Like it was said already, soaking isn't going to treat the mite problem. Your friend needs to get something like PAM, provent a mite http://www.pro-products.com/index.ph...d=53&Itemid=59 I wouldn't use anything else.
As for his head issues, my guess is that he has a bad spider wobble. It's something everyone should be aware of when they are buying anything with the spider gene. There are very few cases in which it is life threatening. If he eats, he'll be fine.