Re: Can mites kill a snake????

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Posted by Neil Chernoff on June 03, 2000 at 22:27:01:

In Reply to: Can mites kill a snake???? posted by Rik on June 01, 2000 at 17:10:33:

An unchecked mite infestation can definitely kill
a snake. The most definitive study on the
biology of the snake mite (Ophionyssus natricis)
was done by J.A. Camin and published in 1953. In
it, he stated that "whenever possible, healthy
snakes were added before the previous occupant had
died of anemia". I have no trouble believing this
as I came close to losing a rough scaled sand boa
that was suffering from a severe infestation. It
had gone undetected because these animals spend
most of their time under the bedding - I only
found it after the mites had spread to another
species cage. In any case, the sand boa was
anemic and dehydrated (I thought that the eyes
were permanently damaged since they were so
shrunken) and it took q bit of time before it
returned to health.
As far as treatment goes - there are many methods
that have been used detergents, oils, cleaning,
no-pest-strip, carbaryl, and etc. The simplest
and probably most effective, is "Proventamite"
which is a pyrethroid insecticide that appears to
be safe for snakes and most effective against
mites. Promist is the company that sells it -
they're located on the Internet.

Neil

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: An unchecked mite infestation can definitely kill : a snake. The most definitive study on the : biology of the snake mite (Ophionyssus natricis) : was done by J.A. Camin and published in 1953. In : it, he stated that "whenever possible, healthy : snakes were added before the previous occupant had : died of anemia". I have no trouble believing this : as I came close to losing a rough scaled sand boa : that was suffering from a severe infestation. It : had gone undetected because these animals spend : most of their time under the bedding - I only : found it after the mites had spread to another : species cage. In any case, the sand boa was : anemic and dehydrated (I thought that the eyes : were permanently damaged since they were so : shrunken) and it took q bit of time before it : returned to health. : As far as treatment goes - there are many methods : that have been used detergents, oils, cleaning, : no-pest-strip, carbaryl, and etc. The simplest : and probably most effective, is "Proventamite" : which is a pyrethroid insecticide that appears to : be safe for snakes and most effective against : mites. Promist is the company that sells it - : they're located on the Internet. : Neil

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