Mites? Arghh! Is there any sort of consensus?

[trikcard]

Okay, well, my snake has mites. We've had a Ball Python for a while and just recently bought another from a pet store and the thing brought mites in. So now to get rid of them.
Everyone has a different idea, and man are they different. One person swears by one thing another says the same thing kills snakes.
I was leaning toward the predator mite idea, as it sounded like it would work, but I found a couple people say it didn't work. I was wondering if anyone has tried it.
We did the Betadine bath, that didn't seem to help too much. They were back out of the scales the next day. We're trying it again as I speak. Does anyone have the best way to get rid of these things??
Also, I was curious, if these things drown, while the snake is out of the tank in another quarantine tank. Could I just fill the tank with water for a day or so? Would that help at all? I don't know, but I would think it may. I would get provent a mite, but same say it's deadly, same with pest strips, mothballs, and everything else.
Something has got to work on these things. I just want to know what would be best for them, we can't stand the chance of loosing them. They aren't just snakes, they're family. How can we help?

Joey

P.S. Predator Mites sound REALLY cool, though.

[Rhapsody]

Prevent-a-Mite or Mite Off sprays work wonders...

[trikcard]

Now that is mainly to just treat the cage right? You can't use it to treat the snakes themselves? I've read you can and I've read you can't.

[Rhapsody]

mite off i know you can spray directly on the snake, just keep it away from his head

[rabernet]

Now that is mainly to just treat the cage right? You can't use it to treat the snakes themselves? I've read you can and I've read you can't.

I use Provent-A-Mite - and swear by it.

Yes, you treat the enclosure, not the snake. Once you put the snake into the enclosure, any mite that is living will not be living for much longer - including eggs. Awesome stuff that Provent-A-Mite is!

In fact, I always pre-treat enclosure of new additions, and re-treat the enclosures of my established colony when I bring home a new animal, just to be sure (you never know when a mite has hitch-hiked on your clothes). I've not seen a mite since I started this routine.

[BPGirl]

Prevent-A-Mite works like a charm!

[fish21]

here you go. this is from what i have found the cheapest price. as well it should be because you are buying it directly from the company that makes it not a middle man.

http://www.pro-products.com/miteandtemp.html

[Adam_Wysocki]

Everyone has a different idea

Actually, in the world of professional ball python keeping and breeding, everyone uses the exact same thing ... Provent a Mite ... treats the enclosure and by doing so, kills the mites on the snake and kills the mite eggs so that they don't come back.

-adam

[Smulkin]

Another vote for PAM!


Our only run in with mites (to date) was cleared up handily with it!

[ssscales]

The Active ingredient in PAM (Permethrin) has been shown to kill and prevent mites time and time again. We pre-treat our substrate as a measure of preventative maintenance.