NIX in a fix?

[MrLang]

Disclaimer: I realize there is debate about the safety of these products and that Provent-A-Mite is optimal. I also realize I'm a bad keeper for not already having a can on hand. I just ordered one.

I am getting a new pickup tomorrow that I'm very excited about. I'm going to the breeder's house to pick her up and this will be my first time quarantining as I rolled the dice when I got my 2nd snake. He very honestly and much to my appreciation told me that he had a small mite problem about 6 months ago and has been regularly treating his tubs with PAM and hasn't seen a live mite in that amount of time.


TL;DR
Can I get a can of permethrin-based aerosol lice spray and treat my 2 snakes' cages and the QT tank as a preventative just this one time? Can someone confirm using a specific brand or type and their snake didn't turn retarded or blind or something?

Thank you in advance.

[MarkS]

Before provent-a-mite came on the scene, Sevin Dust was the drug of choice for mite infestations. It's a horticultural product that kills plant mites. Also works on snake mites. The usual application was to put some of this dust in an old sock or a bag or something with a loose weave and pat it all over the inside of the cage. This would coat the inside of the cage with the sevin dust which kills the mites. No water bowl in the cage. Like I said, this is an old remedy and might not be as safe as others on the market right now, but it was used effectively for many years before the newer products became available.

[RichsBallPythons]

You can use it, might work for some mite killing but it dont last long and when eggs hatch they could become immune to it.

Provent a Mite has other chemicals that help kill them as they hatch before laying more

In mean time go to petstore and buy reptile relief as that will kill living mites on the snake

[Anatopism]

Seconding the suggestion for Natural Chemistry Reptile Relief. Natural Chemistry flea/bedding spray in the dog/cat section is the exact same product and I have used the two interchangeably. My cats got fleas bad last summer, and the stuff kills fleas and mites and is safe for quite a few animals.

It can dry out the skin a little bit, and needs to be reapplied every 3-4 days (and never while animal is in shed), and can cause the next shed to be sort of wonky, but it does work, and is safe. Just isn't as good as a long term preventative - more for the mites on immediately found on the animal.

[Maixx]

Since the breeder had mites and has Pam on hand, you might ask if he could treat a shipping bag for you for the ride home. This would kill any living mites that might be present.
My vet recommend doing this with snake bags any time I take them out of the home.