mite question.

[Seany]

ok... I hope this doesn't make it sound like I don't know what I'm doing... because I do! honest! But here's a question. I've had the same 6 snakes for close to a year now... They are all in seperate tanks and they never come in contact with eachother.
I feed them in their tanks (let's NOT get into that one, I've never had a problem with a feeding reaction as I take them out for handeling daily)
Anyway, I check them for mites once a week to every other week as a precaution, besides usual maintanence on their tanks. I've never had a mite problem.
SO, imagin my shock when I took my RTB's water bowl out today and found 6 mites in it!!! I looked at him and allthough he looked clean of mites I found another one on my hand after returning him to his tank.
I always check the waterbowls for mites besides the abvious places like around the snakes eyes and mouth...
How do you think the mites got there? do I have to brake down all 6 tanks now?
[img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_cry.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_evil.gif[/img]
[addsig]

	Mites Mites, close relatives of fleas and ticks

[Seany]

Also, I'm using NIX for treating him... I was told it was the best but now I'm not too sure... ever heard of it? and if so... any opinions?
[addsig]

[Boacephus]

Have you bought/brought anything new into the house lately? Such as supplies from the herp shop. I've heard alot of people that have brought mites home by buying reptile bark from an infested herp shop. As far as getting rid of them there is a great article in the caresheets section. I would say cleaning all the cages will be a must to ensure a total cleanup of them.
[addsig]

	Mites Mites, close relatives of fleas and ticks

[Seany]

nope, nothing new. I use aspen pine for substrate and mites usualy show up pretty fast if present... I just don't get it.
[addsig]

	Mites Mites, close relatives of fleas and ticks

[Seany]

could there have been eggs in the aspen?
[addsig]

[RevMojo]

do you feed f/t or p/k? Mites could have come in on the mice if you're whackin' em yourself

A lot of people swear by provent-a-mite. Before you go buying a $20 can, see BWSmith's post about the difference between it and Sawyer's tick repellent...you'll only notice the difference at thte cash register...

[addsig]

	Mites Mites, close relatives of fleas and ticks

[Seany]

Thanks, I guess it must have been the rats as I do whack them myself... I usualy check them for mites but I've been lazy with that lately as in the year I did look I never found anything...

[addsig]

	Mites Mites, close relatives of fleas and ticks

[BWSmith]

They could have come in on feeders.
[addsig]

[zero_point_one]

You asked about using NIX for treating them. I assume you're using the spray and not the cream. If you want to waste $18, you can buy Prevent - a - Mite. But if you want to be smart about it, you could save a fortune and see if you can find either Sawyer - Clothing Tick Repellent OR Repel - Clothing and Gear Insect Repellent. All three have the same patent number and contain 0.5% Permethrin. NIX only contains 0.25%. I don't know if the .25% concentration makes a difference, but it doesn't hurt to try. Currently, we have Repel. You can check out what the cans look like on BWSmith's photo album.

Jessa
[addsig]

	Mites Mites, close relatives of fleas and ticks

[XzyluM]

Sounds like it's coming from the feeders. Another reason to feed f/t. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif[/img]
[addsig]

	Frozen/Thawed A rodent or other prey item that is frozen and then thawed to be fed to a reptile or other animal.