Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a Burmese with Mites as I had posted a while ago. I have used this mite spray on the snake and soaked the snake in water in a seperate cage for about a day or so. I cleaned its cage with bleach by using a strong bleach concentrate and wrapping the cage with plastic to allow no air in or out. I left it like this for about 24 hours. I also baked the log that was it its cage for 4 hours at about 300 Degrees. So I know I had the cage and everything it it completely mite free. But now they are showing up again. So I have to just not be getting them all off of the snake. I dont really get how to completely rid the snake of mites. I understand how to clean the cage and environment but it seems they are almost imposible to get the snake completely mite free. I was wondering if I am better off just trying the injections from a vet. I have talked to the vet and they say sometimes this is the only way to really get them out of the snake. I have also heard this may not be the best thing for the snake. Anyway, please get back to me if you have any useful information that will rid my snake of mites. Also it has been a while now since I first noticed them. Do you think it has had any devistating effects to the snake. It seems fine and healthy accept for that. It eats well and I havent noticed any wierd behavior. I just want to get rid of these things as soon as possible. Thanks a lot for helping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

go to the burmese python forum and post about your burm there. this is the anaconda forum. my advice is to go by some mite spray and spray the snake as well as the cage.

It's fine Twentyshooter, it doesn't matter where you are posting it as long as you know someone in there. Also, if you don't take care of the mite problem, it's VERY possible to spread to your Anaconda. Which will end up in here either way. SO! First off, what mite spray did you use? Also, take EVERYTHING out of the cage, except for a water bowl. You are going to clean the cage with the spray this time, not bleach. Use papertowels for bedding and NOTHING else. This is deffidently the best to use when dealing with mites because you can see them on the white paper towels and it's just very clean.

****DO NOT***** give the snake a shot, it's not good, and not worth it. If you soaked your snake after you sprayed it, it just washed the spray off. What you are going to have to do is follow the directions of "Provent a Mite* don't use anything else, because that is the best from what I know, it replaced Black Knight (basically the same thing though). Spend the $20 on the can, it's not a big deal. Spray the snake, and the cage down. Make sure all you have in the cage is the snake and waterbowl (Do not spray with waterbowl in the cage). You might have to repeat this every 2-3 days, because sometimes it doesn't always work the first time. But it's just an attack on them to get rid of them, don't take the easy way out and give the snake a shot for it, because it's just not worth it. Details are always good though, like what you sprayed, the cage, everything.

~Ben

By The Way: Should be getting in a new female green next week, and also a Marbled Yellow Anaconda.

Thanks again man. Yah I just need to get the provent a mite spray I guess I tried this other spray by natural chemistry called reptile relief and I guess that just isnt good enough. I couldnt find any place to really order the provent a mite spray from. So I went with that at a local pet store. I will just have to look harder becasue I guess that is the only spray that actually is worth it! I just want to get this taken care of as soon as possible! Thats awesome your getting some new ones. You will have to post some photos of them. That is awesome! What all do you have now? Do you help recover snakes and stuff? It is very cool. Once I am done with school I plan on getting into the business a lot more. I want to try and open a reptile shop somwhere back in Iowa with my Dad. My goal is to basically help him get it open and running and have him run it while I mainly work as a photographer. But thanks again you are a good guy and always willing to help! -Later P.S. POST THOSE NEW PHOTOS!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, Provent a mite is deffidently worth the money you pay from what I have heard. Well right now, I'm working on sticking to completely Anacondas, so basically this is what I'm going to have in the next couple of weeks, I should get my Marbled Yellow Anaconda on Friday, so I'm hoping they will ship it tomorrow... But I will have an 8' Male Green, a 12' Female Green (possibly gravid from being bred to a yellow), a 3' Anerythristic Green, and the Marbled Yellow Anaconda. So far that's it! A link to Provent a Mite!!!

http://www.mgreptiles.com/proventmite.html

You can purchase it from there, good luck!
~Ben

right on the money, provent-a-mite does the job. =D

On the can of Provent A Mite there are specific instructions to not spray the snake directly. The carrying agents in the spray can be harmful to you snake until dry. This product works very well and I have used it for years. Also,, in the Health & Beauty section of WalMart you will find Equate Bedding Spray. It is identical to Provent A Mite and sells for $4 a can. The only thing Equate does not come with is directions for reptiles.

Here is how to use either product:
Remove the animal and water bowl.
Spray the substrate and cage furniture lightly.
Let dry completely-I give it 20-30 minutes.
Put the animal and water bowl back in.
Repeat treatment in two weeks.
Spray a rag with PAM/Equate and wipe the entrance to your other cages-stops the spread of mites.
Give this time to work. It is not an instant insecticide but breaks down the exoskeleton of the mites. In time all mites and their eggs will be gone. Bill.
-----
...three years ago it was just another snake cult...
The Retic is King.
Anacondas-the other Dark Side.
Afrocks-the dark side of the Dark Side.

Remember that those little poppy seed sized mites can travel 50' overnight. They can move out of a cage, and into a cage unseen. They smell anything that smells like a snake, and will travel to it. I DO know of people spraying directly on the snake w/no ill effects, but I imagine it would depend on species as to reaction. Yes, the WalMart stuff is the same, and one oz less is 1/5 the price. Although I would mention it's for snake mites...otherwise they think your house has bed lice, lol. My local walmart pharmacy knew it was used for snakes!