So Sick Of Mites!!!

[Kaball]

I've been dealing with mites ever since I got my Woma from Michigan. I've got a can of Provent-A-Mite and it's been working. It only takes about 12 hours before all mites are dead. And with the tubs completely bleached clean, new hide, new water bowl, there's no where to hide eggs. I recently completely overhauled my snake room and PAM'ed every single tub. It took us hours to clean them all and spray them.

Now they are back. The mites have to be coming from somewhere else. I need recommendations. Should I spray the entire room? Then I'd have to relocate my animals to let the room air out, right? Then wouldn't I chance it that the mites take hold in the room that I relocated to?

I'm pretty desperate. I just got two Orange Ghost hatchlings that are pretty week already. I don't want mites to add to that. Please help BP world!

Kaleb

[dr del]

Hi,

Are you following the directions exactly?

I ask because P-A-M is supposed to keep on killing mites on contact for 30 days so you shouldn't be having this problem.

Have you contacted the manufacturers to ask for advice?


dr del

[FatBoy]

Eggs has to be hatching where the PAM is not. I have helped a friend rid mites and it worked. Spray animal with Reptile Relief, spray their tub with RR, remove old substrate and discard in black plastic bag, respray tub with RR. Replace substrate and hide, spray entire enclosure with PAM, let PAM dry then add snake and water bowl. Do this with EVERY ANIMAL in the collection. When finished get rid of the plastic bag...far away!! Mites will come back because they lay eggs everywhere, cracks in hides, corners of tubs, under animals scales, but the PAM should take care of them. In 2 weeks take each animal and water bowl out, leave old substrate, spray with PAM. Let dry and replace animal and water bowl. 2 weeks later completely clean each tub, spray with PAM and throw out all old substrate. During this month long process I also recommend using newspaper as substrate. This should rid you of these pest. Good luck. If you have any other reptiles anywhere else in the home they need to go through the exact same treatment.

Hope this helps you out.

[L.West]

I was told that snake mites are specific to snakes. Does that mean that if there is a lizard in the house that could possibly have mites - that they would travel to the snakes. Just curious.

thanks

[FatBoy]

I was told that snake mites are specific to snakes. Does that mean that if there is a lizard in the house that could possibly have mites - that they would travel to the snakes. Just curious.

thanks

Yes...mites can infest your snakes and lizards.

[L.West]

So, then what you are saying is that mites are not specific to one species?? I was always told they were. I suddenly got mites (just a few) and couldn't imagine where they had come from - I thought they came in on a live feeder but now I wonder if my sons two lizards that are kept on the upper level of my home may be the culprits. hmmmm

[FatBoy]

Reptile mites will only feed off reptiles. They will not feed off warm blooded animals and vice versa. BUT...reptile mites can hitch a ride on ANYTHING. It's unreal to think you could bump into a dude at the Dollar Store who has a snake, his snake has mites, a mite jumps on him, at the store jumps from him to you, you go home, a week later you are scratching your head wondering how your collection got infected. Mites can come in on feeders if they have been around an infested pet store, etc. When treating mites treat everything and it's not a bad idea to do a "preventive" spraying with PAM every 3 months or so...I do.

[FatBoy]

So, then what you are saying is that mites are not specific to one species?? I was always told they were. I suddenly got mites (just a few) and couldn't imagine where they had come from - I thought they came in on a live feeder but now I wonder if my sons two lizards that are kept on the upper level of my home may be the culprits. hmmmm

BTW...just a few mites turn into hundreds, possibly thousands in no time.

[L.West]

This was my first experience with them - it followed my first ever live feeding - I bought the feeder at a pet store so that was my first culprit.

I do intend to start a month preventative treatment with PAM to try and avoid this sort of thing.

It is really freaky to realize just how easy you can bring them home.

Thanks for your help.

[FatBoy]

This was my first experience with them - it followed my first ever live feeding - I bought the feeder at a pet store so that was my first culprit.

I do intend to start a month preventative treatment with PAM to try and avoid this sort of thing.

It is really freaky to realize just how easy you can bring them home.

Thanks for your help.

The live feeder could have very easily been your problem. Pet stores are notorious for reptile mites. The mites were not feeding on the rodent...just hitching a ride. I would still keep an eye on the lizards, they could have gotten infested too.