Look -- I just wanted to give you a red light. Pest strips are dangerous. Theoretically, it's safe to treat a cage with them if there is no snake in it, but if the snake comes into physical contact with the strip, bad things WILL happen. I have seen this plenty of times, in everything from corns to an anaconda (which, given the size of the snake, surprised the Hell out of me). I just got to where I was not comfortable using the things. They're too dangerous.
I know you SAID you don't have mites anymore but someone else posted and told you to treat the cage anyway. Yikes! I felt this needed to be addressed, in case you decided to make sure by doing the pest-strip thing anyway. In case you can't tell, this is a hot spot. A friend lost a gorgeous green anaconda this way, and it just kills me to think about it.
And, yes, I'm a fan of old-fashioned bathroom cleaners. I use citric acid because it's easy to clean up, doesn't have any disagreeable chemicals in it. It also dissolves mites (how cool is that?), rather than poisoning or drowning them. Bleach is hard to rinse off of everything known to man, and because I can't personally tolerate the smell. I use it for heavy-duty cleanup, but not everyday.
Sorry if I came across as flaming *you*. I wanted to WARN you so that you didn't hurt your snakes which are my first concern (as they are yours) -- always, always, always think and research *before* you act -- even if it seems harmless (oil, for instance, and it does seem like a reasonable idea). Also, just because someone says they've done something 'forever' doesn't mean it's safe. It could just mean they're lucky. I read an account of someone (I will try to find the specific account, but it was in the forums ages ago) rubbing a neonate or juvie four-lined ratsnake with a pest strip, and watching it thrash around and die. Safe? Sure. You bet.
As for your snakes . . . Like I said -- they'll probably be okay. Just be ready to help them with their skin for a while. They may need help shedding, and it may take a few months for the skin to un-stick from itself. This is what happened with a boa that I was brought to care for that had been soaked in oil for mites. This was repeated soakings, though, so we can hope that you don't have to wait that long. I'm also afraid if you soak them in water, it will suck out all the natural good oils from their skin and make it even drier and flakier. Obviously, a vet could help if you could find one.
And, btw, I AM a girl. Use it as an excuse to ignore me. Others have. But I'm not ignorant. If you want to see the list of what I have kept and currently have, email me. I'll be glad to show you that I do have some experience.
Again, as I stated in my original post, my intent was not to piss you off. It was to genuinely warn you -- pest strips are dangerous. I wouldn't say it if I hadn't seen that it's true. (God knows, I wish it were that easy to get rid of mites, without getting rid of the snake, too. . .)
So, I do ask your forgiveness. For real. I was probably rude, when I meant to be firm. I can be a b***h sometimes. Sorry. And I really do want to know how things come out.
Let us know what happens with the next shed. You should start seeing improvement. (We can hope.)
--Naamah (the Extra Flame-y)
