we mouse breeders all know the terrible feeling that comes when we find parasites or illness in our colony-- what is it? what brought the issue into the colony? how did I miss it up till now? and how do I solve the issue?
well today, I am taking y'all along to see how I solve at least one of those issues-- my personal mite treatment process. this is the second time i've dealt with mites, and although my method isn't perfect, it's worked for me! I hope it helps you in finding solutions for your own mite issues!
*CAUTION*
⚠️DO NOT SPRAY PERMETHRIN AROUND CATS!
It can kill them when fresh. Wait at least 48 hours to let your cats in the space you sprayed, preferably a week or two to be safe. I recommend treating your mice in a large closet or room you can close off from other pets.
a brief rundown of the most important points:
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I have what I think are red tropical mites in my mouse colony. These are hard to treat, persistent, and harmful to your mice. they can cause sores, weakness, and even death if not treated. Permethrin is the best bet you have of eradicating them.
to treat:
1. Take your permethrin and dilute it to about 2% strength with water in a misting spray bottle, and put to the side
2. Get some food-grade dietomaceous earth and a way to apply it(your ands or a turkey baster will work) and put it to the side.
3. Get your treatment cage and completely clean it with a mild bleach solution(rinse bleach off and dry prior to treatment). Your cage should be either smooth plastic or glass, not wood.
4. Apply your dietomaceous earth dust to the corners and bottom of the cage, spreading it to be a thin layer. You will want it to remain dry.
5. Put in your chosen bedding, preferably just an inch or two. Too much bedding will reduce the effectiveness of the treatment. Add nesting material as well.
6. Spray the bedding with your permethrin spray and gently stir the bedding to distribute it. Make SURE no cats are present during this part, as fresh permethrin is highly toxic to cats and is likely to kill them.
7. Put in your hide and food, and then put in your mouse! You can also spray the mouse with the permethrin spray, which I typically do before putting them in their cage. Just be careful and mist them lightly, don't soak them with it.
Then, just repeat this process every week for at least 4-6 weeks, which should get all the mites as they hatch and grow. Check daily(or as often as you can) for signs of mites on your mice to see if the treatment is effective. Adjust as neccesary, and remember that just becuase you don't see em, doesn't mean they arent there.
NOTICE: if your normal Cage is different than your treatment Cage, I reccomend trying to spray your normal Cage with permethrin as well, or at least lining it with dietomaceous earth. you will also want to toss anything that is wood or porous, as mites could hide there.
