Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just got 2 new Yarrows spineys, and while I am quarantining them, I also want to routinely treat them for mites, as they might be wc. Should I go with spraying a paper towel with Provent-a-mite and putting that in their temporary enclosure? Or is there a cheaper and just as effective way to make sure they carry no ectoparasites?

give them a good look over, most ectoparasites will be visable. a good soaking should help get any from between scales and will probably bee seen flaoting in the water. after all that if you want to be even more sure, im a huge fan of prevent a mite and couldent see how one treatment could hurt if they are otherwise healthy animals, but i wouldent over do it...
also search this forum, lots of ideas on pest control further down if im remembering right...
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hanging out under heat lights burns up my brain cells!!

I've never used provent-a-mite but heard it works well. I used ivermectin diluted into a spray.

Ian

I've read about olive oil and also that perhaps it could harm such small lizards. I've heard about using pieces of insect strip in a deli cup, but that seems inexact. I hate spending $20 plus s/h for a can of Provent-a-mite, but it DOES work very well, I've never had it harm a small lizard, and I want to treat these guys soon so that they can be placed in the big tank rather than languish in a plastic terrarium.

Olive oil isn't much of a treatment IMO. Good at reducing numbers a lot, but it's not something that you can really count on to eliminate all the mites. I think the P-a-M is your best bet; the $20 isn't all that much all things considered.

In addition to mites, I would suggest a 3 month quarantine.

Ian