Read this first:
http://www.vpi.com/9VPITipsAndTechs/TheWarAgainstSnakeMites/TheWarAgainstSnakeMites.htm

Get Provent-A-Mite, it is the easiest effective non-harmful method.

WASH CAGE: While you're waiting for Get Provent-A-Mite to show up do soak your snake the following way, and while you are doing that do clean the cage with dileted bleach & water, and rinse thoroughly.

SOAK SNAKE: Soak your snake in water that has a few drops of dish washing liquid in it (like Ivory liquid etc., no strong ones with antibacterial stuff), this will break the surface tension bond between the snake and mite allowing the water to get where the mite is.

CAGE FURNITURE: Sterilize plastic and ceramic stuff, and throw away all wood, you just can't clean it good enough, and mites can hide in really tiny places, and the three larval stages (Yeah three larval stages!!!!) and egg stage are even tinyier.

In the 80s we used stuff like No Pest Strips, but today we have MUCH better stuff, and Ivermectin, well it's for other animals, no studies have ever been done on herps so don't chance it with the snakes you love.

After you soak the snake and clean the cage, you can replace the snake on white paper towels and a light colored or white water bowl big enough for them to soak in. Mites bug snakes, they soak to get some relief. If you see black specks on the paper or in the water you have adult mites again.

Use Provent-A-Mite as directed when you get it, meanwhile do all the above every 3 days until it arrives.

Good luck,
Caden

[ Show Entire Thread ]