Few questions, need answers fast.

[RTBoy]

I have just recently discovered what seems like an over-night infestation on my snake.

Yes. Mites.

I am off to the store right now to get some sevin dust 5%, and was wondering if there are any retail stores that carry Black Knight or Preventamite sprays?

Also, I built a wooden cage, how would I go about treating the cage itself? I am a little etchy on using bleach only for the fact that the wood may absorb it and the fumes may lurk in the cage for a long time.

When I do treat the snake with this sevin dust, what do I put it in (its about 3 1/2' long) how long do I keep it there. (Yes I read the caresheet and it doesn't make much sense to me.)

Are there any other things I need to do for my snake after the sevin dust has set for a while? (Like pickin the boogers off? or do they just "fall" off?)

Thanks,
Chad

	Mites Mites, close relatives of fleas and ticks

[eddie]

Mite sprays.. you be the judge

To use the PaM alternatives, you do NOT treat the snake.
Take the snake out, bag it or put it in a tote.
Then take the water bowl out.
Spray the cage all over, making sure to stir up the substrate to getr the spray in it as well.

Cover it with a towel or sheet to keep the fog inside.

You can spray your floor as well, especially around the cage as mites do climb and travel.

Let the fog settle for a few hours.
While waiting for the fog to settle, give the snake a bath to get as many mites off that you can.

The small residuals will not harm the snake but should kill the mites that remain on it.
However, direct contact with the spray, either sprayed on, wiped on or snake placed into the tank too soon, can have a varying series of effects up to and including death of the snake.

Some will say to change the substarate out after it is sprayed, I like to leave it in, so that the residuals can work a bit on any remaing mites and changing it the next day.

To pre-treat the new substrate before use, simply spray the new while still in its bag and shake it up to mix it. Then use it the next day.

	Mites Mites, close relatives of fleas and ticks

[telefrag]

I hate to be the downer, but with a wooden cage, your likely to NEVER be rid of mites.
they lay their eggs deep into the wood, and it will be a cycle of neverending treatments.

	Mites Mites, close relatives of fleas and ticks

[eddie]

The key there is proper building and sealing.

Sealing also eases clean-up etc as well as letting the cage last a long time vs a few years due to water spills.. snake spills etc.

[telefrag]

well, mites are so small, and are excellent borrowers, I dont think stain or sealing will really help for that long.

	Mites Mites, close relatives of fleas and ticks

[captainmorgan]

I use a wooden cage too. I had to take out all the wood, hides and stuff. Baked the wood, water bowl went into the dishwasher, and bleached the rest. After that I vaccumed out all of the substrate (I use ecoearth dirt). Through in some seven dust until my cage had a huge cloud. Closed it up nice and tight. Meanwhile I put my 6ft boas in a pillow case and through some in there with them. Vaccumed out the seven dust after about an hour. Washed it down put in new everything and put in new substrate and hides and waterbowl. That's what I do.

[RTBoy]

Well I just bought some of this paint that they use on boat interiors that pretty much dries rock solid and thick too.. (Cost 45$ for a quart) about 3 layers of that it added about a half inch thickness.

[cb76]

hello

i highly recomend provent-a-mite

i buld my own cages out of birch and recently took in a burm who was covered, and it took over my collection in a matter of days.

i use provent-a-mite, worked like a charm.

just follow the directions and you'll be good to go.