The mites are back....

Well today confirmed my suspicions. My male bp has mites again.
One might ask how I let this happen. But to be honest one thing it has to be. The Rats I feed him. He was mite free for about a year.

Anyone who is curious about my cleaning procedures:
I use paper towels as substrate. I remove all his logs and what not, then let is water bowl and hide soak in super hot water for about 5-10 minutes. Then I spray down his tank with bleach. Making sure to get into the corners. Then I let it sit. Wipe it out. Rinse with water, then Let it air out for at least 10 minutes. Replace everything. I actually just baked his wood branches and what not a month ago.

This is just frustrating. It has to be the rats. I used to feed him frozen thawed, but my parents went to prekilled instead while I was at college. I most likely will go back to frozen/thawed. Then the rats if they do have mites, will die in the freezer.

I am going to bake his wood things again.... And I wiped him down and his tank and his hide with Natural Chemistry Reptile spray. Then Sprayed Jurassi mite on his paper towels.. let them dry. I put him back in his tank and saw him open his mouth a bit to breath. Scared me like crazy. I will def let it air out more.

What would ya'll conclude about the mites? That they came from the rats when we switched back to prekilled?

:/

just to make sure, have you brought in or handled any other reptiles? I'm probably wrong but I thought i remembered reading somewhere that reptile mites are exactly that, reptile mites. but if changing rats was the only change that you've done that may indeed be the cause.

also, if this is a recurring problem, I would definitely invest in some PAM.

PAM! Provent-a-mite is the way to go....

Haha nope. No other reptile handling. I only guessed the rats because they are only maybe 10 feet away from the ball pythons in the exotic store.
I just don't know how else he could of gotten them.

I know. Darnet why cant they just sell PAM as walmart? hahaha

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Generationshell

I know. Darnet why cant they just sell PAM as walmart? hahaha

---

I know i feel your pain:(. but it really is a good investment since its not only a short term cause, but its a preventative as well.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...hlight=provent

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Generationshell

Haha nope. No other reptile handling. I only guessed the rats because they are only maybe 10 feet away from the ball pythons in the exotic store.
I just don't know how else he could of gotten them.

I know. Darnet why cant they just sell PAM as walmart? hahaha

---

They basically do sell pam at walmart...they sell equate or rid bedding spray. It has the same active ingredient and % as pam. Thats what I use. I just follow the same procedure as if I were using pam. Haven't had any problems with it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by nor_cal1980

They basically do sell pam at walmart...they sell equate or rid bedding spray. It has the same active ingredient and % as pam. Thats what I use. I just follow the same procedure as if I were using pam. Haven't had any problems with it.

---

Hmm... Anyone have experience with both PAM and Equate?
I'd rather spend the money on something I know works, versus something that is supposed to work the same.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Generationshell

Hmm... Anyone have experience with both PAM and Equate?
I'd rather spend the money on something I know works, versus something that is supposed to work the same.

---

They are most certainly NOT the same....here is a whole thread on why PAM should be used and NOT NIX or others....
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...hlight=provent

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LGray23

They are most certainly NOT the same....here is a whole thread on why PAM should be used and NOT NIX or others....
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...hlight=provent

---

Sorry for making you post the same link twice. This is what happens when Im too lazy to read things! haha

I would try this stuff... http://www.nospidermites.com/ good luck with those mites :D

DO NOT use anything other than the real thing! PAM Provent-A-Mite, the stuff with similar active ingredients will just end up slowly poisoning your snake. And when you get the PAM, you need to follow the directions exactly, if you do this you will eliminate your mites 100%, and they will not come back.

It is a terrible idea to gamble with pesticides when treating your snake, that stuff is poison literally, the PAM has been specifically designed for use with reptiles and you can even call the inventor of the product and he can explain exactly why it is safer than the copycat products. Please do not mess around with the other junk! I say this to protect your pet, and for no other reason.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Generationshell

What would ya'll conclude about the mites? That they came from the rats when we switched back to prekilled?

:/

---

Mites have no issues hitching a ride on rodents - or even YOU - in search of a cold blooded meal.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ham

DO NOT use anything other than the real thing! PAM Provent-A-Mite, the stuff with similar active ingredients will just end up slowly poisoning your snake. And when you get the PAM, you need to follow the directions exactly, if you do this you will eliminate your mites 100%, and they will not come back.

It is a terrible idea to gamble with pesticides when treating your snake, that stuff is poison literally, the PAM has been specifically designed for use with reptiles and you can even call the inventor of the product and he can explain exactly why it is safer than the copycat products. Please do not mess around with the other junk! I say this to protect your pet, and for no other reason.

---

Being the devils advocate: I doubt the inventor would be objective explaining their own product. Just because a few people have tested it does not make it safe. It kills mites and could still have risks. Not saying it must be bad, but it could be.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ham

DO NOT use anything other than the real thing! PAM Provent-A-Mite, the stuff with similar active ingredients will just end up slowly poisoning your snake. And when you get the PAM, you need to follow the directions exactly, if you do this you will eliminate your mites 100%, and they will not come back.

It is a terrible idea to gamble with pesticides when treating your snake, that stuff is poison literally, the PAM has been specifically designed for use with reptiles and you can even call the inventor of the product and he can explain exactly why it is safer than the copycat products. Please do not mess around with the other junk! I say this to protect your pet, and for no other reason.

---

Just a question, if the stuff from Walmart has the same ingredients at the same % and nothing else added why is it poison and PAM is not? Sure the guy that developed PAM is gonna tell you it's the only thing you can use. Having a pesticide background it's time for a little research before jumping the gun.

Provent -a-Mite from pro products is the way to go....It works like magic!! Also the sales rep was awesome. He explained everything in detail and also told me a lil history about mites. LOL:D It will take a few days for the spray to arrive since it's can only be shipped ground. In the meantime, I would soak the ball pythons in luke warm water with a tiny drop of Dawn dish liquid soap. Good luck!!

Hi,

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Strick

Just a question, if the stuff from Walmart has the same ingredients at the same % and nothing else added why is it poison and PAM is not? Sure the guy that developed PAM is gonna tell you it's the only thing you can use. Having a pesticide background it's time for a little research before jumping the gun.

---

Perhaps some of that research might include reading the thread linked in the post below?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by lk_holla

I know i feel your pain:(. but it really is a good investment since its not only a short term cause, but its a preventative as well.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...hlight=provent

---

And it isn't a few people that have used Provent-a-mite. :rolleyes:

Why don't you search for the threads where people have killed or poisoned their snakes using "home remedies" or other products. Then see how many you can find that have the same tales using provent-a-mite as intructed?

Every time someone says they have mites people say "use vapona" or use "no pest strip", or equate or nix or whatever intentionally lethal compound they can lay their hands on.

I get so danged depressed by people trying to save $10 and killing/ poisoning their snake in the process when they could just have got a safe and far more effective solution for a wallet destroying $20. :taz: :rage:

Oh and the rest of them have no residual effects so are inferior before they even get to the toxicity.

Sorry but this issue is seriously starting to get on my nerves. :oops:


dr del

The difference is that although the active ingredient is listed as being the same chemical, they are not required legally to state that the molecule is only in the same chemical family it is slightly different than Provent-A-Mite, also the binding agents that allow the chemical to dry and bond to your substrate are different. This amounts to the major difference being whether or not the pesticide is absorbed into your snakes body in large amounts or not. This is how I understand it atleast, and I understand your devils advocate point, but there is a link earlier on this post that goes into detail explaining all the differences, I would check it out, you can go cheap if you want but when it comes to your snakes health it may be a poor choice to chintz out... Also the pesticides they are selling in Walmart are probably manufactured in China, and China has a poor track record when it comes to accurately stating what is in their products, just google melamine poisoning in Chinese milk, lead and cobalt levels in Chinese made toys, and terrible quality control with Chinese made medications, etc. etc.

By the way great point Dr. Del !!!

I am no expert in how exactly Provent-A-Mite works, but I do know I have used it in the past with perfect results and no harm to my snake, and have read nothing but positive feedback on the product from experts all over.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dr del

Hi,




Perhaps some of that research might include reading the thread linked in the post below?



And it isn't a few people that have used Provent-a-mite. :rolleyes:

Why don't you search for the threads where people have killed or poisoned their snakes using "home remedies" or other products. Then see how many you can find that have the same tales using provent-a-mite as intructed?

Every time someone says they have mites people say "use vapona" or use "no pest strip", or equate or nix or whatever intentionally lethal compound they can lay their hands on.

I get so danged depressed by people trying to save $10 and killing/ poisoning their snake in the process when they could just have got a safe and far more effective solution for a wallet destroying $20. :taz: :rage:

Oh and the rest of them have no residual effects so are inferior before they even get to the toxicity.

Sorry but this issue is seriously starting to get on my nerves. :oops:


dr del

---

Yes Sir I have read that and no where in my post did I jump out and say I disagreed. Is there something wrong with gathering information from someone other than a represenatative of the company? Believe me if by some chance it was the same product after testing I would not post it here. As with any other forum there is a lot of good information and people here. At the same time there may be more than one way to accomplish something without harm to Humans, Herps or anything else.

That is all...I'm done, zipping mouth shut...:salute:

Pam is great, I have picked up mites and brought home a couple times over the last 5 years. I dropped my barely used can and snapped the white valve off so I got a full can and not real way to spray it . I been taking a pin to press it down and spray a rag and wipe tubs down and then leave rag over air vent to spread it though the room some . So far no mites in the last 3 years.