I got the mites!

[norcalj]

Here's a solution that you might want to try, because it worked for me. In the past, mites somehow got into my collection and were all over my snakes, in their hide caves and in the paper towel substrate. I wiped out those little bastards after using (only once) Hartz tick & flea powder for cats. The powder not only killed the adult mites, but it also killed the barely visible babies. I dusted everything. The terrarium floor, the substrate, the snakes themselves, and their hide caves. After dusting everything, I left it like that overnight. The next day, there were dead mites all over the white paper towel substrate. After confirming that you've killed them, make sure that you rinse everything off really well with warm water. Like I said, I only had to do that once and I have never since had a reinfestation. Also, make sure that if you have a water bowl or dish in the tank, that you remove it to dust separately.

[BLUESIRTALIS]

I would like to also add that sometimes mites will get under the scales of snakes and are harder to kill look under the chin and if you see any raised scales or black dots under the chin you can dab a little mineral oil on the area and they will come out.the oil smothers the mites.

[EasternGirl]

Again...thank you everyone. I sprayed the enclosure with Rid and left it to air out overnight. I actually cleaned it well with a bleach solution before using the rid. I soaked the babies for a bit yesterday...I do see a couple of mites under scales, I think...I will try the mineral oil. I might try the Hartz stuff too...if I still have the mites...I like that idea. Yesterday was a long day...I didn't have time to check all of my other snakes...I will be doing that today. The biggest problem that I have right now is finding places to put the snakes while I treat and air out the enclosures. I guess this is all going to have to be done in stages. I had the babies in a critter keeper overnight...but the only plastic tub I have that is big enough to hold my adult snakes will have to be treated first because Bella was in that for her quarantine. What is the verdict on treating plastic with the Rid?

[mikem]

Like I said, 99% of my enclosures are plastic... either rubbermaid or sterilite. No problems here.

[EasternGirl]

Okay cool...like I said, I will have to do this in stages. I am going to treat the plastic tub that Bella was in and the plastic tub that you gave me today and let them air out overnight. I will also treat the critter keepers once I put the babies back in their enclosure. Then I can move all of the adults out of their enclosures and treat the enclosures. It will be a long week!

[mikem]

Yep, even if they don't have mites, I'd go ahead and treat their enclosures anyway. If you have any plastic shoe boxes, they'll be comfortable in that overnight, that way you can treat a couple of cages at once.

[EasternGirl]

I actually worked out a better plan...since the babies are comfy in the critter keeper for now...and all of my tanks are basically the same except for Cee Cee and Sadie's, I can just play tank switch-a-roo...I can soak Hermes and Possum and move them to the treated babies tank, then treat their tank...move snakes into that tank, and so forth and so on. Now...I just have to begin the work!

[mikem]

I'd be interested in knowing if they had spread to your other snakes. Let us know if you find any on them.

[mark cope]

Sorry to hear about the mites marnie,
One of the products I used and can't recommend enough is Callingtons if you can get it over there.

[EasternGirl]

Well...I did not find any on my other snakes. In fact, the odd thing is...even though the other babies are in with Bella and I saw the mites crawling on the hides...tody, after soaking the babies twice...I did not see any mites on the other babies or see them crawling on my hands when I picked them up. However, when I picked up Bella, I saw them crawling on my hands. Now...I have the babies all back in their enclosure, which was treated and left overnight to dry and air out. I put a little mineral oil on a paper towel and wiped each baby down with it before putting them in the enclosure. Should this be safe? The mineral oil cannot hurt them can it? If they go into the water dish and then drink from it...will that hurt them?