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Hello and welcome to episode 29 of Reptil.TV!
Today’s topic is about mites.
During a career as a terrarium owner, almost everyone will have to deal with them.
In our hobby, it's probably the most widespread problem.
That's why we'll show you how to recognize and treat the problem appropriately.
The first indications that you've got mites, is a case similar to this one.
Here, a green tiger python, lying in a water bowl.
If the temperature inside the terrarium is alright, a snake normally never lies in water.
Of course except for water snakes, like anacondas etc..
King pythons, tiger pythons, boas and corn snakes don't really belong there.
If they do lie there, it's a definite sign that you've got a mite problem.
In such a case, take out the snake, inspect the water and afterwards the animal.
For the time being put the snake back inside the terrarium.
Look at the water if you can see evidence for mites, small black dots that swim in the water.
Here you can see some black granules inside.
To some extent, it can also be mulch from the terrarium, or some small wooden pieces.
Here we have some suspicious black dots that have the right size.
We will have to examine them more precisely.
Here you can see a mite in a close up photograph.
Of course, the image is enlarged.
With your bare eye, you can see the typcial round body and triangular head.
If you put the mite on your finger and it starts moving that is more evidence.
Mulch doesn't move, so you can be quite sure it is a mite.
And if you crush it with your fingers, you can often see some blood splatters, and thus you know it was a mite.
Sometimes you can't find anything in the water.
There are no mites are in the water, because the animal just got infected, or only has some mites.
Then we check the animal itself.
Mites like some distinctive spots.
Here, around the eye, inside this wrinkle.
Mites like this spot.
Or underneath the jaw.
Mites are easy to spot here, because most snakes are white under the jaw.
Mites like these wrinkles or are beneath the scales.
Now we have to fight or kill the mites inside the terrarium.
For us these two agents have proven themselves.
Inside the terrarium, we have this 'Detia Strip'.
It used to be called 'Blattanex', the active agent is 'Dichlorvos', it's an insecticide that's effective against mites.
Don't use the whole stripe. Cut off an appropriate fragment.
It's important that your piece has the appropriate size.
Judging the size depends on your experience. Ask someone who knows how big the fragment should be.
You can ask us, or ask someone who has often used the agent before.
If it's too big, you could harm the snake. More or less poison the snake.
If it's too small, the mites don't die. That's why you need the appropriate size.
Then we place the stripe inside a textile net, or a silk stocking.
Hang the whole thing above the centre of the terrarium.
Leave the stripe inside the terrarium for 8 days.
The mites’ eggs have an incubation time of 4-5 days.
That's the reason for 8 days. Because even if some mites should hatch, they still would get killed.
It is important that you keep the terrarium dry during this period.
Mites find ideal reproduction conditions in high humidity.
That's why you should keep the humidity low.
And don't put a water bowl inside, at most only a small drinking bowl.
Not a big one for bathing.
If the snake (with mites) lays in the water, The agent doesn’t work underwater and the mites don't get killed.
So only put in a small bowl for drinking.
What we just explained, is in our opinion the best way to deal with mites.
We definitely can't be held liable in any way!
Detia, 'Blattanex', or Dichlorvos have been used in living quarters in Germany.
You can handle it. But don’t make mistakes!
Don't overdose, or you'll harm your animal.
Do not use it in your bedroom or in rooms where you sleep!
Do not use it in rooms, which are occupied by small children, because you could harm them!
Don’t keep other invertebrate animals in the same room!
If you have your spiders in the same room, the agent’ll also affect them!
Be careful! Pay attention! If you do, it is the best method to cope with the mites.
Be aware, you are at war with mites.
There is no advantage if you only approach the problem half-hearted and only kill the mites inside the terrarium.
Mites aren't stupid. They really run away. A mite can walk 2m per hour.
Therefore, they can make some ground.
So you have to create a barrier around the terrarium.
If you have a couple of terrariums, which are standing just next to the affected one, you'll surely find mites there too.
So you'll also have to use this insecticide in the other terrariums.
It is wise to create a protective shield around them.
This 'Insecticide 2000' has proven useful. The agent is 'Pyrethrum'.
An affective agent against invertebrate rodents.
If we discover mites somewhere, our course of action is the following:
We spray a large-area and create a barrier, so we're sure we're not only fighting the mites in one terrarium but also that they can't spread.
Take it serious. Use both agents in combination. Then you're sure you eliminate all of the mites.
Pay Attention! This 'Insecticide 2000', or better Pyrethrum, is a poison!
If you spray the area around the terrarium, nothing should happen.
Don't spray food or something similar! Again, the same applies for invertebrate animals.
I also advice against using it on the animal. It's better to use the strip, as said before.
Don't spray the animal.
You have to differentiate between two types of mites. The black mites, that suck blood and are parasites.
From time to time, we have white substratum mites. As you can see, they are noticeably smaller.
Here you can see a bunch of them on the spiders head.
They also walk on the animal but cause no harm.
They don't feed from blood. They just live in the wooden substratum.
I sometimes have the assumption that they are after the stripped skin.
Often after moulting, you can find these white mites.
Because these mites are of no harm, we don't have to fight them with insecticides.
If they bother you, you can use homoeopathic agents such as tee tree oil.
It's only for the optics. They don't harm the snakes.
Our cutie is cured.
We can handle it without worrying.
That's important because, if your animal has the mites and you hold it in your hands, you can spread the mites even more.
If you discover mites, also watch your own hygiene, in order to avoid spreading them yourself.
Something else, after a mite treatment, the animals often have problems moulting.
I don't know if it is because of the mites or the agent.
Just pay attention to the fact and maybe assist if necessary.
That's all for todays topic.
I hope you learned something.
Until next time!
Remember, check my ball pythons!
The camera is still recording!
This screen would be perfect for presenting Reptil.TV.
Especially because snakes are elongated animals, they would make a perfect appearance on this screen.
You can save your drivel.