Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Since I do rescue work, many reptiles with mites come in. I have really liked using Provent a Mite, but somebody had suggested using Diatomaceous Earth as a less toxic means. Does anybody have any thoughts or experience on this?

Thanks,
John

Diatomaceous Earth is a great mechanical insectacide; however there are two forms of Diatomaceous Earth.
The correct type to use around animals & people is called Fossil Shell Flour & is USDA approved as a food additive (Codex).

Any Diatomaceous Earth that is sold in hardware stores as a swimming pool filter material is toxic to any creature that breathes. This material is made by heat treating saltwater diatoms to make the powder small enough to cause black lung disease on inhallation.

The use of DE in reptiles should be done carefully & cautiously as the material scratches smooth skin to reduce the luster. This may or may not be a serious problem.

I use it with my birds & horses every day with wonderful effect on parasites & flies.
Stephen

That's some good info, I've never heard of this before. In any case, the "toxic" medications should only be used on healthy animals unless a veterinarian is consulted. These products are also about the only way to get rid of the infestation. Other, more homeopathic remedies, are often a great way for controlling the infestation, but are not a cure.

I'll let you know if I find anything else on VIN

Ian

I searched on the VIN (veterinary information network) and coincidently was reminded that it is used in the grey top tubes to coagulate blood samples. Not that it is of any relevance here.

The main concern is that the dust is harmfull when taken into the lungs. For the product to be effective it needs to be used in rather large amounts, often; which again, isn't good for a snake in an enclosed space where the dust has no where to go. The above mentioned two levels of product, one harmfull, the other less refined, but both products contained dust.

My best suggestion for you is to continue treating with proventomite as you have been doing for the animals proven to have mites, and are otherwise healthy. Seek veterinary advice for any that look sick or lethargic.
Ian

I think that I might have been a little too cryptic in my description of DE in my previous post. By describing two different DE materials I was not indicating that there are different grades of DE. What we have is two completely different materials that are called by the same name not grades of the same material.
The toxic DE is diatom skeletons that are mined from saltwater deposits, and then heat-treated to reduce the particle size for use in filters.
The edible DE fossil shell flour with FDA sanction is mined from a single approved mine in Nevada from a freshwater deposit of diatom skeletons.
This confusion is responsible for some tragic loss of animal & bird life especially when bird keepers try to control insects in their seed with the DE from Home Depot. Fossil Shell flour is used as an anti-calking agent in many foods and does not deserve the “bad press” of “harmful dust”.

The use of Permethrin in the control of mites is the best-known protocol for eliminating mites; however, their use is not without some risk. Over spray of Permethrin or synthetic pyrethrum can land on the drinking water & ingestion of that water by the reptile can cause star gazing symptoms of mild to moderate severity, at least in my experience.

Does anyone else miss Black Knight Roach spray as much as I do? I think that it was taken off the market two years ago because the owners did not pay their annual EPA registration fee back in 1996.

Stephen

I've never heard of of the black roach stuff...must be an american thing