Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was herping and came across a beautiful copperhead.The problem is when I put on high power reading glasses to check for mites, I found it to be loaded with those very tiny red mites that you see on rocks and concrete steps. I've been fortunate that this is my first encounter with parasites. What is the safest way to rid him of these bugs?

I've used black knight "roach" spray with good results on copperheads with red mites. I think it's still available, but I haven't purchased it for years.

Regards,
WK

Is it safe to spray the cage and the entire snake? Or do I restrain the snake and just spray the body? In the event I can't find this product, is there anyone else out there with other suggestions? Thankyou to all responses. Brian

I used to spray it on the snake and inside the cage. I would not leave the water bowl in, but would put it back a few hours later once all of the spray particles settled. I just looked around on the web and saw that Black Night has been replaced with "BK2", a spray containing one of the same active ingredients in the old Black Knight spray. I linked a page about BK2 spray below.

Regards and good luck with your red mites.
WK
BKII

Pro Exotics sells the Black Knight spray. At our facility, we use Pro Product's Provent-A-Mite spray and have used it with great success over the years. We've been mite free for a long, long time thanks to this product (any new animal gets treated no matter what).

Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center

>>I used to spray it on the snake and inside the cage. I would not leave the water bowl in, but would put it back a few hours later once all of the spray particles settled. I just looked around on the web and saw that Black Night has been replaced with "BK2", a spray containing one of the same active ingredients in the old Black Knight spray. I linked a page about BK2 spray below.
>>
>>Regards and good luck with your red mites.
>>WK
>>BKII
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Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

Provent-A-Mite works really well. I've tested a few different products and it seems to be the easiest to use and gave me the best reults. Its about $15 a can and I've only found it on line and at shows. Try lll.
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Joe
Lampropeltis
Elaphe
Spalerosophis
Crotallus
Geochelone

Another option is hypoaspis mites.

They feed on all other mites, and will not touch reptiles or other animals.

I have used them successfully treating scorpions, where mite sprays are not an option.

A google search for them will turn up a number of results, as well as testamonials.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=hypoaspis mites&spell=1

I have used sevendust with great success for my nonvenomous snakes for a few years now but I have never used it on any of my hots. Never had a mite problem(knock on wood) with any of my hots.

Anthony