Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have my first outbreak of mites ever. I've treated with provent a mite, what next?
I have so many conflicting stories. Should I toss the substrate (cypress mulch)? Or does the provent a mite kill them thoroughly?
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

If you follow Pro Product's recommended usage and application, you WILL be successful in eradicating mites...best stuff on the market. You can treat the substrate, or, w/out it. Personally, I wouldn't use cypress for burms so just chuck it and use newspaper for now (or permanently).

Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center

>>I have my first outbreak of mites ever. I've treated with provent a mite, what next?
>>I have so many conflicting stories. Should I toss the substrate (cypress mulch)? Or does the provent a mite kill them thoroughly?
>>Any help would be appreciated.
>>Thanks
-----
Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

Thanks Rob...

Should I treat all snake cages nearby as well too? Also...
I was told to lift the eyelids and clean all around the eyes.And then treat the area with De-Flea or a similar product.
No easy task with a 13ft burm. Is this recommended?
Or should the two treatments be enough to kill all the little suckers? On the snake, around the eyelids, substrate.
Why don't you like cypress? I've been using it for a number of years now with no problems. Easy to clean albeit not as easy as newspaper. Easy to keep humidity up....lots of pros.
Now I want to hear the cons.

Don't treat the eyelids! All you need to do is spray the cage down, and, if you want, spray some on a towel and take ONE wipe down the back of the snake (start just behing the head but keep away from eyes, mouth, etc.). I would recommend treating all of the cages because mites migrate very quickly and they are most likely already on the other animals w/out you knowing it. Spray the baseboards of the room, around furniture, anywhere that mites could travel from one cage to another.

I personally don't like cypress for many reasons and I feel that there are far more cons than pros:
- VERY difficult to keep clean - urates seep through the bedding making it very difficult to spot clean creating a nice festering ground for bacteria
- Can get very dusty if not kept continually moist/misted - this can lead to many respiratory problems for the snake
- There are documented cases of snakes dying due to the chemicals found in the mulch (could be petroleum from the saws, could be various herbicides/pesticieds)
- Possible ingestion of bedding - most cypress has large chunks/slivers and one gulp of this stuff can lead to impaction and death (or a very expensive surgical bill).
- When you purchase cypress mulch you are promoting the destruction of the vanishing cypress swamps of the southeast....this to me is the best reason to NOT buy the stuff.
You can't beat newspaper.

>>Thanks Rob...
>>
>>Should I treat all snake cages nearby as well too? Also...
>>I was told to lift the eyelids and clean all around the eyes.And then treat the area with De-Flea or a similar product.
>>No easy task with a 13ft burm. Is this recommended?
>>Or should the two treatments be enough to kill all the little suckers? On the snake, around the eyelids, substrate.
>>Why don't you like cypress? I've been using it for a number of years now with no problems. Easy to clean albeit not as easy as newspaper. Easy to keep humidity up....lots of pros.
>>Now I want to hear the cons.
-----
Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL