Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

Recently I acquired two green tree pythons. But they were with mites. What's the best product out there to get rid of the mites without any negative effect? Thanks.

Here is what I did with one that came in with mites.

1. Do not get the animal near any others in your collection. Take strict quarantine protocal and keep on it until you are absolutely sure everything is 100%. I've done this for as long as 2 years with some animals. If the animal has been in a cage with furnishings such as hides, perches, ect., discard all furnishings immediately.

2. Take the animal outside and spray it off with a hose. Cool water isn't going to harm the animal any and will give it a chance to get a nice drink. Doing this will help wash off any loose mites. Keep the chondro on a perch if it helps. I would continue this for at least 5-10 minutes.

3. Have a can of Bedding Spray, found at CVS, Walgreens, or Wal-Mart for around $6-8. This is the EXACT same stuff you will see sold for reptile use for $20. After the animal is well hydrated with the hose, lightly spray the animal with the spray. let it sit for a couple of minutes and rinse THOROUGHLY. ONLY DO THIS TO ANIMALS THAT ARE 300 GRAMS OR MORE!!!!! DO NOT SPRAY YOUNG ANIMALS!!!! Now with that out of the way.

4. Spray the entire cage the animal will be housed in and let the bedding spray dry completely. Do not mist the chondro while it is in the cage for at least a week. Do not offer a water bowl during this time and remove the snake to spray for drinking and hydration. Spray the area surrounding the cage to kill any mites that may be outside of the cage.

5. Remove clothing, spray with bedding spray, and place in a trash bag for 24 hours. Take a HOT shower to remove any mites you may have aquired. Immediately wash clothes after removal and shower again.

This entire process should only take one treatment and one week should be enough time. If you notice more mites, treat again. After each treatment, be sure to wash the entire cage thoroughly to remove any pesticide residue. This stuff can and will harm reptiles if not done correctly. This is the exact process I used on one particular animal and it only took one treatment. Sounds like a lot of work, but mite infestation is more work that treating one snake. I haven't had a single mite infestation since I worked for a large commercial breeder over 10 years ago.

Good luck.

Brandon Osborne

Disclaimer: We claim no responsibility for damages caused from any use or misuse of this product or ideas expressed.
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