Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What ever happened with the black knight legal battle? For those who don't know, there is(was) a wonderful insecticide product for killing roaches that was (supposedly)2nd to none in controlling reptile mites. People that have used it swear by it. It was so widely used (and allegedly so effective) for mites that VPI and ProExotics both advocated its use on their respective sites. Last I heard, the makers of Provent-a-Mite were suing the company that makes Black Knight, and threatening lawsuits against anyone who promoted its use in the reptile hobby.

Has anything else transpired? Is a lawsuit still in litigation? Are VPI and PE involved?

This thing has always bugged me. The makers of BK did not market it for snake mites...hobbyests caught on. I still don't see how the PAM people could sue to force BK out of existence. It was, after all, just another bug spray....

So, anybody know anything new?

Black Knight (B-K) vs Prevent A Mite (P-A-M):

Well, I can only repeat what I've been told by uninvolved sources, but allegedly here's what happened.

Apparently, "USE ONLY AS DIRECTED" on the labels of products sold in the United States is more than just a suggestion. There are many unadvertised uses for this or that product, but unless that particular use was tested and became a part of the approval process, no-one is allowed to use a product for purposes not listed on the label. Since "Big Brother" isn't watching in every home YET, it remains a suggestion to the consumer, but not to the producers and distributors. If you discovered that Listerine removes warts, you can use it that way. BUT if you tell Listerine it works and they acknowledge that or sell you their products knowing you're going to use it in ways other than the ways that were approved, they are in voilation of some law. SO, some of us that told Aerosol Corporation we loved their roach spray for killing mites or phroid flies on reptiles. If they had scolded us for using it that way, nobody would have a law suit here. Once they acknowledged we were using it wrong and sold us more knowing that, they were apparently in violation of some American law. Hence, "I'M TOLD" that P-A-M threatened or actually sued them and that caused Aerosol Corp to stop distribution of B-K. I do not know this to be a fact.

Again, this is what I've heard from people and I don't know this to be the facts. It makes sense. Usually the phrase "Only In America" is a good thing, but in this case, it may seem silly. I guess if Aerosol Corp knew kids were inhaling their products and condoned it, that would obviously be a bad thing. Therefore, it makes sense that we put this short leash on American manufacturers so they'll produce and distribute products responsibly. Let's hope Aerosol Corporation gets their product approved for use in reptile cages so we can get it back. I personally used it for many years and miss it terribly. I haven't had a mite in my buildlings for 13 yeras, but it sure knocks out those pesky Phroid flies. grrrrrrrrrr!!
South Mountain Reptiles

I have a problem with actual roaches! I breed rodents and have
lots of misc feed/etc laying around and as a result I have a
problem occasionally with roaches.

If you know where I could get my hands on some Black Knight,
please let me know (you can email me privately). I have
used it before on roaches and it works amazingly well!

Thanks!

I did an exhaustive search a couple of years ago and was able to find a half of a can (which was given to me). Fortunately, in 15 years in the hobby I have never had a problem with mit...err, umm...roaches. I just like having it on hand just in case.

There is a product from Austrailia which appears to have all the same active and inert ingredients, and can be ordered and shipped over here. I can't recall the name, but I found it fairly easily on a web search and I suspect you can do the same.

Does anyone else know about this product?
What's it called? Who has used it? How
effective is it?

Tx!

The makers of OFF insect repellent make a product (I believe it is called "Repell" which you can get at any Walmart in the camping section. This product contains the same active incredients in the same concentrations as PAM, and is cheaper. Since it is safe for human use it should not be a problem is some "accidently" happens to find it's way onto a reptile with a mite problem.
Grant

PAM can not be applied to the reptile, from what I understand...only to cages, etc. Bad stuff happens when PAM is applied directly to a critter, or the critter is put back into the cage before the PAM dries and the vapors dissapate.

I use store brand bed lice spray. Same stuff as P.A.M. but only 1.99 a can.
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1.0 Spotted Python
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you can buy cases of BK2 from airosol. it has been reformulated (propellant was changed) and they are still gun shy about selling to reptile folks specifically. the court ruled in their favor, but threatened litigation is still a scary thing.
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles