Loading
SNAKE MITES
ALTERNATIVE FRONTLINE METHOD
Christian Castille
Alot of people seem to get mites and go into panic mode. I thought I would show my method i use for killing mites.
This is the frontline method but its a little different to the normal.
I have been using this for years and I've never had any negative effect, and I've never had to use a second treatment.
These photos are based on a Muellers Sand Boa I was given, as the owner couldnt get it feeding (not surprised due to the mites).
It came with enclosure,past sloughs and all.
Ok so you see or feel tiny seed like bumps on your snake,that look like this.
If you run your hand over the snake you will get these crawling over your hands.
This is the frontline method but its a little different to the normal.
I have been using this for years and I've never had any negative effect, and I've never had to use a second treatment.
These photos are based on a Muellers Sand Boa I was given, as the owner couldnt get it feeding (not surprised due to the mites).
It came with enclosure,past sloughs and all.
Ok so you see or feel tiny seed like bumps on your snake,that look like this.
If you run your hand over the snake you will get these crawling over your hands.
They will feed on dead skin tissue,such as past sloughs.
Sometimes underscale mites can be misinterpritated for natural skin colourations though.
Other times they can be spotted looking slightly transparent under the thin scale lining.
But the good old fashioned way is to look into the snakes cloaca.
Ok so now we know we have mites. Dont freak out or kill a kitten.
you will need to have some frontline in and some squirty soap.
Now firstly get your self a well ventilated spare tub that is bone dry
Now get your frontline. I use the spray but if your using the small capsual ones then do it at 30% frontline-70% luke warm water.
Now we spray twice into a jug and fill it up to 200ml with luke warm water.
Then in another jug add some squirty soap and fill with luke wamr water to 300ml
Now you have both of your mixtures.
Now you need to have your snake ready and some kitchen down, I prefer this to actual towels.
Now make a bow shape and dip it in the frontline.
Now make a bow shape and dip it in the frontline.
You then need to place the snake in the bow shape from 1 inch down past where you are holding its head.
Its VITAL that you hold its head secure with one hand and do not move this hand nor get it wet, this hand will stop the snakes head from turning onto its body and drinking any of the solutions.
Its VITAL that you hold its head secure with one hand and do not move this hand nor get it wet, this hand will stop the snakes head from turning onto its body and drinking any of the solutions.
You are wiping down the snake in frontline, it is important to allow the snake to slither through it yes, but also do this manually as well. Very slowly though, spent about 2 seonds on every 3 inches of the snakes body. Repeat this 3 times, each time redip in the solution.
After this bin the kitchen towel part and hold the snake for 5 minutes until the frontline has dried.
I find standing outside works best for this, rememeber to keep the head secure still.
I find standing outside works best for this, rememeber to keep the head secure still.
Ok so we have added a toxic coating onto the snakes skin for the mites, but now what? Well as alot of mites are still in hiding we need to make the surface of the snakes skin more slippery so they cant keep there drip. Some use oil for this, I find it causes too many sloughing problems so use squirty soap.
So just like the frontline ,we make a bow and tip the kitchen towel in the soap solution.
So just like the frontline ,we make a bow and tip the kitchen towel in the soap solution.
then wipe down the snake only once with it.
Like before allow the snake 5 minutes to dry.
We now need to wash the excess coatings off the snake. The frontline and soap together act like a very fine layer that stays on the snake, but the larger layers needs to be washed off so the snake cant take the nasty chemicals in.
A spray bottle of luke warm water is fine and lightly mist the snake.
A spray bottle of luke warm water is fine and lightly mist the snake.
Wipe down the snake now until dry, and add him into the bone dry enclosure.
Leave the snake 30 mins in this before adding him into a morepermanent enclosure.
Remember the orignal enclosure will need to be mite treated as well, this is up to you how you do this, I use adrap but this is dependant upon your situation. If you have invertabrates in the room then you may need to rethink.
Some might be thinking the ratios of the frontline are very weak and this is very true. But I prefer it this way, a good amount of people that have accidently killed snakes with using the other suggested measurements. The fact is its an "on contact" treatment and even a very weak solution will kill all mites and eggs, it just takes slightly longer
Remember the orignal enclosure will need to be mite treated as well, this is up to you how you do this, I use adrap but this is dependant upon your situation. If you have invertabrates in the room then you may need to rethink.
Some might be thinking the ratios of the frontline are very weak and this is very true. But I prefer it this way, a good amount of people that have accidently killed snakes with using the other suggested measurements. The fact is its an "on contact" treatment and even a very weak solution will kill all mites and eggs, it just takes slightly longer
After the treatment and back to looking stunning.
This is the method I use and have never had a slight problem, I have used this on both adult and young snakes with 100% success rate without ever needing to repeat.
This is the method I use and have never had a slight problem, I have used this on both adult and young snakes with 100% success rate without ever needing to repeat.
