Mites!!!!

Ok so all of o0ur snakes seem to have gotten mites! So all today i have been working on getting them off of them. Every one is soaking to kill what can be killed. I found them on Q first, our BCI/BCC cross and freaked. Then i went to Hissy's tub an they were on her too. She had them in her bowl where she had been soaking herself to try to get rid of them. The sad part is Q has been doing this for weeks and we thought nothing of it. I was so ashamed of myself for not paying closer attention...So on that note what else do we need to do. I am going to soak them for 24 hours then clean their tubes REALLY well and then put new aspen in and spray it down with lice bedding spray because that's all we have access to at the moment Steffen wants to order PAM also. Now i am paranoid of these nasty little things so any input is welcome. Thanks!

Clean, clean, clean is what I did. It was really frustrating as a couple would keep reappearing, but eventually they disappeared.
Try freezing the current bedding in a bag for at least 24 hours. You can try baking it too, but I'm not sure if aspen would just light up.
Also, clean around the tubs too as I've heard that mites sometimes lay their eggs outside the enclosure.

PAM!!!! This will kill the mites as new eggs hatch. Lice products will only kill live mites and will be ineffective when eggs hatch. I suggest people to kill mites with reptile relief, clean enclosure real good, and coat with pam. repeat in 30 days and mites should be no more.

Where do you get reptile relief and PAM anyways? I have always heard of it but never bought any.

Reptile Relief is sold at Petco, PAM I think you have to order it online. I'm sure one of the ads on the forum would have it.

When using pam can you use all the same stuff that was in the tank when mites came about if its sprayed? such as hides and logs.

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Originally Posted by Faber

When using pam can you use all the same stuff that was in the tank when mites came about if its sprayed? such as hides and logs.

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when you use pam u only remove the water bowl leave everything els in and spray. soak the water bowl fully submerged for a few hours. and add some dish soap to break the water tension to make sure any mites on it drown.

after 1-1.5 hours put the water bowl back in and put the snake back in. KEEP the same substrate and all its furniture in there for at least 30 days. this will ensure any eggs die when they hatch from the residual pam. remember keep the substrate in there for 30 days minimum if you can only spot. this will help ensure any and all eggs that hats will die.

Just curious.. Is there a reason why ppl don't use Nix anymore?
We had mites when I got my first snake 2 years ago and Nix did miracles! I never saw a mite again.

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Originally Posted by nicktreb

Just curious.. Is there a reason why ppl don't use Nix anymore?
We had mites when I got my first snake 2 years ago and Nix did miracles! I never saw a mite again.

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Because NIX isn't made for snakes, and there are several possible complications from it.

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Originally Posted by nicktreb

Just curious.. Is there a reason why ppl don't use Nix anymore?
We had mites when I got my first snake 2 years ago and Nix did miracles! I never saw a mite again.

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My understanding is Nix works like RR, it kills live mites but will not kill eggs or new mites when eggs hatch. I guess you could treat with it or RR every day for a week or so and be ok but PAM is a much better choice.

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Originally Posted by nicktreb

Just curious.. Is there a reason why ppl don't use Nix anymore?
We had mites when I got my first snake 2 years ago and Nix did miracles! I never saw a mite again.

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I am currently using NIX. I was recommended to me. I know many breeders that still love to use it and it comes with great success for them and seems to be doing the trick for my snakes. It does need to be followed properly though to work and to keep it safe for your snake. But it is easy to use.

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Originally Posted by FatBoy

My understanding is Nix works like RR, it kills live mites but will not kill eggs or new mites when eggs hatch. I guess you could treat with it or RR every day for a week or so and be ok but PAM is a much better choice.

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NIX is actually made to kill the eggs as well.

This was refered to me. I did not write this personally.




Nix Treatment for Snake Mites
by Nathan Curtis
Snake Mites
Mites are ectoparasites that subsist on blood. They are host-specific, which means that they only feed on one type of animal. Snake mites will not affect lizards, nor will they affect humans or other household pets like cats and dogs.
Mites can be identified as tiny black dots, much like a speck of dirt. However, unlike dirt, mites MOVE and will burst with a small red smear when squished against a hard surface (the remnants of their last meal). Mites can often be spotted crawling around a snake’s back or head area and on cage walls. For every mite you can see on your snake, there are likely dozens more that aren’t visible, that are hidden while feeding under your snake’s scales. These resilient parasites are commonly known as the “plague of snake keepers”. Really, with sound treatment and quarantine practices, this shouldn’t be the case.
Snake mites have been known to transfer disease in snakes, much like mosquitoes can with humans (malaria) and with dogs (heartworm). If unchecked, mites on just one snake in one terrarium can multiply geometrically and establish themselves in an entire collection of several terrariums and dozens of snakes in a matter of a week or two. This is a problem that is unique to snakes in captivity. Wild snakes are able to keep these parasites in check through shedding their skin and leaving most mites behind. On the other hand, captive snakes are forced in close quarters with their shed skin and mites, thereby facilitation reinfestation.
Mites will eventually overrun a snake in captivity to the point that their host becomes irritated, mildly anemic and therefore lethargic. Infested snakes are often found to soak for extended periods in water in a vain effort to drown the mites on its body, only to be reinfested once it emerges. Snakes in this situation will seldom eat, or even refuse to eat altogether, due to stress and discomfort.
Why Nix?
Nix was designed to treat human head lice and their nits (eggs). The one characteristic that separates the Nix method for treating snake mites from other mite remedies is its effectiveness at killing live mites AND mite eggs. All other mite remedies to my knowledge do not destroy mite eggs. As such, I have found the Nix method to be extremely effective at eradicating serious mite infestations. I even know of a pet store manager who sells several commercially produced mite remedies, yet uses the Nix method on imported snakes arriving at his store. Another pro to using Nix is economics. Around $12 will produce 4 litres of solution – much more than the largest private collection will ever require.
There exists a popular reptile care site on the Internet that discusses the toxicity of Nix, but in the two cases cited, Nix was spread over the infested snakes in full concentration. Common sense should dictate that reptiles and amphibians coming in direct contact with any fully concentrated chemical that does not occur in their natural environment would yield deleterious, if not downright fatal, results. The use of Nix discussed below involves a diluted solution (1 part Nix to 68 parts water) that has never produced adverse reactions in any python or boa in my collection over the course of 6 years. In fact, some snakes in my collection are proactively treated every 6 months as they make appearances at semi-annual reptile shows and I am not willing to risk the chance of mites from other exhibitors making their way into my collection. Even routine treatments on these boas and pythons over the course of several years have yet to result in any negative effects. 2
Materials

• Spray bottle. Preferably one that has never been used, or at the very least, one that has never contained harsh chemicals and has been thoroughly rinsed.

• 56 g (59 ml) bottle of Nix. I have only ever found this one particular size of Nix, which can be sourced at most drug stores and some pharmacy sections of grocery stores for anywhere from $6-$12.

• 4L (1 Gallon) jug of distilled water. Distilled water should be used to extend the shelf life of the solution. With distilled water, the solution’s effectiveness is expected to last up to 12 months as long as the solution is stored at room temperature and in a covered box (light breaks down the active ingredient found in Nix). Although, with one treatment and sound quarantine practices, the first treatment should be all that is necessary.

Creating the Nix Solution

• Pour the Nix cream into the 4L jug of distilled water. Nix is a fairly thick cream substance, so it may take a couple minutes to transfer as much of the cream into the jug of distilled water as possible.

• Replace the cap on the jug of distilled water and shake until the Nix cream is evenly distributed throughout the water. Again, this may take a few minutes due to the thick consistency of Nix.

• Pour the Nix solution into a spray bottle.

Eradicating Snake Mites

• If snake mites are only found on one snake or only in one snake enclosure, it is wise to conclude that mites have infested ALL snakes and their enclosures that are contained within the same room. Mites may have also transferred to snakes housed in another room by “hitchhiking on your hands or clothes. Therefore, absolutely all snakes and their terrariums should be treated to ensure 100% effectiveness.

• First, remove the snake from the enclosure and place in a Rubbermaid container. Spray the snake liberally with the Nix solution. Do not avoid spraying this solution on their head, eyes and heat pits – in fact, this is where mites commonly hide so spraying the head area is essential.

• Remove all substrate from the terrarium and throw away. Do not leave the garbage bag containing this old substrate anywhere in the house.

• Spray the entire enclosure, inside and out, including all cage furniture (branches, hide boxes, water bowl, etc.) and glass viewing area. Make sure that all corners and crevices are well covered with Nix solution, as this is where mites and their eggs are often hiding. Even spray the outside back of the cage and a 2-foot perimeter around the cage on the floor. The Nix residue that forms after drying is thought to even be effective at killing mites hiding out elsewhere in the room that may attempt to re-enter the snake cage.

• Replace the substrate with paper, preferably paper towel, as it is easy to spot mites on this. It is essential to use paper until you are absolutely certain that full eradication has been accomplished. I suggest waiting 3 weeks after the last live mite is spotted before using non-paper substrate.

• Remove water bowl from cage and replace, filled with water, 24 hours later. This ensures that the Nix solution is not washed off the snake by soaking in the water bowl before the active ingredient has had a chance to destroy all mites hiding under its scales.

• Return the snake to its enclosure and spray it, the cage, furniture and paper one more time.

• When the snake defecates during treatment, remove the paper and clean the messed area as usual, but be sure to re-spray the cleaned area and new paper with Nix solution.

• Repeat in 5-7 days twice, for a total of 3 treatments. With all likelihood, the last live mite will perish within a few hours of the first treatment, but repeating treatment is good practice in case the outbreak is severe and mites are able to re-enter cages.
3
Preventative Maintenance
Any snake entering a collection should be quarantined for 2-3 months, ideally in a completely separate room from where other snakes are housed, but at the very least in a separate cage. It should be assumed that any new snake has mites, regardless of how well respected the previous owner or pet store is. I have personally been let down on several occasions by leading breeders in our hobby, and from personal friends. It is my experience that employing the “better safe than sorry” approach is of paramount importance in ensuring mite breakouts never occur.
Given the above assumption new acquisitions, in addition to their cage and cage furniture, should be treated with Nix solution 3 times (one full treatment every 5-7 days). Same should hold true when a snake enters your colony for a breeding loan, even if it is your own specimen that was lent out and is returning. As previously mentioned, it is also wise to treat snakes that attend shows, where other exhibitors and spectators may have mite infestations. With the large number of people that handle your animals, or even just touch the enclosure in which your snakes are housed, the chance that a mite is hitchhiking on at least one of these snake enthusiasts at the show is good. Don’t become complacent and cut corners in this area, or you may find yourself right back where you started.
Cage furniture and substrate purchased at pet stores can also serve as mite vectors and should be treated with caution. Mite-free substrate can be purchased from pet stores that do not carry reptiles, from a livestock feed stores, or from landscape centres. Newly purchased cage furniture should be sprayed liberally with Nix solution. Highly porous cage furniture (wood hide boxes, branches, etc.) should be soaked in a 10% bleach solution for a day, then rinsed thoroughly, sprayed with Nix solution, and allowed to dry for a week.