another.

Lankyrob · 11-15-12, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gungirl

If you went to a pet store that has reptiles, you can get them. If you where around someone else that has reptiles, you can get them. Basic thing is if you where around any reptiles ( besides yours) or you where around someone else that has them, change your clothes and shower before getting near your collection. Mites can not live on people but we can transfer them from one snake to another.

^^^^^ This

And use provent a mite - its awesome

KORBIN5895 · 11-15-12, 11:51 AM

I hear reptile relief sucks. Also the mites came from the breeder is my guess. 6-8 weeks for the infestation to hit that size sounds about right.

scfords · 11-15-12, 12:01 PM

Ive never used prevent a mite but ive heard alot of good things about it. Ive also heard of mites comming in the bags of bedding you can buy. But I also second the breeder being the likly cause.

Gungirl · 11-15-12, 12:03 PM

The kind of mites you get in bags of bedding are not snake mites unless the bedding was housed near dirty reptiles that have mites. I have seen wood mites in bags of bedding and while I would rather not have those they are not harmful to your snake.

tpreptiles · 11-15-12, 12:43 PM

Just go to your local Walmart or CVS and it some RID bed and lice spray. Spray the aspen down heavy and leave it air out for a day or so then clean the cage good and put in the sprayed bedding. Repeat every couple of weeks. I do this everytime I clean the cage even if there are no mites. Hope that helps.

Gungirl · 11-15-12, 12:47 PM

while your method might work tpreptiles I don't think exposing the snake to chemicals that often is a wise thing. I would personally stick with Prevent a mite.

KORBIN5895 · 11-15-12, 01:16 PM

Rid is the same as Pam.

Every two weeks is a bit much.

Gungirl · 11-15-12, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KORBIN5895

Rid is the same as Pam.

Every two weeks is a bit much.

Same Ingredients? huh.. I never knew that. I will have to look into that. If that is true then it is much cheaper and easier to get for me. I have never had mites but I do like to treat new snakes once just to be safe.

KORBIN5895 · 11-15-12, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gungirl

Same Ingredients? huh.. I never knew that. I will have to look into that. If that is true then it is much cheaper and easier to get for me. I have never had mites but I do like to treat new snakes once just to be safe.

A can of Pam cost me $42 shipped. I can get a can of rid for less than $6 at Walmart in Maine.

They have the same ingredients in the same concentration ( or real close in concentration)

Snakeman8 · 11-15-12, 05:24 PM

ive never had a problem with mites, bot i would think they would come from the breeder.

Mutimbo · 11-15-12, 08:38 PM

I was thinking breeder. Also I remember him saying that Melvin was still rubbing while he was back in his care. Melvin never rubbed the whole time in our care. The rubbing could have been due to the discomfort of the mites. Thanks for all your help. Unfortunately, I ordered a prevent-a-mite and reptile relief combo before I saw the post about the rid spray. If the ingredients are the same in the same amounts that's a great solution.