Vapone No Pest Strips....

[Jonny2184]

I have an issue....
My little baby BP has a crap load of mites...
She had them since shes came from the pet store...

My corn snake had them once too and all I did was give him a nice soak in some water and cleaned his tank out very good. They were gone and never seen them again! I got lucky I think!

my BP on the other hand is stuck with them! I've givin him a bath maybe 3 times now and cleaned his tank twice! It helped with the population of the mites but they just wont go away!

A few days ago I saw some white dots on his head and around his eyes and I'm thinking they are eggs (I dont know for sure) Today thoses dots were gone and he is covered in little baby mites! I think I have a major infestation!

My vet had told me to cut a piece of "Vapone No Pest Strip" and put it in a salt shaker and leave it there for one night and then take it out the next morning! I've heard horrible things about Vapone and also a few good things...
I want to try it tonight but I'm kinda nervious! Anyone have any suggestions....

I also have her tank cover with fake vines and leaves. Should I take these out so that the Vapona can get everywhere and so them little mites have no places to hide???????

If someone can give me a few tips on how to do this, I would feel much more comfortable I think!
Thanks 4 ur help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tigerlily]

I wouldn't use that. I'd see if I could find Provent-a-Mite locally or order some online!! Here's a link to one site - http://www.mgreptiles.com/proventmite.html

ps. Those pest stips could leave your snake with neurological damage and just aren't worth the risk when there is such a good product like Provent a Mite! You'll have to be extremely methodical about cleaning too! Good luck getting rid of them.

[jglass38]

Provent a mite is excellent stuff and Matt at MG Reptiles is top notch. Another option is to get generic Permethrin lotion (generally 1%) at any drug store. Since it is made for human lice treatment it will be the consistency of hair conditioner. Put a SMALL amount in a spray bottle and fill the bottle with water. You can then use this solution to spray down the snake (careful around the eyes) and its entire enclosure. Dont rinse it off the snake or the enclosure. I have had mites once and one treatment this way completely got rid of them. Please feel free to email me for more info. Thanks!

Jamie

[elevatethis]

DO NOT use those pest strips. It will cause nerve damage.

The safest way to treat for mites is using a few techniques. First of all, LLLReptile sells a Provent-a-mite and reptile relief spray combo package for 23.95 plus shipping. I actually just ordered that myself, and the total came to less than $30 shipped. Thats an awesome deal. Here's a link to that product: http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/...cage-cleaners/

In the mean time, I've found that soaking the snake in tepid, chin-deep water, with a very small amount of liquid handsoap (dial, palmolive, whatever) seems to kill off the adults very effectively. The solution should be a very heavily diluted soapy solution, I don't think that if the snake drank any of it accidentally it would cause any ill effects. Appearantly the soap in the water breaks the surface tension that forms around mites that allow them to survive under water for periods of time. They basically drown instantly. Until your mite control stuff comes, this will greatly reduce the population of adults mites. It won't do anything for the eggs and larvae though...

Thats where reptile relief and provent-a-mite come in. Reptile relief can be sprayed directly to the animal, and will kill most of the mites at later stages of development. You them remove the animal and the water bowl from the cage and apply the provent-a-mite. You will need to let the enclosure dry completely- when wet, provent-a-mite can cause nerve damage in the snake. When dry, it is completely harmless. The dry chemical residue is devastating to the mites and their eggs.

[elevatethis]

Provent a mite is excellent stuff and Matt at MG Reptiles is top notch. Another option is to get generic Permethrin lotion (generally 1%) at any drug store. Since it is made for human lice treatment it will be the consistency of hair conditioner. Put a SMALL amount in a spray bottle and fill the bottle with water. You can then use this solution to spray down the snake (careful around the eyes) and its entire enclosure. Dont rinse it off the snake or the enclosure. I have had mites once and one treatment this way completely got rid of them. Please feel free to email me for more info. Thanks!

Jamie

The problem with using permithrins directly on the animal is that you don't know what exact type of permithrin compound you are using. Some compounds are MUCH more dangerous than others. Unless you can say EXACTLY which product you used, I wouldn't make that kind of recommendation. Unfortunately I took advice like that and ended up killing a young snake I was attempting to treat for mites.

[Adam_Wysocki]

My vet had told me to cut a piece of "Vapone No Pest Strip" and put it in a

This is a very old-school method of treating mites and has killed more than a few baby ball pythons. Fortunately, we have updated and more modern methods of treating mites these days ... Get some provent -a- mite, use it as directed, and your problems will be solved without any harm to your snake.

-adam

[jglass38]

The problem with using permithrins directly on the animal is that you don't know what exact type of permithrin compound you are using. Some compounds are MUCH more dangerous than others. Unless you can say EXACTLY which product you used, I wouldn't make that kind of recommendation. Unfortunately I took advice like that and ended up killing a young snake I was attempting to treat for mites.

Ok, point taken although I believe that I said 1% lotion. But if anyone wants to know exactly what I used it is CVS 1% Permethrin Lotion in a white and aqua green box. Better?

[Jonny2184]

Great guys!

I didnt use that Vapona stuff, and for now I think I will just give her another good bath and clean her tank out again but I will need to find a bottle of that Mite Zapper stuff you keep talking about....

I hoping maybe my local pet store might carry it... Shipping from the US is expensive and takes a little while sometimes...especailly around the holidays!

anyways, thanks for your input on this... I will keep away from the Vapona for now. Dam thing cost me 15 dollars anyway!
Oh well, I will save it for the summer when the flies come out!

Thanks again!


-JONI-