Treating multiple snakes for mites?

[kawasakirider]

Hey everyone, I posted this in the mite thread with no response. I'm keen to try to do this tomorrow, as I have uni starting back up again soon, so I need some advice please.

OK, so here is my situation. Please don't judge until you've read this post fully.

I have 3 jungle pythons in the one enclosure. They were bought this way from the breeder, two are strong feeders, the other one IS eating because he has recently shed and is bigger than one of the strong feeders. I KNOW the housing of the snakes together isn't stressing him (the one that hasn't had a feed for me) out because he was housed with the other snakes at the breeders house and was eating.

Now, I got the 3rd snake because one I got has a dodgy spine, and the breeder didn't want to charge me for him. I DIDN'T quarantine them because they were all together anyway. I can't see the point of the quarantine when they were in the same tub 24 hours prior. So before people lecture me on quarantine, please don't because it would have been futile anyway.

Now as I said, ending up with 3 snakes was an accident, and I only have the resources to heat two enclosures, one click clack, and the terrarium. So either way, two snakes will be together at minimum, so I may aswell keep all 3 together...

What I want to know is, IF I rip everything out of the terrarium, vines, plants, hides etc, get rid of the aspen and put down newspaper, can I treat all 3 at once in the same enclosure?

I have Mac Mite Spray, it says to remove any substrate from the enclosure, give the enclosure a big spray, and return the animal immediately, repeat after 7 days.

IF I repeat this process every 7 days over the course of a month, am I likely to get rid of the mites? I have a foam back rockwall looking thing, is it possible to treat this and also treat the vines/bushes/plant? I intend of removing everything, treating all the furniture (except the water bowl) using paper as substrate until the mites are gone and then returning to aspen.

I can't see how treating 3 snakes in the one enclosure is any different to treating a big one.

Anyone know if Mac Mite Insecticide is any good? I don't have any TOD.

Any advice?

 

[karasha]

In short yes you could do that however i found that treating the snake/s directly with ivermectin dilution is quicker and easier. then you dont have to repeat the treatment of TOD/mac mite spray, more than twice.
heres what ive done to treat mite.
1. remove everything from the enclosure.
2. spray snakes with 0.5 ml of ivermectin in 1L of water, let mites die.
3. clean enclosure thoroughly in bleach/f10.
4. spray enclosure with TOD allow to sit for 15min.
5. set up enclosure as simple as possible, ie newspaper and water bowl, cardboard box as a hide.
6. return snakes.
7. repeat ivercectin spray in a couple of days, and TOD spray in 1 week.
8. all fixed.

 

[kawasakirider]

Thanks heaps for the reply mate, is there a way to quarantine the furniture such as bushes, vines and the foam rock wall?

I have good things to say about the Mac mite spray, I decided to do a little test and I sprayed some mite spray into a container and let the snake crawl around in it. She didn't like it too much so I took the lid off and let her come out (there were air holes in the container).

I got her out later and she had no mites on her and no raised scales. I realise this isn't a cure, but at least I know the mac mite treatment works

Where do I get ivermectin and is it expensive?

Thanks again, mate.

 

[dozerman]

For the amount of Ivermectin you want, try a vet. Otherwise 1 litre will cost you a couple of hundred dollars, its intended for livestock.

 

[kawasakirider]

Ok mate, cheers.

 

[87batesy]

Hope this helps, not trying to say other ways wont work this is what worked for me.


You can also soak them in betadine/water soultion, 1 bath per snake, obviously warm temps and enough betadine too turn the water to a urine colour (maybe add the betadine after letting your snake/s soak in fresh water so they dont drink the betadine solution.any mites around the head you can dab mineral oil on with a cotton bud. (Personally i didnt have to repeat this i only had to do it once but with 3 snakes you should probably do it every 4 days)

Do this plus clean enclosure thoroughly in bleach/water soultion (30:1) let sit 15 minutes then rinse with normal water (or just use F10) also soak fake plants/ hides/ water bowls Etc. in soultion and rinse. you may have to repeat this step every 4-6 days

Completely dispose of substrate often!!!!

And use your MAC/TOD spray as directed on bottle making sure to spray outside the enclosure on the exterior of the enclosure and caperts/draps/curtins Etc.

Cheers Batesy

 

[kawasakirider]

Thanks mate, great advice.

 

[kat2005dodi]

Salty water works well too! I use saline water for a soak for various problems. I use vinegar to clean out my enclosures, then wipe with a wet cloth! Bit alternative, I know (cheap too), but my snakes are all thriving and I have been keeping them for over 15years