Snake mites

[Ranulf]

If all yall deciding to rag on OP would learn how to read, they got a replacement for the one that died from the pet store they got them from.

As for mites. There is a lot of debate out there about what is useful and what is harmful. Chemically, Provent-a-mite is considered the safest option. However, it is really expensive, and the chemical makeup is the exact same as stuff on the shelves like Rid spray for head lice (found in pharmacy at Walmart.)

To use it, you must completely clean out the enclosure to the best of your ability. Use only soap and water, or if you want a disinfectant, rinse really well afterwards or use something like Chlorhexadine.

Before the next step, ensure the snake is in a separate room that is unlikely to get fumes from the spray. DO NOT DIRECTLY SPRAY THE SNAKE!

Spray the inside of the tank lightly on all surfaces, holding the can 8-10 inches away from the glass where possible. Go for even coverage. Spray the outside of the tank as well, as mites can travel pretty far away.

Let dry for a few hours or until it is definitely no longer wet. Use a dry paper towel and wipe off any excess film on the inside of the tank.

Use clean, unused paper towel for substrate, and use a bowl too small for them to soak in. Larger bowels result in wet paper towel more often. This could result in your snake being exposed to the anti-mite chemical In Provent-a-mite. Soaking in a waterbowl is a sign of mites, but it isn't exactly an effective treatment.

Make sure you have non-porous, plastic hides. Lightly spray these with PAM when you spray the tank. Wipe them down when dry. DO NOT spray the waterbowl or have the waterbowl in the same room as where you are spraying the chemical.


While you wait for all this to dry, go to your snake. Use basic GermX, no additives. Make sure you are in a warm room and the snake has someplace warm to go immediately after you treat them. Wipe the snake down with the germX. Avoid the head. Do not apply GermX to the head! Wipe from the neck down, and the mites will be killed and fall off the snake. Do this germX procedure whenever you have visible live mites on the snake. Mites near the eyes and heat pits should be removed very gently with your finger.

Tank should be recleaned when dirty or once every 1-3 weeks. The PAM should be reapplied every 2-3 weeks.

The clothes you wear while handling your snake should be taken off after you are done and you should shower as well. Clothes need to go through a laundry cycle to be sure they are free of mites.


Snake should be kept on paper towel and in "mite procedure" until mites are confirmed gone. Generally, this means that after 30 days of not seeing a mite, wait an additional 60-90 days.

The mite life cycle allows eggs to survive 90 days before hatching.