MITES!!!

i think i'm going to go with the reptile relief...but my problem is that the mites are in his eye...and it says to avoid the facial/eye areas of the snake...how am i gonna get rid of the mites in his eyes?????

~APDux40

I believe that when you treat his entire cage, the mites around his eye should eventually die off.

Provent a mite is the only patented ... time tested product for mites on the market It Is NOT a direct application product

With Provent-A-Mite handling the bulk of the task (along with soaking, quarantining and vigilant cleaning) we got rid of Sesha's mites no problem - her eyes were getting pretty occluded by the mites but cleared out after 2-3 weeks following the prescribed regimen.

If you use Reptile Relief on the snake itself (head down) and then on the terrarium, it will cause all ticks to die out, not just the ones in the contact area, the ticks themselves are moving around and will come into contact with the substance.

However I would still recommend cleaning out the encloser entirely. Fake foliage, dishes, hides, the bottom and sides and top of the terrarium walls. Then giving them a light spray with the Reptile Relief to further kill any of the eggs/larve of the mites. You also do not need to allow the tank to ventilate before replacing your reptile because (as I've said) it doesn't use toxins. However you as an owner still must be vigilent in cleaning.

Just a question on Reptile Relief ... if there is nothing toxic in it ... whats kills the mites and ticks...? also does it have a label of ingredients... what are they?

Reptile Relief's active ingredients are:

Dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate 2.1%: A common pest controller, it is not an inhibitant of cholinesterase (which is why it is used commonly). Cholinesterase is an enzyme a body needs to have a properly functioning nervous system. Docusate salts, such as this one, are used as penetrating agents and dispersants, they are used to make paper, paint, inks, textiles etc, but this agent in and of itself is used mainly in insecticides. Pharmaceutical grades (proper doses) of substance are used as laxatives, tablet disintegrates, and emulsifiers. This is the agent in Reptile Relief that causes the waxy outer exoskeleton of a mite to disintegrate. Topical

undecylenic acid .5%: Uses are Antifungal, topical. Is available for public use without prescription. It prevents growth and reproduction of fungus cells, thus Reptile Relief also works to kill many skin parasites quickly and effectively. This also relieves any pain/irritation the snake itself will be feeling from the bites of the mites.

other ingredients 97.4%: Most likely water as all products tend to be highly diluted (most bottles of peroxide, for example, on further inspection, contain merely 3% true hydrogen peroxide).

Warnings: None.


So how does it work? The active ingredients work together to break down the exoskeleton of a mite's body, it also destroys (by this way) all other stages of the mites (eggs, larvae etc). Reptile-Relief is also good with fleas and has been used on fruit flies that infect sphagnum moss used in terrariums. Now the fact that DSS eats away at the exoskeleton of mites may cause you to ask "why then does it not affect the scaling of a snake?". It's a simple matter of science. Not only has the pH of the product been adjusted to minimize any irritation it may cause in healing (like Blistex, alcohol, peroxide will cause a slight irritation when working properly) but keycodes in the waxy surface of the mite's exoskeleton, and cells, are the targets of the DSS molecular agents. Just as one can swallow doses of this (within other chemicals) to loosen stool and yet not lose our own intestines, it can be rubbed onto a snake and the snake will remain healthy because of the keratin it's scales (actually folded over flesh) are made of. Whereas mite's exoskeletons are made of a tough compound called chitin.

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Provent-A-Mite

Active Ingredients: Unknown

Warnings: CAUTION:
(Reptile): Do not let animal breath vapors. Dermal contact and or ingestion of a treated surface after Provent-A-Mite™ has dried will not harm a reptile. The vapors can be harmful and must be completely removed from enclosure after treatment, before the animal can be replaced. This is a simple procedure to follow that ensure the health of the animal and successful elimination of any mites and ticks. Treatment will not dry when applied to wet or damp surface. Mare sure product is dry when applied to substrates such as aspen or similar materials before replacing animals. Follow other cautions as instructed on label.

(Human and Domestic Animal): Harmful if swallowed. Avoid spraying in eyes. Avoid breathing mist or vapor. Avoid contact with skin. Wash hands thoroughly after use. Vacate rooms after treatment & ventilate before reoccupying. Avoid contamination of feeds and foodstuffs. Cover or remove fish bowls & turn off air pumps.

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After searching I could not find online an active ingredient list for Provent-a-Mite, short of going to a pet store to find out myself (of which I cannot do at the moment) I'm just going to put up the warnings and say this:

All snakes are different. I know of people who have been able to spray snakes with Provent-a-Mite (wiping them off afterwards) and have them fine. I also know people who have followed the directions and have had both snakes die and mites return. All snakes are different, some may not respond to provent-a-mite as well as another snake would. I'm pretty happy with how Reptile Relief worked and I probably won't try Provent-a-Mite until/if/when/what-have-you I have problems with Reptile Relief.

Very interesting ... as Dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate is a Pyrethroid same as used in alot of flea medications and pesticides including NIX for lice
Provent a mites active ingredient is Permethrin which is a pesticide in the same class ... not wise to use it directly on a reptile ......
Btw the warnings and directions are for the protection of your snake and for the products "proper use"

Quote:

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All snakes are different. I know of people who have been able to spray snakes with Provent-a-Mite (wiping them off afterwards) and have them fine. I also know people who have followed the directions and have had both snakes die and mites return. All snakes are different, some may not respond to provent-a-mite as well as another snake would. I'm pretty happy with how Reptile Relief worked and I probably won't try Provent-a-Mite until/if/when/what-have-you I have problems with Reptile Relief.

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I think you may be refering to people using black knight there.....
Provent-a-mite has proven the safest possible mite prevention and cure for chondros which are very thin skinned and rather delicate compared to most snakes and I have never heard of a problem because of the product I have been keeping large numbers of reptiles for over a period of 18 years and am quite involved in a few online communities and have never heard of PAM causing any problems such as you describe
I would very much Like to talk to some of the people involved in the
incidents?

Also the above method of using the product directly on the animal is very much not advised
and you failed to leave out a bit of info
Direct from Pro Products
"Provent-a-MiteTM is the only patented, Federally approved product that has undergone more than 14 years of research and clinical testing to insure that it will effectively eradicate mites and ticks that feed on reptiles and will not harm the host being treated when used as directed. No other product can make these claims! "

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RobertCoombs

Provent-a-mite has proven the safest possible mite prevention and cure for chondros which are very thin skinned and rather delicate compared to most snakes ..."

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I have not had the pleasure of dealing with chondro's as of yet, so on that point I will have to trust and believe you, however I still do not understand why you would leave their thin skinned nature to something that could be potentially fatal if the directions are not properly followed (not to say that you can't follow directions, but more to the point of chemicals being retained in nicks/cuts/or scrapes in plastics) and contact with the skin is made. In no way am I saying Provent-a-Mite does not work (I have no basis for whether it works or not as I have not used it); however I am questioning the use of something that seems so powerful when there is something that does work (in my experience) and does not require EPA warnings.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RobertCoombs

"Also the above method of using the product directly on the animal is very much not advised"

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I concur, I was only using that example to show the differences in tolerability from snake-to-snake (as you pointed out above with the chondros thin skin).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RobertCoombs

"and you failed to leave out a bit of info
Direct from Pro Products
"Provent-a-MiteTM is the only patented, Federally approved product that has undergone more than 14 years of research and clinical testing to insure that it will effectively eradicate mites and ticks that feed on reptiles and will not harm the host being treated when used as directed. No other product can make these claims! "

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I didn't think to quote testing and research claims as I was only questioned as to active ingredients and how Reptile Relief works. When it comes down to it, it should be the snake owner, not the research lab, that determines which product is the best. As I'll stress again, I am not saying that Provent-a-Mite does not work, I'm merely putting forward to a person who questioned a good pesticide agent, a spray that I found quite useful. Many people chose Provent-a-Mite because so many other's use it, one of the main reason's I purchased Reptile Relief at all was because my local pet store was sold out of Provent-a-Mite.

reptile releif does not carry a patent as far as I am aware which would be reasoning why it does not have an EPA warning .... in order to receive a patent it would have to be tested .... and deemed safe or not
The active ingredient in PAM is .50% Permethrin a much smaller % than that is used in RR