Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A couple of my adult male rats have a serious case of mites. I've read differing opinions on what treatment to use, some say Revolution works best, some say Frontline or Advantage work very well.

I have both Frontline and Revolution on order. From what I have read on pet rat sites, Revolution is best but other sites say Frontline works really well too. The Frontline should get here today and it might be another week or more for the Revolution as it shipped from overseas. (stupid US restrictions on Revolution sales to get vets more money)

Im wondering if Frontline works well enough for rat mites and if I should use that right away or wait and use the Revolution instead. Revolution is advertised as effective on mites while frontline and Advantage don't seem to make that claim. I'd prefer using the Revolution but these 2 males are in pretty bad shape and I don't want to wait too long either.

Does anyone have any experience with any of these medications/insecticides?

No experience with them for rodent use but I found this neato site that might help you decide.

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1588&articleid=598
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Sonya

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

Thanks for the link. Still looks like Revolution is the best choice. I just hope it doesn't take too long for it to get here via snail mail from overseas.

I've called several local vets. So far none of them will sell me Revolution without seeing the pet, and none of them will see rats.

Revolution is sold over the counter in Australia, but here in the US our wonderful government once again has to stay in control over every facet of our lives.

Of course you would not feed any treated rodents to your herps. IMO at least a month for the chemicals to pass through.

10 years ago I had rodent mite infestation. Used pyrethrin spray on the tanks and a drop of one of the dog flea meds (forget which one, was 10 years ago) on each BREEDER rat as it was moved to a seperate treated location. After a couple of months, all breeders were treated and moved to the clean colony and all the babies in the old colony were fed off.
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
21.29 BRB
19.19 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

All of my adult rats are "keepers" and won't be fed off, as I have nothing that can eat a rat that big anyway.

Plus I don't have any pregnant currently, and won't until after the mites are dealt with.

It looks like Revolution is the best choice available currently, it will kill mites, lasts 30 days in their system so it will break the 3 week life cycle of mites, and seems to be the least toxic to the rats.

I just have to wait for it to ship from overseas, as none of the local vets will see rats and they won't sell Revolution without an office visit.

I got my Revolution order yesterday, it only took 5 days from Australia. Most stuff I order from within the US takes longer than that lately.

I dosed all my rats (all adult non-feeders), replaced all cloth, wood and cardboard and hosed down the cages. Now it's just wait and see if it works.

Thank you Sonya, I bookmarked that reference.

DeMak