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I started a discussion earlier about Equate Bed Lice spray for controlling snake mites. I treated the enclosures of my quarantine room as well as floors and doorways leading out of quarantine room and into the main snake room. After less than a week, I was no longer able to find a live mite on the affected snake or quarantined enclosures.

Here's the kicker....now it's about 2 weeks from the initial treatment, and today I noticed one of my spotted's (in the main room) soaking, which only happens every so NEVER, so I checked him. There were several mites on him, and some in the water, all of which were dead. After examining the other snakes in the room (which he happens to be in the center and in close proximity to), I found no more.

I started treating the room just in case, but was wondering if anyone has experienced this before. The only thing I can think of is that they picked up the Equate as the crossed through the doorways, and died on the snake. If that's the case, how powerful is this stuff?!?

Mike

Those mites are freakin magical. Actually thats not funny

It sounds like maybe you are the culprit. A mite could have hitched a ride on you, across the poison and into the next snake cage you touched.

I've been racking my brain trying to figure this out...just so it doesn't happen again. While it was probably keeper error, I'm now trying to figure out where so that I can prevent it in the future. I usually take care of the cage requirements for the main room before the quarantine room, and try not to go back and forth. I also have and use hand sanitizer in both rooms. Well...must of done something. Have yet to find any live mites, and I've treated the areas in immediate proximity to the affected snake. I'm going to go ahead and treat both rooms thoroughly tomorrow. Can't wait to be done with this!
Mike

Hey didn't I tell you so??? LOL Sorry you have to go through this but I did say to treat them all so this wouldn't happen. The mites can be vectors for disease if your new animals has one. Not saying it does have something, but it could pass some different diseases through the mites. So that is why you want to treat everything. Also by the time you notice them they have likely traveled across your house twice. Not much you can do at this point but take it in stride and learn from this. "Treat (Kill) em all. Let God sort em out" I think that was from a Steven King novel/TV movie but it applies well to the mites with that little twist.

Good luck with it. Oh and I think you were asking about the mites ignoring some snakes and attacking one. I have seen that before too. They seem to like boids over colubrids. They also go after sick and young snakes over healthy ones. I am hoping to never have them again but I am sure I will see them again sooner than that.

Jason

Yeah, you told me so....I was just a little hesitant to treat the main room w/ week old JCP's in it. Now I guess I don't have a choice. What's interesting is that the Spotted in the main room is the only one I found mites on, and they were all dead. He is in a tub directly next to a female Spotted of the same age and size. Regardless, I finish treating tonight. It'll be a late one!
Mike

I would remove the JCPs until after any and all fumes have disapated. For some reason baby carpets are extremely susceptible to most of that stuff. Even proventomite. I learned this the hard way.

Thanks. I sprayed some cages already, but will remove them before finishing.

All cages in the room, and anything with a snake smell should be sprayed. The adult mites can travel 50' in a hour. Maybe they went out for a drink when you sprayed
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1.1 Blackheaded pythons
1.1 Woma
2.1 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.1 Bloods
1.1 Balls
2.1 IJ Carpets
1.1 Coastal Carpets
1.2 Macklotts
1.1 Papuan Olives
2.0 Jungle Carpet
0.1 Carpondro
2.2 Scrubs (on breeding loan)
0.1 Jungle/Diamond cross
.1 Brazilian Rainbow boas
0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC

Could be..LOL. The other night I treated EVERYTHING! Of course I inspected as I went, and I didn't find a single mite on any other snake or enclosure. I'll just spend the next 3 - 4 weeks acting like I've got 'em, and cross my fingers hoping that they're gone.