Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Mites wont like this and it is all natural. Works internally on parisites.
It is a non-toxic, safe substance made up from crushed fossils of freshwater organisms and marine life. Crushed to a fine powder and observed through a microscope, the particles resemble bits of broken glass. Deadly to any insect and completely harmless to animals, fish, fowl or food. Most insects have a waxy outer shell covering their bodies, INSECT STOP scratches through this shell causing the insect to dehydrate leading to eventual death.

http://www.hydromall.com/happy_grower16.html
Link

The site recommends FEEDING that to horses, cats, and dogs? A fine powder that when viewed under a microscope resembles bits of broken glass? If it can scratch through the exoskeleton of an insect, I'd hate to think of what it's doing to the insides of my animals.

No thanks.

~jenny
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1.2 normal ball pythons (Cindy, Darwin, and Periscope)
0.2 rescue chinese water dragons (Yoni and Linga)
1.0 rex rat (Scurvy)
1.0 gerbil (Yerbul)
0.1 neurotic mouse (Cute Girl Mousey)
1.0 escape artist mouse (Jesusmouse)
0.1 bunny (Spazz)
1.1 betta fishes (Vicious and Killer)
2.2 great danes (Shasta, Odysseus, Merlot, and Watson)
1.0 fat fuzzy mutt (Smokey)
1.1 cats (Thidwick and Turtle)
3.0 horses (Buddy, Sam, and Scout)
1.0 goat (Billy Jack)
1.25 chickens (Ugly the rooster and his harem)

The Saddest Mouse

You eat it all time its in alot of stuff toothpaste,rice ect. I still wouldn't use it in my snake bins though much better products on the market makes a mess.
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Vince Pramuk

It is actually the silica shells of It is actually the silica shells of a group of planktonic microorganisms known as diatoms. It is used in many applications from a deterrent to small pests in gardens to filter material for pools.

I would not use it for BP's however since it is very light and powdery. It is similar to pulverized chalk. I would think that it could cause serious respiratory problems similar to those that occur with other dusty substrates.

Forgive me if I'm wrong...

but I always thought Diatomaceous Earth was a carcinogen?

Used it once for a flea infestation on mammals. Worked fairly well killing most insect:spiders, fleas, roaches... However, the clean-up was almost impossible. Even with masks and breathing protection, I had a nose bleed for a month. It's like sniffing fiberglass. The product page states that it can be used to reduce moisture in grains. I could only imagine harm being done when breathed into the respiratory system.

Just my thoughts

I remember using this in canister filters for fish but it stopped being avaiable because of health reasons. we had to be careful not to breath it in. if you have a problem with mites use Prevent a Mite, it works.

N/P

it isn't as effective as other mite control methods. And it is very drying to the snake. By the way, it is put in the cage, not fed to the snake.

I remember that the stuff was marketed as Dry-Die back in the late 1960s and 1970s. But chemical insecticides were more effective, so the stuff dropped out of sight. Every so often it makes a brief comeback, though.

Paul Hollander

Agreed. I haven't found anything that works better than Prevent-a-Mite. Good stuff.