Ok so I was recently asked by a few fellow keepers if I ever had mites and how did I deal with them.
It seems that having mites in your collection is like admitting you have crabs, but the fact is that any collection can get mites and you are more prone if you keep your snakes outside or buy from someone who already has mites.
I have had mites twice from buying snakes, but luckily I have a quarantine system so my collection was safe. Before I start, I suggest every one that has multiple snakes also adopts this. Basically you keep new snakes (or sick snakes) in a different room from your main collection for a certain period of time. A quarantine room should be just as clean as your herp room.
Now if you find that your snake has mites, don't panic. If you take the right steps you can get rid of them in a week.
STEP ONE: prepare
So lets say one or two snake has mites, we are going to need quarantine them. The number one rule is DO NOT LEAVE THEM IN THE ENCLOSURE. We want to attack the problem clean and fast.
You will need:
Before placing the snake in the click clack, give it a quick spray (one fast squirt) so that when mites start crawling on it, they will die.
The hide out and water bowl need to have a smooth surface as mites can hide in cracks and dints. (you can spray the hide out if you wish but not the water bowl)
Now the click clack is ready and you are prepared.
STEP TWO: Separate and Attack
You can't leave your click clack in the same room as your other snakes, other wise you will clean one snake and infect another and you will be stuck in the mite cycle for months. So place the Click Clack in another clean room.
Grab a paper towel, and spray it for 3 seconds with the mite spray. Grab your snake and wipe it with the paper towel through out the entire body (not the head).
Do this twice.
Then take all items from the enclosure (not the water bowl), spray them individually and spray your enclosure for four seconds then close it and let the spray mist do it's job.
STEP THREE: The end is nigh
All we have to do is wait one week. This allows your current mites to die and their eggs to hatch. Respray the enclosure and it's content and wipe your snake with the paper towel technique one more time.
After 3 more days check the enclosure and your snakes for any more mites, they should be all gone but in case there is some left then repeat.
Do not let the snake back in your room until your 100% sure that all mites are gone. Once the last mite has died, put your enclosure back to normal and feel free to relax.
I hope this simple HOW TO helps. Maybe this could be a sticky since mite help hasn't been done yet.
BTW: That stimson did not have mites and was used purely for demonstration.
Cheers!
It seems that having mites in your collection is like admitting you have crabs, but the fact is that any collection can get mites and you are more prone if you keep your snakes outside or buy from someone who already has mites.
I have had mites twice from buying snakes, but luckily I have a quarantine system so my collection was safe. Before I start, I suggest every one that has multiple snakes also adopts this. Basically you keep new snakes (or sick snakes) in a different room from your main collection for a certain period of time. A quarantine room should be just as clean as your herp room.
Now if you find that your snake has mites, don't panic. If you take the right steps you can get rid of them in a week.
STEP ONE: prepare
So lets say one or two snake has mites, we are going to need quarantine them. The number one rule is DO NOT LEAVE THEM IN THE ENCLOSURE. We want to attack the problem clean and fast.
You will need:
- Mite Spray (I use mac)
- Click Clack (appropriate size)
- Simple Water Bowl
- Simple Hide Out
- News Paper
- Paper Towls
Before placing the snake in the click clack, give it a quick spray (one fast squirt) so that when mites start crawling on it, they will die.
The hide out and water bowl need to have a smooth surface as mites can hide in cracks and dints. (you can spray the hide out if you wish but not the water bowl)
Now the click clack is ready and you are prepared.
STEP TWO: Separate and Attack
You can't leave your click clack in the same room as your other snakes, other wise you will clean one snake and infect another and you will be stuck in the mite cycle for months. So place the Click Clack in another clean room.
Grab a paper towel, and spray it for 3 seconds with the mite spray. Grab your snake and wipe it with the paper towel through out the entire body (not the head).
Do this twice.
Then take all items from the enclosure (not the water bowl), spray them individually and spray your enclosure for four seconds then close it and let the spray mist do it's job.
STEP THREE: The end is nigh
All we have to do is wait one week. This allows your current mites to die and their eggs to hatch. Respray the enclosure and it's content and wipe your snake with the paper towel technique one more time.
After 3 more days check the enclosure and your snakes for any more mites, they should be all gone but in case there is some left then repeat.
Do not let the snake back in your room until your 100% sure that all mites are gone. Once the last mite has died, put your enclosure back to normal and feel free to relax.
I hope this simple HOW TO helps. Maybe this could be a sticky since mite help hasn't been done yet.
BTW: That stimson did not have mites and was used purely for demonstration.
Cheers!