Mite Treatments

[htf666]

I have a good one for you all.Last year I had a horrendous outbreak of mites which survived vapona's,ivermec,hypoaspis mites and finally perished with provent a mite.The other day I noticed in the highest r.u.b. a solitary mite on a hatchling brb.Commence panic mode.Found another one in the box and did the usual scrub round and a quick spray of provent a mite.Checked the room,(some thirty odd snakes and nothing,nada,zilch.The last snake I bought was double checked and is fine.Not to mention there are a lot more snakes near him than the brb.The only thing I am doing differently is refurbishing a four by four by three feet built in viv and tiling it out.Could I have disturbed mites or eggs.Hardly likely on reflection as my adult brb's were in there for at least two months and they are clear.I am baffled.I hav'nt been near anyone else's snakes.I thought that the life cycle in mites was pretty quick and that they couldn't last long without a host.Mind you I thought vaponas were the bees knees,(got a couple off a friend who stocked up on them before the ban) but the little sods were scampering all over the vapona unharmed.So now I am just waiting for the next one.This is one aspect of the hobby I could really do without.

[python faux]

good post man

[bugboy]

I've used front line very effectivly in the past although it stinks and I'm sure it irritates the snakes, I tried some of that other stuff (in the black and purple bottle) but it was fairly expensive and although it worked I found I was getting through the small bottles very fast - I am treating several large retics, and 6 or 7 boas and others.

So I went looking for a solution that was better value and I could administer to a lareg collection every spring when a mite out break seems to occur.

I was recommended by a zoo herpetologist a solution of Oromec, you can buy this from farm suplliers (it's used to treat sheep apparently) if you mix it up in a weak solution (2%) I beleive is recommended and administer in an atomiser of some kind.

I was originally told that this was a good way to treat the snake and the enclosure (as many zoos have complex/natural set ups and removing the animals everytime mites rear their ugly little heads is not always practical)


Now I would like any advise on this chemical becasue it is supposed to be nasty (gloves and respirator are a good idea with any of this stuff) but my zoo contact has long gone and I have more questions to ask about it's apllication.

However I thought I would share this info on the off chance someone can help out with a bit of research.

[Charmed_27]

Great info mate

[bradbaxter]

Zoo Meds' - Mite Off! Has worked wonders for me!

[MrKing]

Great and interesting post

Thanks to everyone

[kerridwen]

Mite Off worked for me after spending a fortune on other mite treatments and defender mites.

It's safe, non toxic, pesticed free and you can spray it direct onto the reptile. This part I wasn't too sure about so I sprayed it onto my hands then let the snake run her face through my hands. I have incredibly sensitive skin and I had no ill effects with Mite Off.

[Shellhead]

I used mite off. It appeared to work for me. For about three weeks she was clean and not a mite. The other day she had more on her. I dont know where they come from. She has limmited comtact with the other snakes since there all kept in different rooms.

[serpentine17]

help!

we have mites at the moment...

although it only seems to have got hold of one of my snakes. my other lizards n snakes seem to be clear.

we found them last night, so we bathed him in warm water and quite a few mites drowned, we cleaned out his viv and washed everything.

unfortunitly i dont have anything but water and soap so thats all i could use.

do you think this will be ok and hopefully clear them up?
should i coat my snake in vasolene n remove water bowl etc?
what about my others? should i take action on them now or leave the other reptys be n focus on this one snake?



cheers

[bonnie2007]

the best and cheapest...
buy a bottle of the spray put it on a cloth and let the snake slide through