Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Has anybody ever used mineral oil to get rid of mites? My vet recommended coating the snake in mineral oil every day for 3 weeks to basically drown the mits. Just wondered if anybody ever tried this or heard of it?
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Jenea

2:3 Tricolor Hognose
2:1 Eastern Hognose
1:2 Western Hognose
2:2 Southern Hognose
0:0:2 Florida Redbelly Snakes
0:1 Gulf Coast Box Turtle
1:1 Red-eared Slider
1:2:2 Mediterranean Geckos
2:0 Cats
1:1 Kids
1:0 Spouse

Using mineral oil to treat mites has been discounted for over 30 years. It actually can hurt snakes.

Get yourself a can of Provent-a-mite and follow the directions. It is the best and only really effective treatment for mites. If you use it once and use it correctly your problem will be solved.
It seems expensive compared to other products, but the difference is it is safe and it works 100% of the time. One can will last you years in the average sized collection.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

I went ahead and followed the recommendation in some vet text books. It suggested a diluted listrine bath and the mineral oil for only around the eyes. Useing only the harshher "chemicals" for the actual enclousure. You could see the little buggers falling off in the water. Steralite bins are pretty easy to clean up though, so that was a snap, it was the animals themselves that I had the most concern about.
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Jenea

2:3 Tricolor Hognose
2:1 Eastern Hognose
1:2 Western Hognose
2:2 Southern Hognose
0:0:2 Florida Redbelly Snakes
0:1 Gulf Coast Box Turtle
1:1 Red-eared Slider
1:2:2 Mediterranean Geckos
2:0 Cats
1:1 Kids
1:0 Spouse

I've used it successfully. The collection was afflicted several years ago and it worked on the mites. I had a few very young baby kingsnakes develope skin blisters and die from what I believe was a reaction of my using it too heavily or not letting it dry enough, so exercise caution, and use less rather than more.
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Jamie W.

(url)http://rosyboas.tripod.com(/url)

no pest strips

..no pest strips with hognose.
More than once (me included) there's been at least a coincidental death attributed to the strips when used with hognose snakes.
I once used a very small piece placed in a plastic container and untouchable by the snake (eastern). In a few days he was dead. The other seperated cage-mate, was treated with POM or similar and still thrives today.
Can't be 100% sure of course...but...
I wouldn't chance it myself.
:Mark
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Surrender Dorothy!

www.crimsonking.funtigo.com

What was recommended for the enclousure, was to seal it off, and place a flea collar on a piece of foil in it. Let it "fumigate" for a few hours, then air out for a few hours. Of course with the steralite, it seemed a bit much. I just took it outside, bleached it, rinsed well, and let air dry in the sun.
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Jenea

2:3 Tricolor Hognose
2:1 Eastern Hognose
1:2 Western Hognose
2:2 Southern Hognose
0:0:2 Florida Redbelly Snakes
0:1 Gulf Coast Box Turtle
1:1 Red-eared Slider
1:2:2 Mediterranean Geckos
2:0 Cats
1:1 Kids
1:0 Spouse

Just remember you should probably repeat whatever you do again in 10 days....
:Mark
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Surrender Dorothy!

www.crimsonking.funtigo.com

The book recommended at 2 weeks and at 6. The two with the bugs are melanistic, so it was hard to spot the problem. One never showed symptoms, but the other started soaking a lot. That is when I figured it out. Since they were shipped together, I thought to check the other guy. Both are doing well and gaining weight, so I will just keep an eye on them and check weekly, along with follow up treatment.

Thanks for all the input.
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Jenea

2:3 Tricolor Hognose
2:1 Eastern Hognose
1:2 Western Hognose
2:2 Southern Hognose
0:0:2 Florida Redbelly Snakes
0:1 Gulf Coast Box Turtle
1:1 Red-eared Slider
1:2:2 Mediterranean Geckos
2:0 Cats
1:1 Kids
1:0 Spouse

I know someone will question me on this but, that's fine.I just use water,mites cannot stand water.If the snake is feeding normally feed the crap out of it,when you know it is about to shed,take it out and soak it in a container other than it's enclosure.while you help it shed,let it's cage soak in water also.You may want to use a small brush to get in the small crevices.I have never used chemicals and never will. jeff

the key to the no pest strips is you put them on the outside of the cages not anywere around the snakes or the inside . i have never had a problem in all the years i have used them and they always take care of the problem . you never should ever put them in a cage even in another container that is definatlly the wrong way to use them . if used the right way they work great . just my opinion LB

OK here is what has always worked for me. I haven’t had a mite in years but when I did I always use Hearts 2 in 1 flea powder for (cats) I sprinkle a small amount in the bedding and that does the trick. And I never had a snake show any problems from it.

Different things work for different people, so what work for some else might not always work for you!

JIM

I do not use the oil method of eliminating mites but I know it does work. A very good friend of mine, well known breeder, and more importantly, respected breeder uses olive oil. It does the same thing, drowns the mites. I just don't like the mess that any oil makes in the sterilite boxes and rack shelf.
If you want info on using Nix, email me.

yes, i also use olive oil against mites. it works perfectly, the only problem is the oil in all boxes and terrariums...
but i prefer this method to all chemical stuff.