Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Good news, little guy just ate another pinkie...lol had to laugh b/c he got extra exercise b/c he ate it bottom first! But upon watching him down his dinner I saw a little black speck moving along his scales....grrr mites! While I am waiting for Kathy's book, could you guys please help me out with a way to combat these little buggers! I curretly have aspen shavings, a hide log, driftwood branch and a small plastic dog food bowl for water/hide. Any suggestions would help!

Thanks,
Jamie

here is a website I found

http://www.vpi.com/9VPITipsAndTechs/thewaragainstsnakemites/Mites-KnowTheEnemy.htm

it is a long read but seems to be very complete. Have any of you guys used the methods that are talked about here?

Thanks
jamie

Grrr!!! Is right on those mites! My jungle carpet python had mites. This is what I did...First I isolated her into another room to avoid my 2 corns and milk from getting them. Then I tore apart her entire cage. Threw out her substrate, I use repti bark, and her piece of cork bark I had in there for her to hide under. (I think the mites and/or eggs were in the cork bark). Some people say you can bake the cork bark to kill any mites on it but I tried that and it made our entire oven and house reak of the smell. I just took the loss and threw it away. Bought some Prevent-O-Mite and sprayed her entire cage.

I had my python soaking in cooking oil during all this to kill any mites that were on her. The cooking oil worked great. I found more mites on her. The cooking oil gets under the scales where the mites are so they drown. Regular water does not work. I just used enough to cover the 5 gallon tank I had her in temporarly.(She is about 4 foot long) With her moving around she got it all over her, thus killing the mites. After her soak, I just held her under the faucet and rinsed her off.

Some folks will say you don't need to do all that..just spray Prevent-O-Mite. But I do every thing above and beyond. :0)

After the tank had aired out, I just put newspaper down as the substrate till I was sure I didn't see anymore mites. I think I waited till after she shed then put her repti bark back in. NO MORE CORK BARK FOR ME.I'm almost possitive that's were the mites were hanging out. I didn't see anything on my jcp when I bought her. I have not seen any more mites since. Good Luck!!

I forgot to mention that I cleaned the other furnishings in her tank with bleach/water in a spray bottle. I have a hard plastic tree for her to climb on and the water bowl. The cork bark, like I said, I threw away. Also I just used enough cooking oil to cover the bottom of the 5 gallon tank.

n/p