Mites in reptile bark! What bedding should I use?

Hi, Im new to this forum and just got a baby ball python a few weeks ago. So my problem is that my snake keeps getting mites. It hasn't gotten bad but Ive already cleaned its cage 4 times in 3 weeks. Changed the bark, scrubbed the whole thing out and have even changed terrariums in paranoia that i was missing some tiny little area that a mites could be hiding and scrubbed all items that were going to be put in the tank. I've bought mite off by zoo med and sprayed the snake and bark and everything else with an unnecessary amount of it. The mites will be gone for a while and then magically their back! So Im convinced its in the bark even though I said I sprayed it because the first two times I changed the bark I didn't spray the new stuff put in and the mites would appear later that day vs after spraying it takes a few days for a visual arrival. Plus I had issues with this before with a tortoise but the idea of a company selling an infected product didn't cross my naive mind. Does any body have any suggestions of a different bedding I could use? that I will not have to worry about this issue and waste lots of money wishing and hopping the next bag will be mite free? Thank you!! :D

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Originally Posted by NR178

Hi, Im new to this forum and just got a baby ball python a few weeks ago. So my problem is that my snake keeps getting mites. It hasn't gotten bad but Ive already cleaned its cage 4 times in 3 weeks. Changed the bark, scrubbed the whole thing out and have even changed terrariums in paranoia that i was missing some tiny little area that a mites could be hiding and scrubbed all items that were going to be put in the tank. I've bought mite off by zoo med and sprayed the snake and bark and everything else with an unnecessary amount of it. The mites will be gone for a while and then magically their back! So Im convinced its in the bark even though I said I sprayed it because the first two times I changed the bark I didn't spray the new stuff put in and the mites would appear later that day vs after spraying it takes a few days for a visual arrival. Plus I had issues with this before with a tortoise but the idea of a company selling an infected product didn't cross my naive mind. Does any body have any suggestions of a different bedding I could use? that I will not have to worry about this issue and waste lots of money wishing and hopping the next bag will be mite free? Thank you!! :D

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i use newspaper or paper towels . it might not look the best but i works for me

You Can Use Paper Towel But Use Two Layers. And If The They Keep Coming Then Get A Piece Of Cloth And Spray It Then Wipe The Snake With The Cloth But Dont Spary Directly On The Snake.

Paper of some type is the best way to go. You can't go wrong and it is cheap and easy to change frequently. You should use prevent-a-mite. You also should use soaks of warm water with a drop of dish soap. Make sure you let the snake chill in the warm water before you put in the soap so they drink if they are going to. You don't need a lot of water, just enough to get the whole snake wet. You need to throw away anything that is porous. Plastic hides, water bowls, and paper for bedding will help you get rid of the problem!

Regards,

B

Personally I use coconut husk. Its great for tank use because of it's absorbency and it help with humidity control. I have yet to have a mite problem so i am not sure how well it would work with an existing issue.

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Originally Posted by Maverick67

Personally I use coconut husk. Its great for tank use because of it's absorbency and it help with humidity control. I have yet to have a mite problem so i am not sure how well it would work with an existing issue.

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Mite eggs will hide anywhere they can fit. They can fit anywhere because they are tiny. It's impossible to clean fancy substrate, bark logs, climbing branches, and the various other things people put in tanks for their own viewing pleasure. The snakes doesn't care either way. That's why you want a minimalistic approach combined with soaking the snake and treating the enclosure. The tank should be as bare as possible so you can clean every square inch. That's why paper substrate and plastic bowls/hides work the best in preventing and curing mite infestations. If you insist on adding the other stuff just wait until you are very sure the infestation is gone for good. Good luck OP!

Regards,

B

I have heard that if you soak your wooden tank structures (bark logs, climbing sticks...ect) in a vinegar solution and bake them in your oven at a low temp 200-300 in your over for 15-30 min it will clean them right out. no mites no anything. If you try this i would look up some addition info on it before hand for time and temps.

Buy prevent a mite and follow the instruction on the can.... It is the only stuff that I have found works good. I spray my tanks every other month just to be safe.....