Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all,

I took a trip to the Toledo Zoo here in Ohio yesterday. They have a very impressive reptile house compared to that of the Columbus zoo. Granted I have treated mites before with no problems, but I was talking to one of the zoo keepers in which had a 12-13 foot (22 year old) male burm that they were showing outside. I had spoken to him for a while and another individual had asked him about mites. The zookeeper had mention to him that a good way to kill mites is to get a large tub and use warm water with dawn dish soap. This individual is an older keeper and says that he has over 21 years of experience just with this particular burm and more years of experience with other reptiles. I am not one to knock a more experienced individuals knowledge, but I have never heard of anyone recommending this. He did say to make sure that you donot get the soap in the animals eyes and mouth, etc.

Does anyone happen to have any comments/concerns regarding this? He claims that this is an excellent, cheap, and effect way of getting rid of mites. I would just like to get some more info and a confirmation if this is true.

Thanks,

Chris

Soaking a snake in water or soapy water will certainly kill the mites that are on the snake, however, it will not completely eradicate the mite infestation. Remember, mites leave their host to lay their eggs so even though you kill the mites that are on the body, the ones that left the host to lay their eggs will eventually reinfest the snake/collection. This is not to knock the zookeepers because I was one too, and used soaking as a primary method in eradicating mites, it takes a LOT of time to do it effectively using this method (and it won't be 100% positive).

Rob Carmichael, Curator of the Wildlife Discovery Center

>>Hello all,
>>
>> I took a trip to the Toledo Zoo here in Ohio yesterday. They have a very impressive reptile house compared to that of the Columbus zoo. Granted I have treated mites before with no problems, but I was talking to one of the zoo keepers in which had a 12-13 foot (22 year old) male burm that they were showing outside. I had spoken to him for a while and another individual had asked him about mites. The zookeeper had mention to him that a good way to kill mites is to get a large tub and use warm water with dawn dish soap. This individual is an older keeper and says that he has over 21 years of experience just with this particular burm and more years of experience with other reptiles. I am not one to knock a more experienced individuals knowledge, but I have never heard of anyone recommending this. He did say to make sure that you donot get the soap in the animals eyes and mouth, etc.
>>
>>Does anyone happen to have any comments/concerns regarding this? He claims that this is an excellent, cheap, and effect way of getting rid of mites. I would just like to get some more info and a confirmation if this is true.
>>
>>Thanks,
>>
>>Chris
>>
-----
Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

Mr. Carmichael,

Thanks, I see your point. I was wondering about that as well, but like I said, I am not one to challenge a more experienced individual's knowledge, but would much rather get some more opinions. This individual pretty much swore on this method, but I wondered, that if it was this cheap and simple, why would it be necessary to purchase items like "provent-a-mite", etc.? So I figured I would ask.

As usual, thanks a bunch!

Chris