Can Snake Mites Transfer To Other Animals

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If you own snakes, or have read nearly their care, you no doubt have heard of snake mites. Some books make ophidian mites out to be the absolute end of the world for a ophidian keeper. This is not unremarkably true, simply don't get me wrong, considering they can spread so apace, they can be truly devastating to a large drove. As well, even an infestation involving just a few snakes tin be deadly to the beast if not identified and treated in time. The purpose of this article is to provide the reader with the bones steps needed to identify a mite problem in your serpent drove, and the steps that we recommend you take to remedy the problem.

How do you lot know if your ophidian has mites? Simply await information technology over. Serpent mites (which are species specific, and thus will non infect you, your family, or your canis familiaris) are tiny arthropods that feed on the claret of living snakes. When live they look like tiny (pin point) size black, or sometimes red, dots moving around on the snake. They are commonly full-bodied effectually the eye, nostrils, and gular fold (the crease of skin on the snakes chin). You may as well spot mites on your easily later treatment an infected creature, or sometimes the mite feces are apparent (specially on dark colored snakes) as white flakes or specks. Infected snakes will often soak in their water bowl excessively in an endeavor to drown the mites. If you lot run across excessive soaking, cheque your snake for mites every bit merely described, or look at the water itself for expressionless mites. Don't mistake dirt in the water for snake mites.

If your snake has mites, don't fret. It nigh likely had nada to do with your care of the serpent. Think of mites similar fleas with dogs. It happens, and in that location are flare ups from time to fourth dimension, only with proper awareness and treatment, mites are hands controlled.

The steps that follow are the most sure-fire, proven methods for mite eradication. Although information technology may be possible to treat mites successfully while eliminating a pace or 2, it is not recommended. Doing and so may outcome in your snake still having mites in the finish, and you lot having wasted your time.

Step 1

Get the supplies. You will need a secure plastic tub (Rubbermaid, etc) that your serpent fits in. You volition also need some products to really impale the mites. Nosotros recommend Reptile Relief by Natural Chemistry (to treat the animal) and Provent-A-Mite by Pro Products (to care for the enclosure). Both of these products are available all the fourth dimension from LLLReptile.com or by telephone social club. Avoid home remedies that you may take heard of. Nosotros take seen these prove harmful, or even fatal to snakes.

Step 2

Treat the animal. Put your serpent into the plastic tub, and spray it liberally with the Reptile Relief, blanket the animal from head to tail. (Run across the directions on the Reptile Relief bottle for further information) Yous will at present allow the animal to sit for 15 to 20 minutes while all of the mites on your snake are killed. After the alotted time, rinse the ophidian well with clean water, and rinse out the tub equally well. Now soak the serpent again for another 15 to 20 minutes, this time in chin deep clean water. This will prevent your serpent from becoming dehydrated, equally the Reptile Relief works by drying out the mites. In the xxx or so minutes required to treat the brute, you can begin working on the cage.

Annotation: We recommend re-treating the animal simply, as just discussed, two more times, one calendar week autonomously, to eliminate any chance of mites re-occurring.

Step 3

Treat the enclosure. Eliminating the living mites on the serpent is only half the battle. At that place are still live mites (and mite eggs) in the enclosure that must exist eliminated to prevent re-infestation. Showtime, remove all of the muzzle decor (wood, hibernate boxes, water dishes, etc.) All of these items volition need to be thoroughly cleaned in a water and bleach solution. This is all-time accomplished past soaking the items in another big tub or trash can. Make sure that no part of the items are above the water level. The mites volition climb up to prevent drowning, so the entire object must exist submerged. Yous will need to let these items soak for about 20 minutes. While this is soaking, remove and discard all of the substrate (bark, sani-chips, etc) from your enclosure. To really make clean the cage y'all can employ whatever mild cleanser, Zoo Med's Wipe Out #3 cage cleaner, or even better, the Reptile Relief tin can be used straight on the cage surfaces. Wipe down all surfaces thoroughly, and rinse with h2o if y'all doubtable whatever balance. To become your cage glass sparkling make clean use a non-toxic glass cleaner or rubbing alcohol. Avoid products with strong fumes or ammonia. After all (if whatsoever) fumes accept dissipated, refill the cage with fresh substrate.

By at present, your cage decorations should be ready for rinsing. Rinse them well with a strong jet of clean water until no testify of bleach remains (odors, suds, etc). Letting the rinsed items dry in the hot sunday is a great time saver.

Now y'all can replace all of your cage decor back into the cage EXCEPT for the water dish. That volition become in concluding. Once the enclosure is all fix up and looking great, it is time for the Provent-A-Mite. This stuff works great, just it is strong, so do not utilise any more than recommended. (Encounter the directions on the Provent-A-Mite tin can for further information) Once information technology is dry, it is completely harmless to your snake, but in a liquid or gas form, information technology can be harmful (that is why y'all do not desire the water dish in there when you spray.) You will now spray the Provent-A-Mite all over the bedding and decor at a rate of about one second per square human foot (that's only over a 2nd of spray for a ten gallon tank). Permit the enclosure to air out for at least xv minutes, or longer if you retrieve you may have sprayed besides much.

Pace 4

Supplant animal and water dish. Finally, you can now add together your snake and filled water dish to the completely mite-free enclosure.

In the yard scheme of things, spending an hour or 2 on this project isn't the end of the world, but information technology'due south certainly worth avoiding the stress on you and the animate being. As a result, prevention is the best medicine. Luckily, the Provent-A-Mite will go on to protect your enclosure from mites for nigh a month. Nosotros recommend that every month yous treat your enclosure as described regardless of whether mites are present or not. It only takes a few minutes. Just call back to accept out your serpent and water dish before spraying.