Yes the come in on mice. After I had them (from live mice) I switched everybody to f/t and that's that. I did it because of the mites but wow it is SO much better than frozen in a dozen other ways too, but that's another story for another post.

Read this on mites (all three parts):
http://www.vpi.com/9VPITipsAndTechs/thewaragainstsnakemites/Mites-KnowTheEnemy.htm

...and this:
http://www.anapsid.org/mites.html


There a few ways to go once you have them.

One is Provent-a-mite and it's the least hassle because it continues killing mites in the cage but you can't use it on the snake. Read about it here:
http://www.pro-products.com/miteandtemp.html

One is reptile relief which you have to use every three days on them, the cages, etc. but you can spray it directly on the snake (follow directions) because it's non-toxic when used as directed. Read about it here:
http://www.naturalchemistry.com/Pet/StorePlus/Store/viewConsumerItems.asp?idProduct=65

You can get both products on eBay too, sometimes cheaper, and also at most large corporate pet stores, or smaller pet stores that sell reptiles, and of course online, just google it.

I have used the soapy water method (Ivory Liquid for dishes, and not much, see the VPI sheet). This works pretty great for getting them out of the crevices of the snake like the folds on the chin, by decreasing the surface tension of the water. Mites can't swim either.

Speaking of mites not being able to swim, I know a guy who had a LOT of snakes, to keep his others from becoming infested he put a tupperware tub with the snake with mites in the bathtub on blocks with water around the tupperware like a moat. Because mites can't swim this effectively kept him from having them in all of his cages. However by the time you have read this it's maybe too late because these nasty little varmints will be in any other cages you have with snakes in no time. They can walk 12 feet an hour, and they are attracted by the smell of snakes. They also have 3 larval stages (besides the adult stage and the egg), which is why they aren't gone until you don't see them for a full month of treatment.

I read that "Mite Off" only treats the animal not the cages or the room. So, that means a bleach solution on the cages and rinse thoroughly every three days along with treating the snake, and the whole process repeated for 1 month after the last mite is seen. Wash all the plastic stuff well (hides, bowl etc) and throw away (yep that's right) anything in the cages that is wood or porous because mites can hide in the tiniest places. Vacuum the whole room after each time you wash the cages which must be done every 3 days with Mite Off just like withReptile Relief. If you have other snakes you also have to do their cages too, and use the product on them, same as reptile relief too because these spread like wildfire.

I don't recommend the other methods. In the 80s the old school way we used was SHELL no-pest strips, or Vapona strips and I never had a problem, but it's a fly poison, so don't use that because both these newer products are way better. What I do recommend is using Reptile Relief combined with a few soapy baths at first, and using Provent-a-mite on the cages. Until you can get those two products use what you have and keep washing those cages every 3 days.

Whatever you do you're not done until a month passes and you haven't seen any. If you see any, the month starts again.

Good Luck!
Caden

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