Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am considering using Provent-a-mite on some new Western Hognose Snakes as a quarantine measure. Have any of you used this product with Western Hognose Snakes? Are you aware of the efficacy and/or any ill-effects of this product with Western Hognose Snakes in particular (when used as directed)?

Thanks,
RMB

I can't say I've used it on hogs, but I've used it on sand boas, carpet pythons, mandarin ratsnakes, a hondruan milk and a rattler, and all had no symptoms (big mite infestation from one stupid purchase- lesson learned). I wouldn't hesitate to use it on my own hog if I needed to. Just make sure you do follow the package directions!

I would be careful......Just really let the substrate dry thoroughly......I used provent a mite on all of my eastern hognoses and had very bad luck.....Several died do to neurological difficulties....But the thing that is weird is that it only killed the male snakes....I treated every hognose Ive got and only the males died....I followed the instructions as explained....I have since heard of the same thing happening to a colony of garter snakes(killing only males)....I think the product is good but I will never use it again on my hognoses..

chance gwaltney

I have not used them personally but, reading through the literature, it seems to be a safe product.

Here's a seller/user accounts of the product,
www.reptilebasics.com/reptile_relief.html

I bought Provent-a-Mite back in December/January, used it once, and have never had to use it again! AMAZING product indeed! But be careful...Provent-a-Mite is used to spray the substrate ONLY, and I suppose the cage furniture would be okay, too. But spray it all with the can about 12 inches away (or whatever the directions say), and let the enclosure air-dry for preferably 10-15 minutes (or whatever the directions say again, if anything). These were directions provided to me by Doug Taylor, and my animals had suffered NO ill-effects at all!

It was actually only my Blacktail Cribos that needed the medical attention, despite being in the same room as my hogs. I suppose the hogs being kept on (their natural substrate of) sand prevents them from getting mites, seeing as how mites prefer warm, moist environments and not warm, dry environments. Yes, I used to keep my hogs on Repti-Bark (by ZOO MED) and I ALWAYS had mite infestations...and I lost many hogs to those pesky mites!

Anyway, just use the spray according to the directions and you'll be fine. JUST DON'T SPRAY THE ANIMALS!!! Black Knight is for the animals - another medication recommended to me by Doug Taylor, and it does miracles as well, but Provent-a-Mite is much more popular because it's so powerful and at the same time very safe (if used correctly, that is!), and thus probably all you need. And also, when you use Provent-a-Mite, hold your face back as far as possible and DO NOT inhale--the stuff is extremely toxic and will hurt your lungs for a few minutes if inhaled too much...did to mine at least, and I actually had to step outside for a couple of minutes for some fresh air, heh.

Thanks,

T.J. Gould

I have never used Provent-a-mite, but I have used Black Knight, and it is great stuff (and non-toxic to snakes). You can just open the cage, remove the water bowl, and spray a puff into the cage with the snake in it (remember, Black Knight has been sprayed on people in airplanes for decades with no authenticated problems).

I have sprayed it into the cages of adult and hatchling kennerlyi with no adverse affects.
-----
Chris Harrison

What is Black knight? What chemical is used. I don't know about the stuff.

It contains a chemical called phenothrin. It used to be used to decontaminate aircrafts (with and without people on board) under the name Aircraft Aerosol Insecticide.

NB - you cannot buy this at your local grocery/hardware store. There is no other "roach killer" that can be substituted! They are toxic to snakes. You can usually find Black Knight online at the KS.com classified (caging/supplies classifieds). It is expensive ($15-20 can) but it lasts a long time since one treatment solves the problem forever.

There is a ton of information on the web about it, but be aware that much of it is from morons who claim to have suffered all sorts of vague symptoms after exposure (none of which could ever be substantiated or reproduced, oddly enough...hmmmmm....Can you say psychosomatic?). I (and millions of others) have been sprayed with it many times on airplanes when entering Australia. For decades, passengers (including me) used to think it was just "disinfectant". Then some people found out it was an insecticide and lo and behold....symptoms appeared.

The real data suggest that it is safe to terrestrial vertebrates. There are actually some decent toxicology studies available online as pdfs.
-----
Chris Harrison

Black knight is great stuff. I have used it for a long time on just about every reptile and had no problems whatsoever. It is worth it's weight in gold. It will generally kill every bug in the cage and out within 24 hours! I would put that up against anything on the market. I have never had a snake get sick from it. Just remember to take the waterdish out and make sure you don't have any pet insects around the spray site. I have heard it will kill bugs in different rooms! Can't remember, but I think it was the barkers talking about accidently killing their roaches that were two rooms away from where they sprayed!
Kevin

to the VPI: The War Against Mites.

"Black Knight Roach Killer® (=Aircraft Airosol Spray®)....If there is a silver bullet for snake mites, this is it." - VPI.com