Ugh... It's finally happened...

kellymack515 · #1 (**permalink**) 02-03-2010, 04:57 PM

As many of you know, I've been battling mites on a few snakes a got from a certain breeder a while back. They're almost better but I've found mites on two other of my snakes. *shakes fist* I don't know how it's happening... The affected snakes are in ISO and I'm really good about washing my hands every time I have to go into the affected snakes' cages. I even wear gloves when handling the snakes! I'm stripping everyone's cages today and treating with Nix but I have a few questions...

1. How soon is it safe to feed after treating with Nix? All snakes will be on paper towels for the next few weeks to assure that the nasty little buggers haven't found their way out of ISO again. But is it safe to feed on the paper towels I've sprayed with Nix?

2. My beardie is in the same room as my (hopefully) unaffected snakes. Should I treat him for mites the same way? Is Nix safe for him?

I've tried poking around on the old threads but so far I've come up empty handed... Wish me luck guys!

DannyBoy · #2 (**permalink**) 02-03-2010, 05:10 PM

Mites suck, I'm sorry to hear that. I have had mites twice in my collection, both times when a new animal came in. I would quarantine my new animals in another room, washed my hands in between, handled my infected snakes after I handled my "clean" snakes and still had mites spread to my other cages during my first mite episode. I tried to use nix to get rid of them and it just didn't work. The infestation went on for a couple of months and everytime I thought that I had it gone some eggs would hatch and I would see the little buggers moving around. I was sick and tired of stripping everything down, and treating all my cages over and over again so I finally tried something stronger. I bought a couple of cans of prevent-a-mite, treated the cages, with just two applications all mites were dead. Then a couple of years later I had another arrival and it brought mites with it too. I used prevent a mite again and all mites dead with the first application and none spread to the other cages. I know many advocate that preventamite will cause damage to your animals. I respectfully disagree, I have used it twice with no ill effects and it got the job done.

telefrag · #3 (**permalink**) 02-03-2010, 05:13 PM

Mites can get on floors and walk across a large room in about a day.

Its hard to isolate mites if your other snakes are located in the same physical structure.

You may want to wait a few days or even a week before feeding.

I don't believe bearded dragons are impacted by snake mites.
They have a whole other family of mite that likes them, and fortunately the conditions one keeps a bearded dragon in, isn't supportive to snake mites.
too dry, too hot.

DannyBoy · #4 (**permalink**) 02-03-2010, 05:17 PM

Vacuuming alot between cages can help to stop the ones crossing the house. I forgot to mention that. We did it during our second infestation and that I think it helped.

telefrag · #5 (**permalink**) 02-03-2010, 05:23 PM

I have heard of people putting moth balls in their vacuum bags as well, but I don't know how effective that actually is.

MalinoisK9 · #6 (**permalink**) 02-03-2010, 05:58 PM

For in carpeted areas... will dust mite killer spray work? I have yet (fingers crossed) had a mite issue but I want to be prepared for if and when it happens.

mpgt · #7 (**permalink**) 02-03-2010, 06:06 PM

Repel worked really well for me. Sprayed the surrounding areas and treated whole collection. No more mites.

Byron · #8 (**permalink**) 02-03-2010, 06:18 PM

Sven Dust worked for me. One treatment is all it took. If you google it, there are many mixed reviews. Some swear by it, others are scared to use it. Not saying that its the best, or even recommended, but it worked for me.

I can link you to some of the info I found this evening if you want.

morti · #9 (**permalink**) 02-03-2010, 06:22 PM

I use Seven5 dust on the carpets and black knight in the cages.

Hairless · #10 (**permalink**) 02-03-2010, 08:21 PM

I've only delt with mites one time...I used Provent-a-mite.

One thing that is missed when using other products with the same active ingredient is that p-a-m has the instructions on the container for mites which takes into account the life cycle of the mite. The life cycle is important...If you treat one time and kill all the mites, this is good, but their eggs will hatch and start over. If the newly hatched mites escape treatment (hatch outside the enclosure and make their way back in after the active isn't strong enough to kill them...)they will reach maturity and lay their own eggs and it will start all over again.

I followed the instructions given by p-a-m and it worked.

Nittany221 · #11 (**permalink**) 02-03-2010, 08:41 PM

I've had really good success with Provent-A-Mite on the cage and doing a really light spray of low dose bird lice spray on my snakes. It's great for super sensitive creatures (not just birds) and my snakes were eating a day after treatment and had no ill effects. I also did a lot of soaks, and made sure they had water bowls big enough to soak in. (my pastel bci came to me at 6 foot with mites, that was fun!) *rolls her eyes* Good luck with the treatment. And as an FYI, when I bring any new snake in I do a light dusting of that bird lice spray on my entire collection, including the new ones. Just as a prevantative, and since I started that I've never had the mite's spread from my quarantine area. Whereas, they used to do what happened to you every time I had something with mites.

jbd123 · #12 (**permalink**) 02-03-2010, 08:44 PM

I'm not sure how soon after using Nix you can feed: but I would wait 24 hours just to be safe.

The only thing that I never do is put the water bowl in there right away. I always wait 24 hours after applying Nix to put a water bowl back in the enclosure with them.

Princesssnake · #13 (**permalink**) 02-03-2010, 08:48 PM

Provent a mite works wonders... we have used it every time and lots of soaking and lots of picking of the mites our selves.... The worst part is if it gets in the eyes.... Just heard of the black knight stuff about a week ago. but not sure where to get it.

snakehooked · #14 (**permalink**) 02-03-2010, 09:19 PM

Must be that time of year. All the burms up at the shop here have mites. Fish and Game brought one they had confiscated and now they're all over half the store.

Savedsynner · #15 (**permalink**) 03-03-2010, 04:44 AM

If the price of PAM is a turn off, check out walmart lice spray. It is the EXACT same thing, down to the percentages. Yes PAM is FDA approved. That's only because the walmart brand isn't marketed as a mite killer. Someone mentioned earlier that reapplication can be key. The main .pdf on the nix treatment says it kills the eggs but also recomends supplemental treatments over a week or so just to be safe.

Remember that even if you clear your room of mites, you may be picking them up elsewhere(been to any pet shops lately).

Also, try hypoaspis. The are the pred. mite and seam to be very effective. I started a thread about them today on the main boa forum.

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