Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So far I have tried prevent-a-mite, reptile relief, and nix diluted with one gallon of water. I always soak the snake for a good hour or more before I spray him down during wich time I treat the cage. I have still not been able to get rid of them. At this point I am starting to worry that I am doing him more harm by exposing him to all of these chemicals. Any suggestions? I was thinking about housing him in a seperate cage for a while after a soak/treatment. Anyone know how long it will take for the mites to die off if they don't have a snake to feed off of? I appreaciate any advice.
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Scott
SpectreBCIs

1.0 Poss Super Ghost
0.1 Anery
0.1 "Abbey" DH Ghost
1.0 "Abbey" Het Kahl Stripe
1.0 PH Anery
0.1 PH Anery
0.1 PK Albino PH SNow

I would only use Provent-a-mite and follow the directions. do you have any other reptiles the mites might be migrating to? what kind of caging are you using? Is it porous, so eggs and mites can hide?

Spray the enclosure without the snake in it and the snakes bedding. Wait for it to air out then place the snake back in it's cage after it airs out. Be sure to take the water dish out. Also If you have any logs or anything like that in the cage, get rid of them.

Hope this helps.

I have had a similar problem,Except with my whole collection.Buy a rubbermaid container.it has a smooth surface with no corners or seams where mites can hide.House your boa in this temporarily while treating (treatment might last up to 2 weeks).You have to vaccume and spray the sorounding area.GO TO THE V.P.I SITE.They have a extensive caresheet on biology and behavior of mites and how to destroy them.Also,read as much books about mites as possible.Be patient and DON'T CUT ANY CORNERS on the advice that V.P.I provides. GOOD luck Ash Lopez
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I'm housing them in a melamine cage that I built for them. It's water tight, so I figured it wouldn't give the mites a place to lay their eggs, but appearently I was wrong. I used to have bedding but now I only use newspaper. I don't have any other types repitle that they mite be transferring to, just the snakes. I think I amight try the oil suggestion, since that doesn't soung all that harmful. I have heard horror stories about the chemical strips that killed the snake. I just don't want to take that chance. Thanks again for your guys advice.
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Scott
SpectreBCIs

1.0 Poss Super Ghost
0.1 Anery
0.1 "Abbey" DH Ghost
1.0 "Abbey" Het Kahl Stripe
1.0 PH Anery
0.1 PH Anery
0.1 PK Albino PH SNow

I had recieved a burmese python that had mite, and it infected my whole collection.
step 1, get rid of eveything in the enclosure, everything, wash bowls toss out logs, hide spots etc.
step 2 give you snake a nice bath, dry off
step 3 buy thisstuff called prozap insect controll available at this site http://www.amazonreptilecenter.com/popup.php3?id=594
this stuff works like a charm
you have to put a little chunk in a small tubberware dish poke holes in the dish then hang it as high in the enclosure as you can get it , becaus ethe mite can climb in the corners and hide just about any where.
just repeat this every couple days treatment last about 14 days.
I would line the cage with white computer paper and i was amazed the amout of mites i would find dead with in minutes of starting the treatment.
this stuff releases a chemical that gets in every square inch of the enclosure it works
any ways thats my 2 cents
Brian

When I use the pest strip, I don't let the snake come into contact with it. I have a 12x12 quarantine room and I set the entire strip on a shelf away from my racks. I have not had a problem with it and have used it around boas, balls, and colubrids with no problems. Some will put pieces of the strip in a container that has holes and then put it in the enclosure with the snake - I don't do that because I'm not comfortable with that method. I'm thankful that I have not seen a mite in close to five years now
Mike Derks

Put a pest strip in the room and lightly coat your hands with extra virgin olive oil, then wipe your snake down with your hands, you're just trying to put a light film of the oil on your snake, and then when the mites come out from under the scales they come into contact with the oil and drown, also the pest strip in the room will kill mites and most importantly the baby mites that will hatch and repeat the cycle. And I'd leave the pest strip in the room for a couple months, maybe three.
Hope this helps, Mike Derks

I use pest strips. I have no tolerance for mites. I cut the strips in 1/4 's and throw em on top of the screen top for a week and mites are history. Must kill any eggs also because thats the end of the mites....period!

I have ahad a few incedences with mites on newly aquired snakes. I got this idea from a greta reptile vet and friend. Rub the snakes down with vegetable oil. Any mites on them wil lcome flying off, they can't breath. It's completely harmless to the snake. As for the cage, stick to the previous ideas, no pores (plastic or glass) and clean out all of the bedding as often as possible. I also use newspaper for a few weeks at least, it's cheap and the mites don't live in it well. The oil thing can be done once every couple of days to ensure no more mites.
Hope for the best.
Rich

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bigdnutz
1.2 Suriname Boa
1.0 Venezuelan Boa