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!"

lol, thanks guys, I'll give it a shot

I'll also chip in and say that Reptile Relief only kills adult mites, not eggs. I have used both Reptile Relief and Provent a Mite and I'll never use Reptile Relief again.

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Originally Posted by cassandra

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

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Cass, Cass, Cass...how often have we told you to STOP spraying that on your new hubby! Geesh it's not body spray woman! LMAO

Hey.. I got mites in my collection from aspen. They showed up last year, out of nowhere apparently.. then I remembered that I had bought the aspen fairly recently after noticing them and was still using it.. it was from a pet store, go figure. That was about the time Ed Clark mailed me a complimentary can of Provent-A-Mite.. it eradicated the buggers. I still don't use aspen because I like the clean factor of newspaper.. sorry you got mites. :( If it was from a pet store, it could have gotten contaminated that way.

I have gotten it in the past from pet stores. Now I go to the grocery store to get it. Seems like it would have less of a chance of parasites seeing as it isn't even near animals.

Right now I have their cages so squeeky clean that there is not a mite to be found, I am sure they are awaiting their chance though lol. I'll be picking up a can of prevent a mite tomorrow. I found a pet store that is actually fairly decent with their reptiles and actually knew alot about their products :eek:. They have prevent a mite and actually new which mite products killed eggs and which don't. I was kind of shocked. All the other pet stores in the aread don't know jack about reptiles.

Arg! Two Green Men.. I don't know if my fragile sanity can handle this! :)

lol both me.


I could not remember my old log in.
They helped me get it back so "~Greenman~" is now gone

lol that is hysterical; I was thinking, "who stole his name?"
I think that a supermarket would be a better aspen source

I still use aspen for the milksnake and the BCI and buy it from good old WalMart. Decent sized bag that's very compressed and very fine and soft for about $4.00. No exposure to critters (they sell fish but that's about it), never had a problem with it.

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

I still use aspen for the milksnake and the BCI and buy it from good old WalMart. Decent sized bag that's very compressed and very fine and soft for about $4.00. No exposure to critters (they sell fish but that's about it), never had a problem with it.

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I - looked - everywher for aspen at WalMart...joo lie to me!

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Originally Posted by cassandra

I - looked - everywher for aspen at WalMart...joo lie to me!

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I have it at mine and it is right by the rabbit bedding and rodent food

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Originally Posted by tmlowe5704

I have it at mine and it is right by the rabbit bedding and rodent food

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I looked there - nada. Oh well...