Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Was just talking with a friend about Provent-a-mite does it mess up elapids like it does colubrids????
ANY info would be greatly appreciated.

Jon

... it messes up colubrids?
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"The serpent crams itself with animal life that is often warm and vibrant, to prolong an existence in which we detect no joy and no emotion. It reveals the depth to which evolution can sink when it takes the downward path and strips animals to the irreducible minimum able to perpetuate a predatory life in its naked horror."
Alexander Skutch

Yes it causes neuroligical damage

So THAT'S what's wrong with them...
Just kidding, I used it on my mandarin ratsnakes once, along with some boas and such. They're ok, but I know that doesn't prove anything one way or the other. Like I always say, one is not a statistically valid sample. I just hope I don't get mites again.
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"The serpent crams itself with animal life that is often warm and vibrant, to prolong an existence in which we detect no joy and no emotion. It reveals the depth to which evolution can sink when it takes the downward path and strips animals to the irreducible minimum able to perpetuate a predatory life in its naked horror."
Alexander Skutch

Jon,

I have started (6 months ago) using a product called Top of descent. It is by far the most effective mite killer I have every used. I have used it on my pythons...Carpets, Diamonds and Olives and on my elapids (from baby Tigers and young Death Adders to adult Colletts etc) without any dramas.

All I have done is take out the water bowl and a quick spray into the cage.

Then one spray each week for 3 weeks (as above) and (touch wood) no more mites (I have not seen one for 6 months.

It is an aerosol can, that is an aircraft insecticide...they spray it in the cabins after an international flight to kill any insects that were on peoples clothing.

It does however kill spiders and feeding insects....If you have insectivorous lizards in the room you might want to remove the feed for them.

Its able to be purchaced from the Herp shop (www.herptrader.com.au) however I am unsure if it can be exported from Australia.

It is made by a company called Callington Haven pty ltd phone number : 61 296841666.

The active constitute 20 g per kg d- Phenothrin 20:80

Regards,

Scott Eipper.

That is basically the way that provent-a-mite works. I just know that it damages colubrids so I wasn't sure if it would damage elapids.
Provent-a-mite ROCKS I've used it on my Boas, and Pythons (I personally don't keep colubrids so havn't done those =) If you have a mite problem remove the snake spray down the cage give it some time to dry but the snake back in it kills the mites in the cage AND on the snake!
Same problem though it'll kill any insects.
Anyway still wondering if anyone has used provent-a-mite on any elapids..
Jon

Mmy wife (part gorillia, part elephant) and my girls (same parentage, but part human on account of the chinese milkman), had headlice the other day (fleabags?) and I grabbed a can of "Top of descent" and sprayed them with it.
The head lice thrived. My son (adopted) and myself used dog flea wash (Toxic stuff) and it wiped out any we may have had.
As the Top of descent is expensive, my advice, is stick to the snake mites and don't waste it on head lice.
ALL THE BEST