Aspen = Mites?

I am starting to get quite irked. I have had multiple snakes get mites multiple times over the past year. Each time I have gotten completely rid of the mites (De Flea Reptile Relief is fantastic stuff). I switched to paper towels for several weeks to ensure the mites are gone. I vaccumed and sprayed the surrounding areas. Then after I start going back to aspen, more mites start popping up. I have gotten aspen from different places to experiment and have not had luck with one over the other. Has anyone else had this problem?

I would permanently switch to paper towels but the dums love burrowing. Maybe I need to start cooking aspen...

I've never had any problem with my aspen. However mites can hide in the tiniest areas so I'm always sure to bleach everything, including the tub lid. I also like Provent A Mite, there are a few other products exactly like it without the name though.

I doubt it's the aspen quite honestly. Try the Provent A Mite (follow directions exactly) and get rid of them permanently. It's more likely you are only driving them back but not wiping them and their eggs out completely with the treatment you are currently using.

I would agree with Jo. The Aspen has nothing to do with the mites. Are you sure that they are mites?

Is it possible the mites are getting to your current supply of aspen and your just reintroducing them? I'll add my two cents (yeah not worth much ;) ) and urge you to go with Provent a Mite as well.

reptile relief only kills the live mites from what I hear and it does nothing to the eggs already laid.

I've used many bags of aspen for my guys and never have had a problem with mites. I did have a mite problem with one snake who came in with them, but I used Provent-A-Mite and they were gone for good.

I used Reptile Relief on a rescued female and thought I erradicated the mites as well, and 30 days later had mites again. Provent-A-Mite wipes out mites AND their eggs. Reptile Relief only kills the mites, not their eggs. That's more likely your problem, not the aspen.

Not to pile on here ... but try the PAM. We have taken in 2 BP's that have had mites, and in both cases a couple cage treatments with PAM (on aspen) has wiped them out...


Neil

To add to the broken record, PAM killed the mites my surinam boa had when we discovered them during her quarantine period. One application using the directions on the can and nary a mite since...=)

"Provent - a - mite...it saved mah marriage!"