Why are there so many mite outbreaks lately??

[Foschi Exotic Serpents]

When I see someone has a mite problem, orders PAM, and then does the treatment, I almost expect to see them have another outbreak about 15 days later. During the week you're waiting for your PAM to show up, LOTS of eggs are being kicked out. Some of these eggs get outside of the enclosures when you're trying to clean things up. A couple of these eggs hit the carpet or floor, the floor doesn't get treated with PAM, and next thing you know, you have mites again...

You have a great point. This is why when I use to give advice on mite treatment threads I'd always tell people to run to the pet store or Walmart and pick up a container of flea powder for the carpet. Put this all over the carpeting around the racks, in the room, along doorways, etc. leave it there all week before vacuuming until the PAM gets there. Of course you can't do this if you have hardwood floors but in that case you can do a good mopping every 2 days with a mild ammonia and water mixture.

Then just don't let any reptilian critters or small animals on the floor. It's safe for dogs and cats though.

Another great thing to do is pick up a can of generic lice spray and use it to spray the shelves that the tubs are on, the floors around the racks, or if it's an aquarium, spray a border around the table it sits on and around the floor. Make it so nothing can leave that area or come into it.

Knowing what products are available in a pinch and using a little ingenuity can help you stop the spread of the mites to other snakes, and help prevent a population explosion while waiting for the PAM.