Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am posting this in the Ball Python forum and Health forum at the same time

got 4 new CBB ball pythons a month ago. A few of them hets. Last night, I discovered mites in a water bowl that a snake had been soaking in. Upon further inspection, the other 3 have been hit as well.

They were on Aspen.

I got some provent-a-mite. These are rubbermaid containers in a melamine rack. Bleach solution the tubs, hides, and water bowls. Lay newspaper in the tubs, spray the stuff as directed. Spray the inside of the melamine rack where the tub slides in. Spray on the floor around the rack. Spray on the floor around my other racks. Let the spray ventilate and dry, reinsert snake and water bowl. How often should I be respraying? Looking at the label, what I have done will knock these bugs out. I believe I am early in the infestation, but as this is my 1st go around with mites, I can't be sure what is considered a mild or severe infestation.

The label makes no mention of respraying tomorrow, or a week from now. It just says to do this monthly to prevent future outbreaks. I am freaking out!!!

Any advice, anything I have forgotten, anything I am overlooking, anything, please tell me.

I wanted mite free snakes, not snakes with free mites. I must have misread the ad.

Thanks in advance
Denver Tom

>>
>>The label makes no mention of respraying tomorrow, or a week from now. It just says to do this monthly to prevent future outbreaks. I am freaking out!!!
>>
>>Any advice, anything I have forgotten, anything I am overlooking, anything, please tell me.

I have mostly used it at work rather than at home. At home I used it as preventative. Usually all I ever had to do was go outside and spray some newspaper. Open the sheets and spray and refold and stack them sort of thing. Then I take in the stack of paper and change out cages with it.
Anything that came in with bugs lost them all and never had them come back so I never had to retreat.
I know you can spray the enclosure, substrate included and be successful.
I think you can retreat in a month. But even as phobic, and itchy as I am from bugs I have not had to do this. I would think you are covered.
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Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron

While I think you have it covered, in general, several subsequent treatments are given to make sure the entire lifecycle of a parasite is killed. 3 monthly treatments as directed may be a little overkill, but will be sufficient.

I have never had mites in my collection so I am just going on general parasite knowledge.

>>While I think you have it covered, in general, several subsequent treatments are given to make sure the entire lifecycle of a parasite is killed. 3 monthly treatments as directed may be a little overkill, but will be sufficient.
>>
>>I have never had mites in my collection so I am just going on general parasite knowledge.

I have only used it as preventative so the one time is good. Oh, and to take ticks off a wild caught BP that was visually clean but laid eggs and ticks, so I treated her and never saw another. At work I did use it two times.....once, then a month later. And there were NO MORE mites. Yay!
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Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron

Try no pest strips. I've used reptile replief with provent-a-mite before in my quarentine room as a proventative measure but somehow the mites seem to sneak back in. Now all I use is one no pest strip and change it every 3 months and haven't seen one mite in a very very very long time.

Plus they are much cheaper and easier to use them provent-a-mite. Another thing is I had a neonate that had bad reactions to proven-a-mite before. I followed the directsion of using PAM to the T. I think no pest strips are safer, easier, and cheaper than all others. Just my 2 cents.

Sam

All of these products are toxic to some degree. No-pest strips probably have the most accounts of toxicity, and you may see neurological symptoms (like head waving, star-gazing) . Definately do not put the pest strips in the cage!

Following the instructions on provent-o-mite, or the other few reptile orientated products should be sufficient. Always be hesitant to treat neonate animals as overdosing is much easier. Consult your veterinarian if you have any further questions or problems.

I've heard of people cutting up the no pest strips and putting them in the snakes enclosures with no consequences. Frankly I would never do that but I've used just one no pest strip in my snake room and never had a problem.

Even though I havent had a problem with it I wouldn't recommend using it on a continual basis. I only use it in my quarentine room along with reptile relief as a preventative measure.

Don't freak out!

I use Reptile Relief and I'm currently de-miting a blue tongued skink with it. They say to spray again in 3 days or so if the mites creep back, but so far so good. The method is the same as Provent, but again - it's all natural so I'm not worried about overdosing my skink.

I've had mites from time to time and usually one round of whatever and a good scrubbing of cage and furniture does the trick.

Personally, I'd wait and see if your initial cleaning worked before using that stuff again.

BTW - did you read the cautions on the label? :

Do not let animal breath vapors. Dermal contact and or ingestion of a treated surface after Provent-A-Mite™ has dried will not harm a reptile. The vapors can be harmful and must be completely removed from enclosure after treatment, before the animal can be replaced. This is a simple procedure to follow that ensure the health of the animal and successful elimination of any mites and ticks. Treatment will not dry when applied to wet or damp surface. Mare sure product is dry when applied to substrates such as aspen or similiar materials before replacing animals.Follow other cautions as instructed on label.