Snake mites can't actually bore into wood. They hide on the surface or under the bark of limbs, firewood, etc...



Rough surfaces make it harder to get all the eggs out while wiping. In cages that have rough surfaces "Provent-A-Mite" is probably the best to use. In fact, from what I hear it's the best to use in any situation. They say it's good, works great.



If your plywood hasn't been sealed to prevent it from absorbing moisture you would just need to let a bleach solution air out a bit longer. The bleach kills adult mites on contact, but not the eggs. That's why so many people have trouble getting rid of mites, they don't take extra care to remove the eggs.



I used the "Relief" stuff once, on a snake, to view the results. I've still got the rest of the bottle layin' around here somewhere. While it did seem to kill most of the visible mites I could still see a few unaffected ones. Anything safe enough to put on the snake has to be somewhat weak, if you know what I mean.



The only difference between cleaning a cage with mites & a regular cleaning is the special care needed to wipe up all the eggs.



Just to make sure we're all on the same page (many people reading in the backgorund), when I use a bleach solution I spray the cage & then wipe up the liquid until it's dry. Then I do the same thing, using plain water instead. I keep rinsing with plain water until there's no more fumes. In your case, I would probably bleach & then rinse twice. Then use lights, fans, etc, to speed up dry time.



Beth, if I were you, as a rescue organization, I'd order a can or two of Provent-A-Mite to keep on hand. You'll have to search on Google, or somewhere else, to find out where to get it. Seems like just a month or so ago someone was saying that it can only be ordered from the dealer/mfg.



Take care & hang in there!

Mike
-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,

this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:

Appalachian American

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