Helenthereef
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OK, here's my problem:
I am FAR away from herp vets, and I have to be flexible and adaptable.
I have a breeding loan female who, after a Betadine (idodine) bath, shed a few dead black flecks. On magnification these COULD have been some dead crushed insects, maybe mites, maybe something else not parasitic. No moving mites seen on her at all, and there are very few of whatever it is. She's still in quarantine.
I want to breed her with my very clean males. I do NOT have access to any recommended herp mite treatments. I do have access to head lice and scabies mite medication designed for humans. I've seen threads here with varying opinions about using human medications on reptiles, and that show that Proventamite contains the same insecticide as Nix human lice medication
(Provantamite: http://www.pesticideinfo.org/Detail_...DIST_NR=073617
Nix: http://www.pesticideinfo.org/Detail_...DIST_NR=071794 )
My experience is that usually you can use human medications as long as you think carefully about dosage and administration.
So my questions are:
1. Can anyone share practical experiences of using such human substitutes please?
2. If I were to use human lice shampoo on a snake, how do I apply it? The instructions say to shampoo in, leave for 20 minutes and rinse off. How does this contrast with instructions for herp treatment?
3. Human lice treatment is to be reapplied in 7 days. I read that snake mites have a 14 day cycle. How often is snake mite medication to be reapplied?
4. If you were to apply mite medication to a snake, would you wait for 14 days before putting that snake with another to breed, or would you breed them after initial application and then treat them all afterwards?
5. Any comments on risk and symptoms of side effects?
Please don't flame me for not going to a herp vet: I'm in Fiji and don't have that option: I need to do what I can for my snakes with what I have.
Many thanks for all practical advice / opinions.
I am FAR away from herp vets, and I have to be flexible and adaptable.
I have a breeding loan female who, after a Betadine (idodine) bath, shed a few dead black flecks. On magnification these COULD have been some dead crushed insects, maybe mites, maybe something else not parasitic. No moving mites seen on her at all, and there are very few of whatever it is. She's still in quarantine.
I want to breed her with my very clean males. I do NOT have access to any recommended herp mite treatments. I do have access to head lice and scabies mite medication designed for humans. I've seen threads here with varying opinions about using human medications on reptiles, and that show that Proventamite contains the same insecticide as Nix human lice medication
(Provantamite: http://www.pesticideinfo.org/Detail_...DIST_NR=073617
Nix: http://www.pesticideinfo.org/Detail_...DIST_NR=071794 )
My experience is that usually you can use human medications as long as you think carefully about dosage and administration.
So my questions are:
1. Can anyone share practical experiences of using such human substitutes please?
2. If I were to use human lice shampoo on a snake, how do I apply it? The instructions say to shampoo in, leave for 20 minutes and rinse off. How does this contrast with instructions for herp treatment?
3. Human lice treatment is to be reapplied in 7 days. I read that snake mites have a 14 day cycle. How often is snake mite medication to be reapplied?
4. If you were to apply mite medication to a snake, would you wait for 14 days before putting that snake with another to breed, or would you breed them after initial application and then treat them all afterwards?
5. Any comments on risk and symptoms of side effects?
Please don't flame me for not going to a herp vet: I'm in Fiji and don't have that option: I need to do what I can for my snakes with what I have.
Many thanks for all practical advice / opinions.
From what you posted I am sure you have searched the forums for this information. I know I have seen threads on the same topic and wondered if it was a good idea to do what you may have to do. This all brings to mind something that my wife is fond of saying "Hope for the best, Expect the worst, Life is a stage, We are unrehursed" 
