Reptile & Amphibian Forums

O.K. I'm perplexed???

I am buying ASPEN bedding that I buy at the local AGWAY (farmer supply store). Every time I put the bedding my Vision cage with my boas, they get mites. Do I have to use Prevent-a-mite every time I add new substrate? Do I have to bake the bedding? This seems like alot for EVERY time they defecate and replacing the soiled substrate!

I've opted to use newspaper before, but they always squirm and crumple the paper and make using the sheets pointless. What methods does everyone use for bedding in Vision cages??? Thanks for your help!

- Justin

Switch substrates or find a new brand of Aspen?

Your snakes HAVE mites! It doesn't come in the bedding. That's just the story you get from the pet stores, because they're resistant to admitting they sold you a snake with mites!
The bedding just allows the mites to multiply and proliferate to enormus proportions, to the point that they're undeniably obvious.
After you get rid of the mites, you can go back to using the bedding of your choice.
"Listen to me now and believe me later". -- Governor California
Does anybody remember that movie?
jsc

It's not easy to trace the source of mites. Others who posted might be right - your snakes may have had mites, and they keep "coming back" because the mites are hanging out somewhere, even while you are treating your snakes. They might be somewhere else in the room.

Or, they could be in the bedding, if it is a bulk type of aspen.

I've never had a problem with my snakes getting mites from aspen when I was using it (but I bought the packaged compressed bales from pet stores)... but if Agway stuff sits out for a long time, who knows.

In any case, do NOT use any type of wood shaving product until you are certain the mites are gone from your collection. Throw away any shavings you have in your house, in case the mites are in those. Use paper towel or newspaper as a substrate.... treat your snakes again and keep using the paper substrate for a while. If the mites come back again, there is some other problem (they are residing somewhere else in your house or you're not disinfecting/cleaning the cages well enough, or treating for long enough, to get them all).

Not fun, I'm sure. But aspen and other wood-based bedding makes a good hiding place for mites, regardless where the mites came from. So, until you've eradicated them, best to stay away from those types of substrates for now.

Good luck...
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Lauren Madar - OphidiaGems.com | CageMakers
1.1 Ball Python, 1.0 Hog Island Boa, 1.1 Hypo BCI, 1.1 Surinam BCC, 1.1 Saharan Sand Boa