Preventive Mite Treatment?

I would like to hear some options on preventive mite treatment. Personally I am against it as I feel the Cons outweigh the possible PROs.

Here are my PROs and CONs:

PROs:

1. Could prevent a mite infestation:

This is a pro, but it isn't guaranteed one.

CONs:

1. Unnecessary exposure to chemicals:

Many mite sprays have some really nasty chemicals in them that I personally don't like my pets or family to be around on a regular basis. Especially PAM which has chemicals in it that are known carcinogens. (can cause cancer)

2. Possibility of creating a strain of "super" mites that are resilient to current mite sprays

As with bacteria overuse of pesticides can lead to strains of mutated mites that are resistant to current mite sprays.

3. Cost:

Especially with large collections regular treatments will add up to a lot of money. I'm all for spending money where necessary, but this just seems excessive.

#1 is a big deal to me when using tubs. The small volume of air inside the tub combined with very little airflow makes a potentially bad situation much worst. With other larger cages the exposure is still there, but it isn't as big of an issue. (still something I like to avoid)

Instead of preventive treatments I just keep everything I could possibly need to treat a mite outbreak on hand (PAM, Reptile Spray, Dawn dish soap, etc.) While all of the CONs still apply when treating a mite outbreak there is a legitimate reason to take those risks.

I'm open to non chemical preventive treatments like high temperature baking, but again cost and time to do so in a large collection really make it seem excessive.


So what do you think? What do you do? I've attached a poll to this thread with a few options as well as other. If you choose other please post below what your "other" is.

If by "preventive" (and thank you for spelling it correctly) you mean treat your enclosures and racks regularly even when you don't have an outbreak then no, I don't do it. I do treat anything that comes into QT as being infested until proven otherwise, so the enclosures, hides, and substrate get PAM'ed the day before arrival so they have plenty of time to dry. The snake gets wiped down with paper towels soaked in Reptile Spray as soon as it is unboxed so if it does have mites I'll know immediately.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

If by "preventive" (and thank you for spelling it correctly) you mean treat your enclosures and racks regularly even when you don't have an outbreak then no, I don't do it. I do treat anything that comes into QT as being infested until proven otherwise, so the enclosures, hides, and substrate get PAM'ed the day before arrival so they have plenty of time to dry. The snake gets wiped down with paper towels soaked in Reptile Spray as soon as it is unboxed so if it does have mites I'll know immediately.

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I would consider both to be forms of preventive treatment, but your version is much more acceptable in my mind. This post is really about the people who treat on a regular basis when they don't have a mite outbreak.

Are you referring to pre-treating a tub/enclosure for a new addition, or routinely (yearly, every 6months whatever the schedule) on the entire collection?

I don't have many snakes, I could see pretreating a tub/enclosure, I don't think I would routinely treat though..

Edit: looks like I got beat

I treat all new additions no matter what. If they have mites, they get treated in QT. If they don't have mites, they still get pre-treated in QT.
I think it's always important to pre-treat new comers.
That's my preventative measure to keep my resident animals safe since mites can be vectors to illness and disease.

I don't routinely treat my resident animals if they don't have it.
However, I do know some of the more larger breeders like Brian Gundy, who do treat for mites monthly or every other month as a preventative.
It's no different than putting a monthly flea medication on your dog, imo.

I think if some of the larger breeders (like BHB or others who regularly have animals going in and out of their facility with no QT) utilized regular mite treatments, they wouldn't have such a large mite problem. With that many mites, it's just asking for potential disease spread....

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Originally Posted by satomi325

I treat all new additions no matter what. If they have mites, they get treated in QT. If they don't have mites, they still get pre-treated in QT.
I think it's always important to pre-treat new comers.
That's my preventative measure to keep my resident animals safe since mites can be vectors to illness and disease.

I don't routinely treat my resident animals if they don't have it.
However, I do know some of the more larger breeders like Brian Gundy, who do treat for mites monthly or every other month as a preventative.
It's no different than putting a monthly flea medication on your dog, imo.

I think if some of the larger breeders (like BHB or others who regularly have animals going in and out of their facility with no QT) utilized regular mite treatments, they wouldn't have such a large mite problem. With that many mites, it's just asking for potential disease spread....

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This. QT and treating while in QT is my only preventative measure. My collection is healthy and mite free and is kept mite free with just this

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

I would consider both to be forms of preventive treatment, but your version is much more acceptable in my mind. This post is really about the people who treat on a regular basis when they don't have a mite outbreak.

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I could see the point of doing it if I had taken animals to an expo, as there is a risk of a mite being transferred from another exhibitor's animal. Even if I attended them regularly just as a buyer I could see it, as there's a good chance someone's animals have mites. Since I don't, there's really no reason for "just because" treatments.

I use it as a preventative if I take my snakes to a show, or bring snakes home. I do not spray the inside of the tubs for the reasons of your cons, but I do spray the racks. I take all the snakes out of their tubs while I spray. Let it dry and put them back in. Mights are a nightmare and I don't want to deal with 60+ snakes being infected.

I've got a can of PAM. I've had 2 mite infestations in the last year, and PAM took care of it both times in a matter of 2-3 weeks. I implement proper quarantining procedures so I haven't needed to use any chemicals as a preventative.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

If by "preventive" (and thank you for spelling it correctly) you mean treat your enclosures and racks regularly even when you don't have an outbreak then no, I don't do it. I do treat anything that comes into QT as being infested until proven otherwise, so the enclosures, hides, and substrate get PAM'ed the day before arrival so they have plenty of time to dry. The snake gets wiped down with paper towels soaked in Reptile Spray as soon as it is unboxed so if it does have mites I'll know immediately.

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Originally Posted by SnowShredder

This. QT and treating while in QT is my only preventative measure. My collection is healthy and mite free and is kept mite free with just this

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Originally Posted by SlitherinSisters

I use it as a preventative if I take my snakes to a show, or bring snakes home. I do not spray the inside of the tubs for the reasons of your cons, but I do spray the racks. I take all the snakes out of their tubs while I spray. Let it dry and put them back in. Mights are a nightmare and I don't want to deal with 60+ snakes being infected.

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These are the things I do too. I prefer using just Reptile Spray (I get it from Reptile Basics - it is the Natural Remedies brand) and do try to avoid PAM unless, heaven forbid, a problem should arise. I wipe down tubs and hides the day before new arrivals come and use only paper towels as substrate. I also wipe down all new acquisitions with the Spray. I've never had mites in my collection and, knock on wood, I plan not to.

I even had one snake that had mites when purchased at an expo. Fortunately, I was prepared and had Reptile Spray with me so I was able to treat her in the hotel room that night. We didn't come home with a single bugger and my collection has stayed mite free. :gj:

I don't use any other preventative treatment for the same reasons as your cons. In my opinion, if careful q/t is practiced and preventive treatment is done upon arrival, then further preventive treatment shouldn't be necessary (with the exception of some larger breeding facilities that may not practice strict q/t for logistical reasons as someone else mentioned). ;)

PAM how does it work in getting rid of mites?

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Originally Posted by NYHC4LIFE8899

PAM how does it work in getting rid of mites?

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We aren't talking about the nonstick cooking spray, we are talking about Provent-A-Mite:

http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/...rovent-a-mite/

It's a common misconception lol.

PAM = Provent A Mite. It's not the cooking spray. http://www.pro-products.com/index.ph...d=53&Itemid=59

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Originally Posted by TheSnakeGuy

I've got a can of PAM. I've had 2 mite infestations in the last year, and PAM took care of it both times in a matter of 2-3 weeks. I implement proper quarantining procedures so I haven't needed to use any chemicals as a preventative.

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If you implement proper QT measures then how have you had 2 infestations in the last year?

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Originally Posted by coreydelong

If you implement proper QT measures then how have you had 2 infestations in the last year?

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This is part of the point I was trying to make in my original post. I just don't see the point. If you are following proper quarantine procedures pre-treating new additions/snakes coming back from a show shouldn't be necessary. If mites show up during the quarantine period treat them. The risk of cross contamination should be pretty low if you really are quarantining.


That said my original intent for this thread was about people who use mite spray on a regular basis when they don't have mites. I've seen a few people post that they treat the substrate every time they put new in, and some who treat every few months. I just don't understand that mindset.

I treat my racks every 2 weeks with PAM. The only reason I do this is because I work at a small pet store. Yes, we have reptiles. Our stock is usually well kept, but we get some drop offs or random people that being their animals in and we end up with a little more problem. I treat so often because I don't want to risk me bringing home mites from work and having to treat 50+ snakes.


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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

This is part of the point I was trying to make in my original post. I just don't see the point. If you are following proper quarantine procedures pre-treating new additions/snakes coming back from a show shouldn't be necessary. If mites show up during the quarantine period treat them. The risk of cross contamination should be pretty low if you really are quarantining.


That said my original intent for this thread was about people who use mite spray on a regular basis when they don't have mites. I've seen a few people post that they treat the substrate every time they put new in, and some who treat every few months. I just don't understand that mindset.

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I do not treat anything except new arrivals. Depending on the source, new additions get between 30- 90 "days in the hole". I treat their tubs at least every 2 weeks, or when their tub needs cleaning. They get handled/fed/cleaned last. If they refuse a rat, that rat has its own QT enclosure as well for that "batch" of additions only. This was fun when I had 8 pick-ups from Daytona.

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Originally Posted by missriss2012

I treat my racks every 2 weeks with PAM. The only reason I do this is because I work at a small pet store. Yes, we have reptiles. Our stock is usually well kept, but we get some drop offs or random people that being their animals in and we end up with a little more problem. I treat so often because I don't want to risk me bringing home mites from work and having to treat 50+ snakes.

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For this reason I decided to breed my own rats. I cannot depend on a clean source of rats from ANY pet shop. On rare occasions now I need a handful of medium rats for a few big girls. I hope to be fully self sufficient on rats by spring since feeding is slowing down now during the bp breeding season. I have 36 female breeder rats and will add at least 20 more by spring.

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Originally Posted by coreydelong

For this reason I decided to breed my own rats. I cannot depend on a clean source of rats from ANY pet shop. On rare occasions now I need a handful of medium rats for a few big girls. I hope to be fully self sufficient on rats by spring since feeding is slowing down now during the bp breeding season. I have 36 female breeder rats and will add at least 20 more by spring.

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That's a common problem. Fortunately my rat source only has rats, mice, and ASF's on the premises - no reptiles!

I put prevent a mite down every time I change the bedding. Never had a mite and hope to never get one.