Let's talk about using NIX for mites.

[angllady2]

Ok, so my local reptile show was last Sunday. And I got into a lively debate with a fellow breeder over mite treatments. I had grumped a bit good naturedly about the difficulty in getting Provent a Mite, and how I wished someone who attended my local shows would become a distributor to make getting it easier. He seemed genuinely shocked I still use PAM. According to him, almost all bigger breeders use NIX to treat mites. He claimed it works even better than PAM, is easy to get, and inexpensive. I was shocked he would risk using something designed for people to treat his snakes.

He told me he'd used it for years with no ill effects, and that he never had problems with mites. He treats regularly as a preventative measure. He is a well respected breeder out of Kentucky, and I don't think he'd lie to me. But something just didn't sit right with me. In the end he certainly didn't convince me to use NIX, and I did not convince him to use PAM.

Now, I am a skeptical person. By nature I am stubborn and set in my ways, especially when it comes to the health of my snakes. But I am also a curious person. He seemed to believe most all big and well respected breeders use NIX, and was surprised I did not. So now here I am, the place I trust most when it comes to questions about my snakes. So let's talk.

Do you use NIX to treat snake mites? If so, how long have you used it? What strength do you use? Have you ever noticed anything that might lead you to believe it is harmful? Do you use it as a preventative measure, or have you successfully treated an infestation with it? If so, how long did it take? Meaning how many times did you need to treat and how often to get rid of the mites?

Now, fellow PAM users like myself, I really don't want to turn this into an "I'm right an you are wrong" debate thread. I have no plans whatsoever to use NIX, but as I said I am curious. So let's try and keep the responses to those who use NIX or did in the past, pretty please?

Gale

[MrLang]

It's entirely possible that you're paying for the testing done on reptiles to prove that it's safe when you buy PAM, rather than a formula that is uniquely suited to them.

One could make the argument that if enough big breeders have used NIX for long enough without any ill effects to their animals, they may have actually done MORE scientific testing of the NIX product on reptiles than the manufacturers of PAM did on their product. You'd have to assume that if it had any ill effect someone would notice, and if it caused some kind of harm to the snake that isn't immediately obvious, the snake would at least display some kind of signs of stress.

One would also be making that argument unscientifically and speculatively, hence why you pay for whatever certified testing process the PAM creators used to justify their claim of proven safety.

[Annarose15]

I use PAM, but this isn't the first time I've heard of NIX recommended to someone for mites. I don't have any personal experience with NIX, though.

[Skittles1101]

I use PAM, and wouldn't risk using NIX on my collection. I have heard it works basically the same way, but that's not enough proof for me to be comfortable using it. Here is an awesome thread tha I saw Dr Del link to in an older thread that really made up my mind about being cheap when it comes to mites...

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Can it be used, is it being used, should anyone use it, does it work?

It is used by many people including large breeders and it works, I guess using nix maybe more cost effective for large scale breeders.

The problem I have seen over the years on forums is people recommending nix or other home brew recipes to inexperienced keepers which can result in serious issues (neurological issues, death...).

Because it works for a person that has been using it for years does not mean it's the best thing to recommend but same goes for many other things. When recommending something you need to take in consideration who you are dealing with.

Bottom line I prefer to use and recommend PAM to people. It's effective and safe IF use properly and a can will last a long time.

[interloc]

The only time I've had mites, I couldn't get PAM in time due to being in canada. So I looked at other ways and NIX came up. Used it ONCE and mites gone! Its a very simple recipe, 1 bottle of NIX in 1 gallon (or 4 litres for the canadians here) and put in a spray bottle. MITES GONE! Spray on the snake and everywhere in/about/around/under the enclosure and kiss those buggers good night! The benefit is it kills the mites AND the eggs. Not just one or the other. I don't know how much people round this site respect what I say but the stuff works like a charm! Trust me. Also its wayyy chesaper than PAM and you get 1 gallon of medicine. For for large scale problems, its way more cost effective.

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[Inknsteel]

The only time I've had mites, I couldn't get PAM in time due to being in canada. So I looked at other ways and NIX came up. Used it ONCE and mites gone! Its a very simple recipe, 1 bottle of NIX in 1 gallon (or 4 litres for the canadians here) and put in a spray bottle. MITES GONE! Spray on the snake and everywhere in/about/around/under the enclosure and kiss those buggers good night! The benefit is it kills the mites AND the eggs. Not just one or the other. I don't know how much people round this site respect what I say but the stuff works like a charm! Trust me. Also its wayyy chesaper than PAM and you get 1 gallon of medicine. For for large scale problems, its way more cost effective.

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This is where I have a problem with people recommending NIX. From all of the NIX vs PAM threads I've read, everyone claims that the NIX is essentially the same thing as PAM. But it says on the can of PAM that it is NOT to be used on the animal. I would think that spraying your snake with NIX would introduce the same chemicals as PAM to the snake, potentially causing the same problems. There are no instructions on a bottle of NIX to tell you how to use it to treat a case of snake mites, so you're going on an assumption and putting your snakes at risk over something that's never been tested safe to use on live reptiles. PAM has been tested and it's fully documented how to properly use it to eradicate a mite infestation. I had mites from my first (PetCo) snake. I came here, got the advice of PAM, ordered a can and treated according to the instructions. One treatment was all I ever needed, and the extra few bucks for PAM was worth the peace of mind.

[RoseyReps]

I would also be worried about the ramifications of spraying directly on the snake.

[interloc]

I would also be worried about the ramifications of spraying directly on the snake.

The way I heard it is yes, NIX does have the same ingredient that kills mites as PAM does. However, PAM has all sorts of other chemicals in it. Not to mention its a spray can so it has stuff in it that's bad for the environment. It needs to be well ventilated because the fumes are harmful. That doesn't sound like something that I want to be around. Just my thoughts.

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[Don]

I use Reptile Relief as a preventative in my snake room because it is safe to use on and around the snakes. PAM is not safe to use on snakes and it scares the heck out of me. However, I do keep a couple of cans around just in case. I've read a lot about the NIX treatment, but have not used it. I'm not sure why there is such a strong following for PAM as I've read of problems from people using it. It may be great at killing mites, but it can also kill your snakes if you are not very careful. Reptile Relief seems like a much safer product to me. Heck, even the NIX treatment sounds like a safer product to me.

I think in the end, you have to do what you feel is best for your collection. For some people, that is PAM for others it is a different treatment.