Snake mites

Question
Hello I was wondering about your opinion about what to use on snake mites I have been fighting with these mites for the past month and a half and they seemed to be coming back each time.  I have eight snakes all have their own tanks, I only see them on five of the eight snakes but I treat them all.  I have already used Mite-off from a zoomed product, The Nix head lice solution, and ivermectin solution I got the ivermectin from the vet it kills the mites because I can see them on the paper towels but this doesnt seem to do anything in the long run, the five snakes are younger ones under a year old these are the ones that get it the worse as the bigger snakes don't seem to have it but I treat them still, the vet didn't want to inject them with the ivermectin because he said if they are allegic to it there's nothing you can do once you do the injection it's not like you can take it away, so he gave me the liquid medication to dilute in water because he said if any signs of reaction you can stop using it and wash it off and since they are younger snakes the vet didn't feel confident to inject them.  I was wondering if you ever had been in this situation before and if you have what methods do you use and what medication have you used?  Every TUESDAY I give them a nix bath and spray I was following this guys video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqziwNaosQM  and the second video  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyMzc0Wljsw   and third video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0ScAjJg4D4  its a three part video sorry if I'm taking up so much of your time, Then on Every FRIDAY I use Mite-Off, been doing this for the past month and a half.  I clean out the paper towels once a week and I take the tanks out side once a week for a complete hose down and spraying with nix, it's been a pain because the tanks range from 40 gallons to 125 gallons.  What do you think I should change my routine because I know I'm doing something wrong it's not working.  Thank you for your time.

Answer
IMO, there's only one thing to use for mites that actually works.  It's the only product of its kind that's actually EPA approved for this purpose.

It's called Provent-A-Mite, and it's sold by a company called Pro Products.  You can purchase it at some specialty reptile stores, or online.  

Here's a link to the company site where you can purchase it directly:

http://www.pro-products.com/

I've had two or three brief mite outbreaks over the years (no doubt brought in by wandering garter snakes seeking places to hibernate in the fall--they get inside sometimes, lol).  This stuff clears them right up, and they're gone for good.

Be careful to use according to directions--remove the animal and the water bowl, give a QUICK spray of the inside, and let it dry COMPLETELY--then return the animal and the water bowl.  You don't have to bother the animal by putting anything on it, or do anything else.  Don't spray it on the animal!  It's toxic to reptiles when wet, safe for them when it's dry (but continues to be deadly to mites for weeks).

Just repeat the treatment every couple of weeks, or when you change out all the bedding.  After a month, you should never see another mite.  (They'll most likely disappear within a week, but using it for a month ensures that any eggs that hatch will also be promptly killed, and there will be no return).

You can continue to use it as preventative, but I only use it in my quarantine racks for new arrivals, or if I actually see something.

Mites can wander LONG distances, which is why treating the snakes and single enclosures isn't enough.  The eggs they laid in the drapes will hatch, the baby mites will find the snakes, and it all starts again.  Provent-A-Mite breaks that cycle completely.  Snake mites can't use non-reptiles as hosts, so there will be no more problems.

It's not the cheapest product, just the only one that always works, lol.  Don't use anything else along with the Provent-A-Mite, just in case it combines with it to create something toxic.