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[HARTSOCK]

Okay, first off Mites SUCK!

I have been dealing with a case of them with my rtb and where I haven't won the war, I have learned a few things which may help you. First, if you look on here for mites, you'll find many different treatments, some more effective than others. As far as your rainbow goes, you'll want to use something that is very low risk, such as those natural treatments that you were talking about. Don't go with the Sevin Dust, Rid (or Rit??, the lice treatment) at this point. What I have used is something called DeFlea, it is one of those all natural sprays that will kill the mites on contact, but I have had a problem with them reoccuring and not getting rid of them all together. One reason is that I may not have been as diligent as I need to be and treat more often. I seem to win the battle for a few weeks, but then they come back.

One area to watch for is the corners of the tanks and if you have something like a critter cage with the sliding locking top, they usually have on open space where little things can get inside and lay eggs. The mites can get between the glass and the sealant and be protected when you treat the cage, you really got to get in there and hand rub the corners the best you can.

As mentioned I had gotten a bad case of them that had spread to two other cornsnakes that were in the same shelving rack. They weren't as bad and I was successful in clearing it up in those tanks, but I learned something that helped to keep them mite free while even staying where they are. If you suspect mites or have them, get some vasoline and smear it around the top part of the glass about a finger tip width. Mites don't jump like fleas, they have to walk where they are going. (or be transfer by catching a ride on us or on the things you are using in the tanks) They try to walk through the vasoline and get stuck and eventually die. This keeps them in the tank they might be in, and keeps them out of the tanks they haven't made it into yet. Now the same person who told me about this little trick also recommended that I put the vasoline in the corners of the tank and along the bottem joints so that any mites who may be hiding in the sealant end up trap and suffocated, but with the way my rtb moves around, I would have one really slimy slipperly snake!

use something mild in treating the gravid one, treat as often as you have the time for, and good luck!