Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I had a trade come in with mites.... and I havent had to deal with them in such a long time. In fact, the last time I did I used black knight and it worked wonderfully.

However, I believe it became illegal or discontinued or something along those lines? I havent been able to find it.

Anyone know where I can score a can? If not, anything you can recommend that is as effective? That stuff worked fantastically!

What the heck ... I googled it and looked around before my other post and couldnt find any... then of course I happen across some being for sale the minute I posted that thread.

I swear I remember something about it being discontinued due to some legal problem with it. Is it still the same product and just as effective?

How are you guys using it when you need to?? I believe I removed the water bowls and just sprayed down the enclosure lightly.. then waited a certain amount of time before putting the animal back in or something like that ... then repeat in like two weeks or so? Does that sound about right.... its been so long I cant remember.

OZZZ, you need to put the bedding on a newspaper or something and spray bedding only. Let it dry completely (about 24 hours or so)......then put bedding back in cage and put snake in. You don't want to spray it ever on plastic or glass because it does not dry properly and if snake takes a lick , it will kill him. Do this and it will work.

Link

I thought I had seen something about that too. I had heard the product was reformulated and put back on the market. Not sure if I am correct or not.

Have you tried Provent-a-Mite? It works very well too.
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Mark

I think that I used provent a mite once and it worked ... OK. Black knight literally wiped a really bad infestation out on an animal I got in once. It was a 8.5' 40 lbs female surinam and she was LOADED with them... they literally were crawling on the outside of the cage. One treatment with BK and GONE. Never to return. If I remember correctly, I got subpar performance with provent a mite. Seemed to help .. but I had to battle them for awhile. Come to think of it .. I think thats the first time I turned to BK, because provent a mite wasnt getting rid of them ... just controlling them so to speak.

Anyone used BK recently? Does the new version work as well??

Appeciate the input!

You can buy a can of Lice Spray at Walmart for 3-4 dollars and it works awesome.

Bone

>>You can buy a can of Lice Spray at Walmart for 3-4 dollars and it works awesome.
>>
>>Bone

Sounds interesting. How do you use it?
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

Same as the other sprays. Its a aerosol so similar to Prevent-O-Mite and Black Knight.

Bone

www.pesticideinfo.org/Detail_Product.jsp?REG_NR=00007100001&DIST_NR=041348

www.pesticideinfo.org/Detail_Product.jsp?REG_NR=05040400007&DIST_NR=073617

Same formula, Equate Bedding Spray is half the cost if not more of Provent-a-Mite. Find it in the pharmacy section at Walmart.

Take the animal and the water bowl out, spray the cage and the bedding, let it all dry, put animal and water bowl back. Also spray area around cage. If you raise crickets in the same general area move them out or they will die.

For topical use on the animal I use De Flea Reptile Relief. If you get Reptile Relief Pet Shampoo it is the same exact formula but cheaper. Target consumer packaging, you know! LOL!

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Bob/Chris
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire

Thanks guys for the info! I haven't had a mite problem in many years, but it's good to know if I ever do.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

You're welcome!
The only times I ever had a mite problem was when I first rescued my wc California king from the cat, and he was infested. The above treatments solved our problem. Also I have treated wc fence lizards for mites and ticks when adding them to my reptile collection.

This first and only episode of snake mites made me hyper alert (paranoid! LOL!) so now whenever I see any black specks in the water bowl I get out my 30x Hand-Held Microscope to see what is this! So far so good!
www.powscience.com/store/ginsberg/30xmicroscope.html
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Bob/Chris
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire

Reptile relief is nothing more than a little soap and a little salt in water. The soap breaks down the waxy coating of the mites and the salt causes them to absorb water until they burst. Anyone here ever brine their chicken before cooking? Same properties at work.

Mix 1 TBLP of Dawn and 1 TBSP of salt in 1 gallon of water. I always soak my snakes first as they tend to drink their bath water. Then about 15-20 minutes later I add a couple cups of this solution to the bath. Works every bit as well as reptile relief at a fraction of the cost.

For enclosures I've always used PAM as I've been leary of harming my snakes with some of the other products used in the past, especially Black Flag. I think I will try the lice treatment though as PAM has just gotten too expensive. That is if I ever have a mite problem again. So far all of my animals have been very clean.

Several years ago I spoke with a rep from the company that makes Black Flag. He about lost his mind when he learned people were using it on the reptile enclosures. He said it is NOT the same as PAM and even came on the forum and advised people against using it. It's for killing bugs in and around your house not recommended for us on living things.

Since the lice treatment is meant to be used on people it is probably much safer for your reptiles.

Just my 2 cents.
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BigT
There is a difference between ignorance and stupidity. The ignorant can be taught, stupidity is beyond our control.
1.2 P. m. melanoleucus B/W N. J. Northern Pines
1.2 P. d. deppei Mexican Pines
2.2 P. l. lineaticollis Linis or Lined Pines
1.2 P. m. lodingi Black Pines
0.3 P. c. sayi Kingsville X Stillwater red bulls
1.1 Drymarchon melenurus Blacktail Cribo
1.2 D. corais Yellowtail Cribos
1.2 M. s. cheynei Jungle Carpet
2.6 L. p. pyromelana Arizona Mt. Kings
1.1 L. g. californiae B/W Cali kings
0.0.3 M. f. flagellum Eastern Coachwhips
1.2 G. m. bottegoi Western Plated lizards

Reptile relief is nothing more than a little soap and a little salt in water. The soap breaks down the waxy coating of the mites and the salt causes them to absorb water until they burst. Anyone here ever brine their chicken before cooking? Same properties at work.

Mix 1 TBLP of Dawn and 1 TBSP of salt in 1 gallon of water. I always soak my snakes first as they tend to drink their bath water. Then about 15-20 minutes later I add a couple cups of this solution to the bath. Works every bit as well as reptile relief at a fraction of the cost.
LOL! I have a gallon jug of Reptile Relief! When I found mites on that wc Cali king three years ago I freaked out and bought the biggest bottle I could find! Have not had to use it since I bought it. Fortunately it wont spoil!

Thanks for the simple economical recipe!
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Bob/Chris
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire

Black Flag and Black Knight are two different things. Black Flag makes various different insecticides for the home and not the same at all.
Black Knight was used for years on airplanes I believe. There was some hubub about it a few tears back. Lawsuits, etc.
I would use Provent a mite or Wal-Mart (Equate) lice and bedding spray.
Make sure all surfaces are dry before reintroducing your animals.
:Mark
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Surrender Dorothy!

crimsonking.piczo.com/

>>You can buy a can of Lice Spray at Walmart for 3-4 dollars and it works awesome.
>>
>>Bone
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Mark

Sounds good. Just a suggestion though....have an oblivious friend or mother in-law pick it up for you so the store clerk assumes SHE has lice, and not you.

15-20 years ago, we'd cut up those yellow fly strips into 1/4" squares, and simply drop one of these squares into the shoebox for 2 or 3 days. Anyone else remember this? Anyway, this always worked well but like I said, it's been a long long time since I've even seen these fly strips for sale in stores. I'm guessing they discontinued them because they were SO toxic. LOL! They worked great at the time and the few occasions we used them we never had any issues. However, that was then and this now. At that time, there was a lot less known about the possibility of long term effects on the animals, resulting in the use of these products. I'm sure there are safer products out there now, being used by the pros on this forum.
Regardless, I would definitely find something tried and true, and apply it precisely as directed.

Have your mother in-law get the lice spray.

Good Luck!

Although, unfortunately... I already bought a can of provent a mite... 23 BONES too.... ouch.

Live and learn .... equate bedding spray from now on if I ever have an issue again.