Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I livein Ontario Canada if that makes any difference..don't know if the med stuff changes south of the border. I have shelves set up in the 10x10 pet room along both walls. Left side is 3 high .. Adult rats-pets in 3 - 40g aquariums on bottom, 4 20g feeder mice in middle, and 2 35g for Corns on top. Across room have 2 shelves 40g rat on bottom and large enclosure with 2 beardies on top. Noticed when I fed today that the mice feeders seem to have mites..saw small black/brown bugs crawling on hide boxes. There does not seem to be any in the rat cages but want to stop this NOW. I was assuming that I could use no pest strips but will this harm the snakes or beardies if I hang them up and will it kill the oones that are there now or just prevent new ones. I will be washing hands between feeding the cages but really have no ideas other than strips anything else I need to do..havent had to deal with mites in 15 years so have no memory to fall back on and vet not in til tomorrow.

Also if I can use strips what is the min / max amount away from animals I can put / hang it?

To me it sounds more like fleas than mites. If you can I'd say give the rodents a bath, that might help. Or just try to rinse them off (wash with just water) then freeze 'em to kill the remaining bugs.
Just my idea!
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1.0.0 Bearded Dragon (Rex- "normal" orange fire)
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon (Glutany- German Giant Mix)
0.1.0 Okeetee Corn (Okatee)
1.1.0 Spotted Python (Hotdog and Shoelace)

it's definately mites, I know fleas have had enough cats & dogs..no jumping and wayyyy too tiny. So back to the original question..will strips kill the mites present now in tanks and on mice or just the mites in the tanks and not on the mice or will they just prevent future infestations. Vet says she can give me an invermectin soloution for the mice but as there are 40 mice 2 new litters dosing them all is going to be a real pain. Also how did I get them there have been no new mice introduced to the colonies for a while..was just running down this stock so could start adding new.

Elaine

>>it's definately mites, I know fleas have had enough cats & dogs..no jumping and wayyyy too tiny. So back to the original question..will strips kill the mites present now in tanks and on mice or just the mites in the tanks and not on the mice or will they just prevent future infestations. Vet says she can give me an invermectin soloution for the mice but as there are 40 mice 2 new litters dosing them all is going to be a real pain. Also how did I get them there have been no new mice introduced to the colonies for a while..was just running down this stock so could start adding new.
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>>Elaine

If it were me I would suppose a couple of things.
One, the mites came in and just went unnoticed till their population exploded.
Theoretically the mites on furrys don't transfer to snakes and vica versa. Theoretically. I would personally want them gone since they make me itch (allergies) and spread disease and just...eeeeewww!
That said I would go with the vet's ivermectin and get it done. Anything else is dangerous and likely not gonna do the job. I would ask for a flea spray that you can use on future bedding for the next month or so. I am thinking something geared down to small animals. And then don't feed off anyone for a few weeks.
Pest strips make my skin crawl as I have seen snakes permanently damaged by being too close to them.
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Sonya

I'm not mean. You're just a sissy.
Happy Bunny