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>>I dont *see* mites, but I want to scrub and sanitize every inch of the snakes and the cages. I was going to soak the snakes (some have sheds still) then spread mineral oil on heat pits and eyes as directed. What is your method and which way should I go?
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>>Also, they are VERY skinny except the Cape York, she was a breeder originally so the lady said she came obese and is now perfect weight. Do you think with major cage upgrade (I personally do plantation soil by ExoTerra) they will start eating and gain weight? Should I deworm them? I work for a vet tech, and she is currently helping my coworker rehab a very ill ball thats another rescue, so she can help me administer any medicine/give shots.


Personally if it were me I would clean the cages with bleach solution and a touch of dish soap as a surfactant. Rinse and dry.
Soak the snakes in warm shallow initially then give each a mossy humid hide box...works and is less stress than soaking. Sorta treat them like a neonate and let them hydrate a week or so. Then offer a meal.
I personally would treat newspaper with either Provent a Mite or the Equate Lice spray equivalent....let it dry entirely (I do this outside) and use that as a substrate for a month or so.

I would NOT oil the snakes down. I have seen a couple snakes that, when treated topically with mineral oil shed all their scales.....it was pretty horrid. Basically reptiles and mineral / petroleum products don't go well together. If the animal has hidden mites the cage treatment will deal with it.
I would NOT deworm unless a vet checked fecal diagnosed them with parasites. No point poisoning them for nothing.
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Sonya

I'm not mean. You're just a sissy.
Happy Bunny

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