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Mites!

G

golden24k

New member
I have a mite problem on my hands and I have a few questions regarding them. First, can I feed my snakes when they have mites? I am concerned because in constricting the mice, the mites may transfer from the snake to the mouse, then they could be ingested and I'm not sure if that would be a problem. I am assuming it would be, but I am unsure. So if I can't feed them before I treat for mites, how soon can I feed them after?

Also...I noticed my corn has a few mites underneath the scales around his eyes. I was able to get a few out using VERY gentle pressure to "squeeze" or "push" them out, but a few are left. That method I used on the other mites didn't work on these 2, and I don't want to exert any more pressure around my snake's eyes for fear I may hurt him. The mite treatment bottle says not to get any around the eyes...so what do I do???????

I couldn't find answers to these particular questions using the search function...I promise you I looked there first before I posted! :D
 
I see no problem with feeding your snake and ingesting any mites if you're not using a chemical based inseciticide. But, excessive handling and medicating during the time period to get rid of the mites might not be so good on a snake that's just eaten. It'll be fine for a week or two while you treat for mites. Healthy snakes can go a month or more without eating with no ill effects.

To get them out of the area around the eyes, you can dab vegetable oil with a q-tip and "paint" around the eyes, making sure to get some down in the cracks and crevices. This won't harm the snake, but it will suffocate the mites.

Lastly, I've had good results with a product called Reptile Relief. It's a natural product that basically suffocates the mites/eggs, thereby killing them. It took me a couple of weeks to fully eradicate the mite problem I had. I just sprayed the product on a paper towel, fully saturating it, and rubbed the snake down really well with it.

I also used the product as a basic cage cleaner. I sprayed the tank down, paying special attention to the crevices around the silicone sealant in the corners and let it set for ten minutes before wiping it down. I would repeat it and the snake wipe-down every 2-3 days (hence why feeding might not be so good).

To keep rogue mites from travelling to other herps, you can smear vaseline around the inside top edge of the cage which they cannot cross, or you can sprinkle diatomaceous earth on the shelf around the cage, forming an impenetrable barrier that will kill any mite stupid enough to attempt it.

Hope that helps.
 
No No No vaseline No cage cleaner. If you want to get rid of mites You got to do it right . I use A one time method that kills all the mites and their eggs for two weeks. I do this when I get wild snakes with or with out mites. Go to the drug store and buy Nix hair lice remover. ( cream rinse ) not the shampoo. Then go to the pet store and buy some unused fish bages at least 10" wide These are good for med. to lg corns up to 4 feet long, if you are using large snakes get bigger bages
First empty all your bins of any bedding. then take the snake and soak it in water for 10 min. you do this to make sure you snakes are not thirsty, do this to all your snakes no matter if they have mites or not. You can use the fish bags if your cage wont hold water. Then take the snake and put some cream rinse in your hands and rub all over the snake try not to get into mouth. take a table spoon of water and put it in the fish bag with the snake. Take a rubber band and twist the top of the bag and then fold over rap it with the rubber band ,make sure the bag is filed with lots of air. After you do this slowly turn the bag in diffrent directions for a one or two min. This will make the snake use the belly scales and get the cream rinse inbetween them. leave the snake in the bag for 12 min.
After you take the snake out of the bag . Rinse it under tub fauset with warm water , make sure you rinse the snake well and make sure you get the cream rinse out of inbetween the belly scales. So turn the snake upside down and make sure the water is in the oppisit dicrection of the way the belly scales close ( like when you scale a fish from tail to head ). Put the snake in a clean contaner while you clean the cage.
Now clean the cage with a 10% bleach solution and rinse well, if you are useing a rack system. Take the solution from the fish bage and clean the bin ( NOT THE RACK ) with it let stand for 15 min. Then rinse well with warm water. If you are using a cage or fish tank you can use the cream rinse It is the best . Clean the rack with a 10% bleach solution and rince well and dry with a clean paper towel. Put a clean peice of white paper towel one layer only on the bottom of the cage for a little over 3 weeks. You do this to see if the mites come back they should not if you did everything right. Do this to all your snakes and their cages.
Nix hair lice remover kills for two weeks after you rinse it off It will kill all eggs and any mites that go back on your snakes for two weeks. JUST MAKE SURE YOU RINSE EVERYTHING VERY WELL ,BE THOROUGH. DONT RUSH OR SKIP ANYTHING. If you have any questions please call me in I dont answer leave a mesage and I will call you back I promise. If you are confused dont do anything till you hear bach from me. 718 792 2593 10 AM to 12 midnight est.
 
Wow...

Thank y'all for such detailed replies! I have been using ZooMed's "Mite Off." I am not sure if it worked for my corn yet. I know I'll have to do it over again for my ball python because while I was diligently and throroughly cleaning her cage (I had already treated her) she went potty in the plastic tub I was keeping her in while she soaked in the treatment stuff. She writhed and wriggled all through her own mess, so I had to stick her in the tub and wash her off. Bye-bye treatment! So yeah...I'll follow some of y'alls advice and see what works best. I'll keep y'all updated if I can, but I have a lot on my plate right now as I am trying to not only eradicate mites on 5 snakes, but I am still trying to find my brand-new creamsicle okeetee that my husband lost for us by not securing the lid on the cage! ARG! He just got a little careless....happens to the best of us though. Again, thank you so much!
 
Your welcome any time . I been breeding snakes for 21 years and this is the best method I ever tried . It works every time . been doing this method for over te years now and it has not killed even one snake. If you need to call me for more info dont be shy.
good luck, V
 
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