Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was reading an earlier post regarding Equate bedlice spray to treat mites. I recently bought a Reptilicus line Jaguar Carpet (2nd hand -NOT from the Leary's - that's NOT where the mites came from), which was pretty infested when I received her, and obviously not cared for the way she deserved. After 2 cycles of Ivermectin, ZooMed brand Mite Off treatment, and daily enclosure (Iris Tub) cleaning, treatment, and substrate (paper towel) changes, the mites are returning. How effective is the Equate brand bed lice spray, and what is the best way to treat with it? So far, no mites have spread to the rest of my collection from the quarantined snake, and I'd very much like to keep it that way. Thanks!
Mike

If the snake is in a rack then the mites are likely on the wood. Also don't kid yourself about where the mites are. They can travel something like 20 feet a hour and they will hunt down the rest of your collection.

If it were me, I would hit all your enclosures like you do have mites in them. First is to get the snake out and soak the snake in water. Clean all bedding from the enclosure and take out the water bowls. Spray a 1-3 second burst for each ten gallon tank sized area of floor space. Allow the spray to dry and air out for a while. Go with newspaper bedding, if that is not your normal bedding, for about 2-3 weeks, and then do a secondary treatment of all enclosures again removing the water bowl and animal. At that point you can go back to your normal bedding.

Lazy way to do it is to remove the snake and water bowl and spray enclosure and bedding. This can also be affective and the residual that is left behind either way will kill mites for about 30 days. By leaving the bedding in you give the mites a chance if they are dug down deep in a mulch bedding. I would also suggest if you have a quarantine room that you spray the opening of the room, meaning the door frame and floor. You can also get a little crazy and spray the floor of the main reptile room, the rack on the outside, and anything else that is in the room.

I have personally found many of the other commercially available mite products to be pretty useless. I would go with PAM or Equate, and just for kicks I will switch from one to the other from time to time, if I have mites or when I do shows (which is where I feel I pick mites up from time to time). At shows I usually spray down my table clothe and table, unless it is a "alternative pet" show that has inverts. Then it is just my clothe before I leave home and my shoes and pants. I also get a little silly from time to time and spray down my transport boxes, coolers, and anything else I bring that touches the floor. If you have vended at one of these shows you have had the random cricket end up on your shoe or table. I feel that you have just as good of a chance to have mites show up!! Basically, shows stress me out because I can't control who or what comes in contact with my table and my animals. Though I do try.

Good luck

Jason

Snake is kept in quarantine room w/ 2 other snakes. As of right now, no mites have been seen outside her enclosure. Her enclosure is an Iris tub w/ paper towel substrate as I do for all new aquisitions. I'll treat it and both this room and my snake room as suggested. Thanks for the advice. Any other tips are appreciated. Thanks.
Mike Curtin

I wouldn't clean every day. All you are doing is cleaning out the poison. I have used proventamite for years with excellent results from a single dose.

I was using the ZooMed brand directly on the snake, so the cleaning was an attempt to get rid of dead mites and eggs. Since using the Equate, I've just left it to do its job. Thanks for the advice though.
Mike

"They can travel something like 20 feet a hour"

According to Dave Barker, 50'per hour. The buggers move quick for a poppy seed
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