What are mites?
The snake mite Ophionyssus natricis is a parasite that feeds on reptile blood. It has a short life span, normally in the region of 1 - 2 months. Hatchling mites are whitish in colour and are so small they can not be seen easily with the naked eye. In adults the females grow larger than the males and are about 0.5mm in size. Adult mites are black with a light patch on their back. When full of food ( the blood of your pet ) they are a dark red colour. Mites prefer temperatures of 75-85 0F . They like it dark and humid. They feed mostly at night and have been reported to move away from strong light. Mites are very fast at spreading. They move though ventilation panels and gaps in cages. I have heard reports of mites walking up to 11 inches in an minute. That may not sound much but works out to be over 50 feet an hour. They can therefore spread around your whole home in a matter of days. Females lay their eggs in warm, dark, damp places. These egg laying sites are often on the inside edge of your snakes cage or on pieces of wood. Eggs are often laid directly on the skin of larger snakes.
What to look for.
If you can not see the mites actually on the snake the easiest place to spot them is often the water bowl. When snakes have mites they soak to relieve the itching. This soaking manages to kill a small number of the mites. These dead mites look like pepper that has been sprinkled on the water.
How to get rid of mites
I have heard of lots of sprays, strips, powders and even creams to kill mites. I am sorry to say that in my experience most only reduce the numbers of mites and give a false sense of security to the keeper. The chemicals used in these products is often dangerous to the snakes being treated. I have only found one thing that eliminates mites once and for all. IVOMEC is the trade name of an ivermectin injection used to treat sheep for various worm infections and sheep scab. Used in the correct manner it is possible to eliminate all mites in a treated area with only one application. (N.B. Never use "Super Ivomec")
Destroying mites using Ivomec.
I have heard of two ways of using Ivomec with reptiles.
Using Ivomec injection. The first one is to inject a very small dose of the Ivomec in to the snake. It is then carried in the blood and kills the mites when they feed. This injection is also used to treat worm infections. I, personally, do not use this method for two reasons. These are that the dose of injection has to be exact as Ivomec can cause damage to reptile organs when injected and it only kills the mites that feed. ( It does not treat the cage, mite egg laying sites, and every reptile in the collection has to be injected to get decent coverage") Because of the potential dangers connected with the injection technique I would not recommend it when less dangerous , more effective, methods are available.
Using Ivomec spray.
It is possible to make a very potent mite spray by adding 2ml of pure Ivomec to 1 pint of water. I would make two batches of spray solution. The first batch of 1 pint is placed in a spray bottle and put to one side for later use. The second is poured in to a plastic container, which is large enough to put in the snake that is to be treated. ( This batch can be made with warm , not hot, water for the snakes comfort). The snake is then placed in the container and washed in the solution. Put the lid on the container and leave the snake here to soak while you treat the cage etc. ( If you have several snakes to treat you can use the plastic container of Ivomec solution as a dip to treat each snake in turn. Placing "dipped" snakes in to clean boxes while their cages are being dealt with). To treat the cage first remove and destroy all wood / paper based or porous products from inside the cage. This is because the mite use these to lay eggs on and wood is almost impossible to treat effectively. Wash the water bowl and all other furnishings in soapy water. After drying spray these with the Ivomec solution and leave alone while you go back to the cage. First wash the cage with soapy water to remove any organic material. Dry with disposable paper towels and spray with the solution. Make sure to spay all the cage inside and out. Pay special attention to the ledges and corners in the top of the cage and the track the glass runs in ( top and bottom). Leave the cage for a few minute (3 or 4 should do) and then dry up any excess solution with paper towels. I would also spray the carpet around the cage to kill any mites that may be there. The spay has not affected any carpets I have sprayed up to now but it is up to you weather you do this or not! You can now set up your cage prior to returning the snake. ( Don't forget to rinse the water bowl before adding fresh water. I have seen several snakes drink Ivomec without problem but prefer to keep it out of there water bowl). The snake can now be returned to its cage. I do NOT wash the solution off the snake but know of other snake keepers who do.
Disclaimer
Before you use any product on your pet you should discus with your vet that the product is safe to use. All chemicals potentially carry dangers to both animals and keepers. I can not advocate that any product is safe or without hazard. I can say however that I have personally used Ivomec to treat mite infections ( on newly acquired animals ) over a period of several years without any problem to the reptiles. I also know several other reptile keepers who have used this product, in the same way as myself, and have had excellent results.
One last thing about Ivomec, it has been reported to kill turtles, tortoises, some geckos as well as all arachnids (that tarantulas ). So before you use any product on your pet you should discus with your vet that the product is safe to use with that type of animal.
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