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Bad Guy Richard Gary Williams (roach 75) Mites Come Free!!!

joe113 said:
For mites I simply cut a piece of "No Pest Strip" and put it in a container with holes in it. I would place it in with the snake for 24 hours and repeat in five to seven days. Usually all mites are dead by the second treatment. Never failed and cheap.
Click to expand...

Please do some research before advising dangerous treatments. It could prove harmful.

" No-pest strips contain a poison, that's what kills the insects, ANY insecticide in too high of a concetration can cause neurological problems and death in higher animals. However, before the invention of Provent a mite or Black Knight, one of the accepted treatments for mite infestations was to use small strips of no-pest strip (about a 1" X 1" size) inside a small perforated plastic container placed inside the snakes cage. You left the small chunk of no-pest strip in the cage for about a week, then removed it for a week, then put it back for a week etc... until your mite problem was gone. In small amounts, this was not harmful to the snake but it did kill the mites. If you placed an entire no-pest strip inside the cage, then yes you would probably kill or cause serious damage to the snake."
Quoted from Mark S over at bp.net
 
Right now I'm using Zoo Med Mite Off on the snakes and Rid bedding spray on the enclosure. I ready didn't want to use the RID but I couldn't get Prevent A Mite in time. I'm ordering some tonight so I will change over to that when it gets here. I change bedding daily and the water bowls, you wouldn't believe the amounts of mites still coming off the snakes the water looks like pepper is in it. I'm not sure why some mites are still alive. The young calico is not looking that great, I hope the stress of blood lose doesn't overcome her. It's pointless to tell Richard anything as he won't respond, why would a greedy none-morals guy care what advice I give him?
 
For what it's worth, when I got a snake that developed a raging mite infection (must have been very few mites - I did NOT see any at first but after two weeks went to check and BAM! Gross city! Thank goodness for quarantine!) the consensus I got from fauna, which worked well, was to use provent-a-mite on the caging (NOT on the snake!), paper towels for bedding which I threw out daily, and daily baths with soapy water and a bit of mineral oil around the eyes and nose since those don't go under water much.

I think that's pretty safe and, yeah, a bit labor intensive (especially for three snakes), but it seemed to clear things up after a week. Also helped that my snake shed.

And not to get too far from the topic of the BOI - I think you should get reimbursed for all the mite treatment costs (including gas) at the least. I too doubt the shipping actually took two days, unless he dropped it off after the last pickup somehow.
 
Thanks for the advice, I will give them a bath tomorrow and put mineral oil on the face then spray them down again with the Zoo Med Mite Off. I'm using newspaper for the bedding, I spray it down with Rid then let it dry before the snakes are placed on it. I'm big on quarantine, I've got three separate quarantine racks. That way I can buy from different breeders all at the same time and keep them separate from each other. I won't let these anywhere near my collection for at least six months from the last mite. But it still worries me that the mites might spread despite my extreme care. I've never had to deal with mites before this.
 
And not to get too far from the topic of the BOI - I think you should get reimbursed for all the mite treatment costs (including gas) at the least. I too doubt the shipping actually took two days, unless he dropped it off after the last pickup somehow.
Click to expand...

I also think he should have to pay for me to become a contributing member here on Fauna since I now feel It's needed so I can leave a bad trader review on him. LOL. I also think he should drive his *** up here and clean my cages daily until the mites are gone.
 
Show Me said:
I also think he should have to pay for me to become a contributing member here on Fauna since I now feel It's needed so I can leave a bad trader review on him. LOL. I also think he should drive his *** up here and clean my cages daily until the mites are gone.
Click to expand...

If only! XP


And newspaper is good, I just liked using the white paper towels because I felt like I could see the mites better on it!
It's pretty scary but I think you should be fine with your plan, fwiw.
 
No white newspaper for me, I don't want to see the mites because there are so many it's making me a nervous wreck. I do think the snakes are feeling some relief which makes me feel great and I can hardly wait until I can snuggle up with them. I'm sure they wouldn't have made it much longer in his care
 
Diatomaceous earth is loaded with silica, fyi. Someone recommended it earlier as a measure to help against mites. Personally, I would stay clear from silica whenever possible to avoid respiratory problems.

As far as the lame who sold you the animals, it is what it is. In other words, you got burned but he also burned himself as well. No room for short cons in this hobby.

I wish you the very best with the animals you received and I feel your pain. I too was on the receiving end of animals shipped to me loaded with mites and it wasn't a pleasant experience to say the least.
 
A super quick inexpensive fix for mites is to use the cheap flea/mite powder for dogs sold in supermarkets. The powder can be dusted on the base of the tubs/cage and even the animals as well. Remove the water first. Wait 24 hours and then change out the paper and put the water back in. It can be used under the shavings as further preventive measures as well. Between Provent -A-Mite spray and the powder you will get a quick handle on the mite situation.
 
It would be wonderful if Frontline would do some research a make a safe waterproof monthly application for snakes like they have for dogs and cats. If a company could come up with something like that they would have the market for mite control in snakes and bring in the $$$$.
 
wyldwurm said:
Please do some research before advising dangerous treatments. It could prove harmful.

" No-pest strips contain a poison, that's what kills the insects, ANY insecticide in too high of a concetration can cause neurological problems and death in higher animals. However, before the invention of Provent a mite or Black Knight, one of the accepted treatments for mite infestations was to use small strips of no-pest strip (about a 1" X 1" size) inside a small perforated plastic container placed inside the snakes cage. You left the small chunk of no-pest strip in the cage for about a week, then removed it for a week, then put it back for a week etc... until your mite problem was gone. In small amounts, this was not harmful to the snake but it did kill the mites. If you placed an entire no-pest strip inside the cage, then yes you would probably kill or cause serious damage to the snake."
Quoted from Mark S over at bp.net
Click to expand...

I said 24 hours, not a week. Please read my post before commenting.
 
Hmmmm..... I kinda wish I/we would come up with something like that and make the loot! But, since most of our reptiles are kept in such controlled conditions and are not normally subject to outside type conditions (i.e parks, etc.) we really do not encounter too many problems with external parasites.... that is of course except when unscrupulous sellers send 'em on over! But, I do like your idea... maybe worth something there...hmmmmmm lol
 
Yikes! I hope he mans up and fixes this. That is an insane amount of mites!

g.spencer said:
Diatomaceous earth is loaded with silica, fyi. Someone recommended it earlier as a measure to help against mites. Personally, I would stay clear from silica whenever possible to avoid respiratory problems.
Click to expand...

Diatomaceous Earth Food Grade is safe. Consists only of the fossils, all natural. Even used for internal parasites for animals and people, as well as external. There is a Diatomaceous Earth that has pesticides added though, which you do want to avoid.
 
Katie.Shinkle said:
Diatomaceous Earth Food Grade is safe. Consists only of the fossils, all natural. Even used for internal parasites for animals and people, as well as external. There is a Diatomaceous Earth that has pesticides added though, which you do want to avoid.
Click to expand...

Never mind...apparently you have to use a good pure Diatomaceous Earth for there to be no Crystalline Silica. Found a place that has some with less than 0.5% Crystalline Silica though.
 
joe113 said:
That Zoomed crap works about as good as Shed Aid.
Click to expand...

I'm thinking you right. I do feel the rid bedding spray is working however I'm thinking it's probably not the safest thing but I really had no choice. I just use it like Provent a mite. The formal on RID says the same thing as P.A.M. however it could have a more toxic isomer.
 
g.spencer said:
Hmmmm..... I kinda wish I/we would come up with something like that and make the loot! But, since most of our reptiles are kept in such controlled conditions and are not normally subject to outside type conditions (i.e parks, etc.) we really do not encounter too many problems with external parasites.... that is of course except when unscrupulous sellers send 'em on over! But, I do like your idea... maybe worth something there...hmmmmmm lol
Click to expand...


Well get busy, I would be a costumer for life!!! Think of all the people who vend at reptile shows they are terrified to pick up mites from others at the show. A monthly application would be a hot selling item.
 
Katie.Shinkle said:
Never mind...apparently you have to use a good pure Diatomaceous Earth for there to be no Crystalline Silica. Found a place that has some with less than 0.5% Crystalline Silica though.
Click to expand...

If it is TRUELY diatomaceous earth, it will ALWAYS have silica in it. Diatomaceous earth is primarily diatoms which have a silica based cell wall. I would never use it in an animal's cage. However, you could spread it around the base of your quarantine rack to keep the mites from moving along the floors. Mites moving in this way is not common but it can happen if it is a short distance. The real worry with mites is that you will transfer it to other cages. You are on the right track. I actually prefer a product called reptile relief as an on snake treatment and then I use PAM on the cage and the bedding. The good thing about putting it on the actual cage is that even when you change your substrate the PAM will keep working to kill the mites if you forget to coat the new substrate (or you run out of PAM).
 
I know a lot of people try and use natural ways to kill mites and that's ok but I'm a chemical gal all the way. I don't want a slow cure, even if there is a risk of overdose I'm bombing those mites.
 
scaledverts said:
If it is TRUELY diatomaceous earth, it will ALWAYS have silica in it. Diatomaceous earth is primarily diatoms which have a silica based cell wall. I would never use it in an animal's cage. However, you could spread it around the base of your quarantine rack to keep the mites from moving along the floors. Mites moving in this way is not common but it can happen if it is a short distance. The real worry with mites is that you will transfer it to other cages. You are on the right track. I actually prefer a product called reptile relief as an on snake treatment and then I use PAM on the cage and the bedding. The good thing about putting it on the actual cage is that even when you change your substrate the PAM will keep working to kill the mites if you forget to coat the new substrate (or you run out of PAM).
Click to expand...

Uh...yeah, sorry again. My brain is on the fritz tonight. I meant to say "you have to use a good pure Diatomaceous Earth for there to be little Crystalline Silica." Thanks :)
 
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