Mites

With Reptiles sometimes time is of the essence when it comes to their health. You can post your health related questions and answers here.

Postby RaD » Sun Mar 12, 2006 9:39 pm

So I tried what Sean had posted on Saturday morning which was rather a stressful process but I thought I had done a good job. Today, however, I checked him for mites again and found 3 of the buggers. Small ones but still. I didn't use too much Frontline on him cos I was scared it might be harmful. Probably about 2 squirts on a handkerchioef that I rubbed him with. Should I use more?

Also, do I need to throw out the hide, water bowl and I have a log in there that I bought from a pet shop. Or will the Frontline be able to sort them out? Will baking them in the oven help? I tried this anyway for 20mins on 150 centigrade.
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Postby Sean » Mon Mar 13, 2006 8:20 am

ok take all the decorations/hide boxes out of the cage

spray some pillow slips with frontline
take the snakes and put them into a sealed container (with airholes) filled to around 3/8cm (depending on size of snakes) with water and leave them in there for between 30 to 60 minutes
put the snakes into the pillow slips (make sure the frontline has completely evaporated first) and leave them in there for 24 hours.

put any deco or hide boxes wich can handle the heat into the oven and grill it for around 30 mins (or alternatevly boil it in a pot of water for 10/15 mins)
if the deco or hides can not handle this frontline them making sure to soak all cracks and crevices and put them into the sun for around 30 mins to an hour.

get a small medicine tube (plastic pill bottles) drill this full of tiny holes or puncture some in with a knife.
take a 15 to 20mm by 15 to 20mm (depending on cage size) section of a vapona strip and put this into the container and attach to the ceiling of the cage on the far side from where you keep the waterbowl.
leave this in the cage for 2 weeks and replace the water daily.

now last thing

get a bottle of karbadust
cover the floorspace in the room you keep your snakes in liberally with this, sweep it in (if its a carpet) be carefull about the dust and snakes tho.
then leave that in there for around a week before vacuming.
if its not a carpet just karbaust the floor and leave it there.
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Postby RaD » Mon Mar 13, 2006 9:13 am

Thanks mate, much obliged. I will try it asap.
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Postby RaD » Tue Mar 14, 2006 2:38 pm

Ok, so I cant find anywhere in PMB that sells Vapona or have even heard of it. This is why the town is called sleepy hollow. Is there an alternative that I could try? Or I could go look around in DBN.
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Postby Bushbaby » Tue Mar 14, 2006 2:42 pm

Vapona you should find in any store by the mozzie repelent and Doom and such.

Alternatively you could use frontline and spray your whole cage.
http://www.snakebiteassist.co.za
http://www.reptileexpo.co.za
http://www.boaconstrictors.co.za
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Postby Sean » Tue Mar 14, 2006 3:05 pm

yea vapona cupboard strips

(used 2 keep moths and stuff out of your cupboards)
any spar, pick n pay, etc have them
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Postby RaD » Sat Mar 18, 2006 12:39 pm

I did the whole procedure today but the snake seems really uncomfortable in the pillow case. He keeps looking for a way out. Is this normal and should he calm down?
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Postby Bjorn » Sat Mar 18, 2006 11:37 pm

Medication for mites

Cydectin or Ivermectine
If your looking to rid your snakes of mites you should firstly be feeding thawed out foods as the freezer will kill all mites and other parasites.

I use Ivermectine. These medications are used on horses. The medication can be given orally, via injection or diluted with water and sprayed on reptiles as staturating mist. This just shows how safe the medication is to use. We prefer not to inject or supply orally. I dilute 2ml Ivermectine to 98ml's of water, so 2% medication to 98% water. This can be sprayed onto the snakes, funiture and enclousers twice a week. You wont notice an immediate change as mites have a very short breeding cycle, but with regular use good results are noted.

An alternative is Cydectin. It is cheaper and is not as concentrated as Ivermectine.

These products are only available from a vet and preferably one that specialises in reptiles or horses as they will have it in stock and or can order it in for you.

Here are some links on Mites and control thereof:
http://www.vpi.com/9VPITipsAndTechs/thewaragainstsnakemites/Mites-KnowTheEnemy.htm


http://www.anapsid.org/mites.html
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Postby Moreliahunter » Sun Mar 19, 2006 4:13 am

I have been using a product called top of descent here in Australia. Its a spray they use on airlines and it is the easiest product I have ever used. You remove water from the cage, Spray for 3 seconds until the air looks misty. You do this once a week for 4 weeks and you have no mites ever again. Of course you have to make sure new arrivals dont have any mites otherwise you will keep having the problem.
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Well,

Postby horridus » Sun Mar 19, 2006 9:07 am

I work in a veterinary hospital and have access to all kinds of miticides, and have tried most. i also have a large collection (>100) and occasionally get imports with mites. I was a firm believer in the ivomectin solution until i got a kingsnake that was covered in mites, i soaked him in ivomectin dilution, and they were still there. i repeated numerous times to no avail. Then a doctor friend told me about fipronil (frontline is the brand name here in the states, and i know i saw it it SA coz i bought some for my dogs in december). You want to get the frontline spray, and spray the animals, the cage and the space between the cages. It is amazing how well it works. I now spray every cage that i clean with it, and i have yet to see a mite. I know it is working, because i have got parasite covered animals that cleared up with in a day!. The only prohibitive thing is that it is expensive. I dont really mind because i have boas and pythons and am always concerned about IBD, so its no big deal, but i think it was around 3-400 rand a bottle. Not so sure. It is definately the best method i have used thus far, and safest. i have treated everything from neonate house snakes and GTP's to adult JCP's and burms.
Good luck, cheers donald
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Postby RaD » Sun Mar 19, 2006 11:05 am

Thanks guys. Good to know that I have alternatives. I bought by Frontline for around R160.

I left him in the pillow case after all and when he came out he was in a ball. First time ever. I was beginning to think that he wasn't a ball.

I had to change the cage furniture around to make sure the water is far from the Vapona. Hopefully this wont cause him too much stress.

Thanks for all your input and I'll let you guys know how it goes.
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Postby Bjorn » Sun Mar 19, 2006 11:32 am

I think we have some interesting info here. I wonder if mites can build up a resistance to some poisons, like fleas do. I find frontline useless on fleas or they have reduce the strength??. Anyway just remember the short breeding cycle of the mites, so repeated applications are required.

Purely on an unscientific basis, I am not wild about Vapona, snakes having only one lung and being susceptible to infections etc
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Postby Bushviper » Sun Mar 19, 2006 6:23 pm

I have seen mites that became immune to Vapona and would happily crawl around just centimetres away from the strip.

I am sure with time certain insects such as fleas could get used to Frontline but if the animal is treated properly it should still work. Being expensive makes a person use it sparingly and then it does not work at all.
It is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.

Those who are afraid to ask are ashamed of learning.
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Postby Sean » Mon Mar 20, 2006 8:18 am

Frontline rocks, if you have a bad infection tho the vapona helps keep the little buggers out

it is definately not essential but keeps the cage clean thru the entire breeding cycle and stops new mites coming in.
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Postby RaD » Tue Mar 21, 2006 10:40 pm

Well, it seemed to work. I cant see any more mites. But I've still got my fingers crossed. Thanks sean and everyone else too.
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