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Anybody know where to buy No Pest Strips, or a similar product?

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>>Anybody know where to buy No Pest Strips, or a similar product?

These products are not designed to treat reptiles; period. I've seen nearly entire collections wiped out from misuse of the product (but still have mites in the end!). You have to understand the natural behavior of the snake mite to understand why pest strips are terrible options. A snake mite leaves its host to lay its eggs; this usually takes place outside of the cage. Once hatched, the mites make their way back to the host and start the process all over again. You may treat the cage but you are missing all of the mites hatching outside of the cage. Plus, how do you know how much pesticide is enough to kill mites w/out causing permanent effects on teh snake (or worse yet, killing the snake). Okay, we'll get some yahoos who'll say they've used it for years but how do you know to what effect it has had on their animals? I've also seen mites build up resistencies to this product. I went to one house who had pest strips in every cage and by golly, I saw snake mites crawling right across the pest strip. I drove to a nearby gas station, changed my clothes, threw away the old clothes along with my shoes and then sprayed the heck out of my car....it was ridiculous.

Instead, use Provent A Mite by Pro Products. It's a proven product that is EPA approved and is 100% effective against mites w/out harming the snake. It costs more, but its the best way to go.

Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center
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Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

Rob-

I agree with your advice, but I'd stress that with Provent-a-Mite one must be EXTREMELY careful to follow label directions to the last decimal place. I've seen toxicity problems and deaths when reptiles are placed back in the cage too soon after application. Also I've had a couple of (juvenile) snakes which seemed to be much more sensitive to the product than others of their kind-showing tremors and loss of equilibrium even when the product was used as per instructions.

The only effective product I've seen that is also 100% non-toxic to reptiles is "Reptile Relief" by Natural Chemistry. It's not a poison, but a solvent that dissolves the mites' exoskeleton. It's disadvantage is that it must be reapplied many times to both cage and animal to be effective at eradication.

Brad Chambers

This all changed the way I looked at no pest strips...but then, that's what the forums are for...to learn.
I always thought that no pest strips were the end all to all mite troubles.
Guess my info was wrong. I will continue the regimen of Provent a Mite.
I've only had mites once before...on a quarantined snake.
Used Black Knight. One treatment...one follow up, and they were gone.
Hope Provent a Mite is just as effective. Can Reptile Relief be used along with Provent a Mite?

is to use extra virgin olive oil. It's messy, but works great, and is very safe. Use a rubbermade of appropriate size and place enough oil in it so that the snake can "get it all over its body...about 1 inch in a BIG tub for a 10 foot python is fine....3/8 inch in a shoe box for a baby burm, etc). Make sure there are air holes in the tub, and place the snake in it for a few hours (monitored). wipe of when finished, and place in cage. the oil gets under the scales, so it stays there for a few day to kill any new hatches. I treated a 10 foot burm while in college this way. The snake was brought to me, and just holding it made my hand bloody (from the volume of mites present). I was skeptical, but I soaked him overnight, and he was all cleaned up with no infectioins coming back. The owner did clean the cage while I had him in my care, so the snake bounced back pretty quick.
I do currently use a combination of oil, pest strips, proven-a-mite, and reptile relief, depending on the locatioin and situation. As long as you do your homework on the chemical, you should be fine. Just as the poster above said though...even following the directions perfectly, there can still be individual problems. Look for these and learn from them.
p.s. As far as building up a resistance, I would be more willing to bet that the pest strips were just old and needed replaced. If a resistance can be built up for the pest strip, then there is no reason it can't be built up for the provent-a-mite as well

Hope this helps ya.

Dewey Vasses

Several years ago I had to battle mites after another breeder was nice enough to send me some. I put no pest strips in deli cups and cut holes in the sides of the cups. I had a few snakes acting strange within a week of the treatment. I had no choice but to have one put down and tested to see what was wrong. Necropsy results showed deterioration of the brain. I had to put down a couple more and had them tested and they showed the same results. There is no doubt in my mind the no pest strip caused their brains to deteriorate. Perhaps I used too much of the no pest strip, but how much is too much. It was a costly lesson learned and I haven't used no pest strip since then.

Perhaps you did use too much, but then I have to ask this question. Can the strips have cause the deterioration of the brain cells THAT FAST? Perhaps the mites caused this?? As far as how much to use....read the label. It does tell you how much to use. Of course you need to figure the size for your cage. I have used 1/4 inch by 1/2 pieces inside my largest cages (72" visions). It seems lie a very small amount, but it was enough to work. I always stayed on the much lower end of the required amount since air circulation was also a factor. Also the holes in the plastic jars were pin holes, nothing bigger. I'm sure this had an affect on the release of the chemical as well. Just some food for thought.
It's always best to research as much as possible before you use anything. As with all living things, some may react differet than others...even within the same species. You need to monitor and adjust as often as necessary.