Getting rid of mites

[Andy mac]

My python has been on newspaper for years but the bloke at the pet shop said put bark in there and now he has loads of mites crawling around his tank. I have removed the bark and cleaned and disenfected the tank but some still remain. What should I do?

[KORBIN5895]

First off identify the type of mites. Wood mites are harmless.

[Lankyrob]

If you used reptibark then you most likely have wood mites, i get tehm all the time and after about a week of the new bark being in the tank the mites have all drwoned themselvse in the water bowls.

[marvelfreak]

Nothing and i mean nothing works better than Provent A Mite spray.

[formica]

unless they are parasitic mites, you dont really have to worry too much, mites are a vast group of arachnids that are mostly harmless, feeding off everything from mold, to substrate to faeces, to reptile food or blood (parasitic ones) or even eating other mites (some mites are actually good to have - but not generally needed in a reptile enclosure)

Are they black/yellowish-brown and crawling on your snake, or white/grey and just around the tank? Parasitic mites, (darker color) crawling on your snake, can transmit diseases and annoy he hell out of your snake and need to be dealt with, the light white/grey ones in the tank arent a major issue.

Beforing adding any substrate to an enclosure, you may want to heat it up in an oven, 100C for an hour will kill any mites. That said, there are mites everywhere, and they will find their way in - you only have to worry about the parasitic ones, which will only be present if you have other snakes in the area hosting the mites - always a possibility with substrates bought from pet shops

[KBHicks2012]

I prefer using the NIX for mute removal, worke awesome for me in the past and can be bought at any local Walmart in the pharmacy section. I want to say it was a 4oz bottle to 1gallon of water. It will be way more then what you will need, but if you use distiller water, and storage the extra in a dark place the mixture will remain good for 6 months.

[Andy mac]

Thanx for the feedback. The mites look black and only came when I put the bark chippings in so I think I'm gonna stick to newspaper because I had the same problem years ago when I used bark. My carpet python is over 15yrs and has been on newspaper for most of his life. I suppose at least he has something to read.

[Amadeus]

Pam.......

[KORBIN5895]

I prefer using the NIX for mute removal, worke awesome for me in the past and can be bought at any local Walmart in the pharmacy section. I want to say it was a 4oz bottle to 1gallon of water. It will be way more then what you will need, but if you use distiller water, and storage the extra in a dark place the mixture will remain good for 6 months.

It's actually 2oz per gallon.

[KBHicks2012]

Thank you, I wasn't quiet sure at the time.

[Ivanator]

I've had a lot of luck with No-Pest-Strips that you get from pest aisles in hardware stores. When I get them, I first clean the cage and all the decor and put newspaper, then I break the pest strip apart and cut the piece into small strips and place it in the enclosure and just store the rest in a plastic bag. I then just leave the strip in there for a month and I never see the mites again.

[Amadeus]

I've had a lot of luck with No-Pest-Strips that you get from pest aisles in hardware stores. When I get them, I first clean the cage and all the decor and put newspaper, then I break the pest strip apart and cut the piece into small strips and place it in the enclosure and just store the rest in a plastic bag. I then just leave the strip in there for a month and I never see the mites again.

The sticky fly catchers? If so, that is horrid.

[marvelfreak]

I've had a lot of luck with No-Pest-Strips that you get from pest aisles in hardware stores. When I get them, I first clean the cage and all the decor and put newspaper, then I break the pest strip apart and cut the piece into small strips and place it in the enclosure and just store the rest in a plastic bag. I then just leave the strip in there for a month and I never see the mites again.
I try that before and it does work but not worth the risk.

Plus you left out a couple important steps.

1) It should be put into a container with small air hole so the snake can't com in directed contact with it.

2) Also you need remove the water while the P.S. is in the cage or it can poison your snake. I killed a Green Patternless Burmese years ago because i for to remove the water.

[KORBIN5895]

I've heard of a few people that have killed their snake with pest strips.

No Amadeus. Not sticky traps.

[Abraxxos]

Nothing and i mean nothing works better than Provent A Mite spray.
I don't know if it's a regional thing or what but I can't get a hold of this in florida. From what I've been told it's only sold to companies and stores.

[smy_749]

I don't know if it's a regional thing or what but I can't get a hold of this in florida. From what I've been told it's only sold to companies and stores.

Buy it online mang

[Chris72]

If you are going to try the route of using no pest strips DO NOT use the entire thing! Cut about a 1 inch x 1 inch chunk....then follow the directions giving by MarvelFreak. If you are putting it onto a Sterelite tub it only needs to be in there for 2-4 hours. Remember you are making your animal inhale Permethrin. (Same stuff in Pam and Nix)

I picked up an albino pair a while ago that came with mites. (Didnt see them until we started the intake /quarantine proccess.) After a little reading we decided to stay away from using the strips because of the reported risk by some (and deaths as noted by Kevin)

I watched a YouTube video of a snake with neurological damage..(it was a mess)

We quarantined for 30 days....
-Nix bath 1xwk (ensure animal drinks clear water first...so it is not likely to drink Nix)
-Use newspaper sprayed with PAM, replace at least 1xweek. (Let dry)
-to be on the safe side we kept water out of the quarantined tubs for 24hrs after treatment.

You can kill mites easy, but if there are eggs around they will come back and find your snake. I remember reading they can travel 10 to 12 feet per day.

Reasons you may not want your animal to be inhaling Permethrin (strips):

From EPA site:
After additional toxicity data were reviewed, EPA concluded that permethrin was a weak carcinogen. Further, laboratory studies indicated that permethrin was highly toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates; therefore, it was classified as Restricted Use..(but somehow it's found to be safe to use on human food....wash you fruits & veggies people!!)

Wiki:
Permethrin acts as a neurotoxin, slowing down the nervous system through binding to sodium channels. This action is negatively correlated to temperature, thus, in general, showing more acute effects on cold-blooded animals over warm-blooded animals.

[marvelfreak]

I don't know if it's a regional thing or what but I can't get a hold of this in florida. From what I've been told it's only sold to companies and stores.
Here's were i got mine from. Reptile Medications, Mite Sprays & Cleaners (http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/reptile-supplies/vitamins-medicines-and-cage-cleaners/reptile-medications-mite-sprays-and-cleaners/)

It worth the money and work better than anything else out there. plus it easy to use. The site i linked even has a video on how to use it.

[gonesnakee]

First off before exposing yourself or your animals to any deadly chemicals (ALL of the above mentioned are straight up POISON BTW) ensure it is even required.
The "mites" need to be properly identified is step one.
If they are not even snake/reptile mites no reason to expose the snake to ANY chemicals.
IF they are actual snake mites I suggest either the NIX or the PAM route (NOT the cooking spray! LOL)
Mites are easily identified, the nasty parasites are usually a dark red or black & look like little crabs & can be seen attached to the snake usually in the facial areas & pits/nostrils & they will squish red (blood) when squashed.
Any other types of mites are just a minor annoyance & can also be rid of without exposing the animal to any chemicals. Mark

[Chris72]

First off before exposing yourself or your animals to any deadly chemicals
(ALL of the above mentioned are straight up POISON BTW)
ensure it is even required.
The "mites" need to be properly identified is step one.
If they are not even snake/reptile mites no reason to expose the snake to ANY chemicals.
IF they are actual snake mites I suggest either the NIX or the PAM route (NOT the cooking spray! LOL)
Mites are easily identified, the nasty parasites are usually a dark red or black & look like little crabs & can be seen attached to the snake usually in the facial areas & pits/nostrils & they will squish red (blood) when squashed.
Any other types of mites are just a minor annoyance & can also be rid of without exposing the animal to any chemicals. Mark

Yup..that. The line in bold cannot be over emphasized. Permethrin will turn your snakes water to poison. It is designed to kill things so use great care.