MITES

[gibsonhtp]

well i've just had my second run in with mites in the last 2 months. :-/ :-X

i got rid of them for sure back in early may, and now they have returned, i've taken all my wooden products out of the cage and i'm left with 2 kitty litter pans, 2 water dishes (one ceramic and the other metal), and paper towels for substrate.

other then mites hiding on the snakes, where else can these little guys hide? i'm posting a couple of pics, one is where i found the mites hiding (a grapevine log), and the other is my cage setup now.

[gibsonhtp]

here's the cage

[kasper22]

They hide anywhere there is a spot small enough to squeeze into.

How did you treat them last time? I recomend provent a mite. Its very easy take the snake out, spray the cage as the directions say. Let the cage air out. repete in about two weeks. Do that three times and you should take care of those little buggers.

http://www.vpi.com/9VPITipsAndTechs/TheWarAgainstSnakeMites/TheWarAgainstSnakeMites.htm

This is some great information by the Barkers. I highly recomend reading that artical.

good luck

[Genaroleon]

I also recommend PRovent a Mite.
Pro Products sells them right now for 19.95 i believe.. but they have free shipping.

pro-products.com

[Bushbaby]

Here in SA we don't get Provent a mite. We use Frontline Spray (what you use on dogs) or some even use Lyclear.

What I do is firstly soak the snake for 24 hours in clean luke warm water. Then I remove the snake from teh water, spray it lightly with frontline from head to tail, avoiding getting it in their mouth or nose. With smaller snakes, ie. juveniles, I spray onto a cloth and wipe them down. I then put them in a cloth bag (i.e. pillowcase or similar). I then remove everything from their cage and wash thoroughly, waterbowls, hide boxes, everything. Wood you can treat, I don't use wood in my cages though.

Then I spray the whole cage corners and where the wood comes together. I close the cage for 12 hours, and then open it to allow the fumes to dissappear (obviously don't put the snake in). Repeat every 3 weeks, 3 times to get rid of any eggs. Treat snakes and cages. I have never had a problem with this method.

[wevans]

what is the proper way to "soak the snake for 24 hours"

[Bushbaby]

Well, placing them in a smaller container, in shallow water (covering only half their body height, not lenght) and then placing that on a heating pad so that it doesn't get cold, but check temps so that they do not get too hot either.