Preventive Mite Treatment?

[The Serpent Merchant]

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.

[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.

[The Serpent Merchant]

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.

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.

[tlich]

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

[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....

[SnowShredder]

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....

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

[bcr229]

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.

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.

[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.

[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.

[Evenstar]

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.

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

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.

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.

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).