"Why not support their immune system, first"



I'll answer that, because support alone wont get rid of the parasites.



Captive animals are subject to a process called "parasite amplification" where the level of parasites increases due to constrained captive conditions. Eventually even well supported animals can succumb without some intervention. For example, wild snakes get mites too but captive ones can become infested.



Whenever there is an indication that parasites are present reasonable and proper measures should be taken to treat. If you have a personal collection and don't want to treat that's fine but if you sell and trade your snakes the ethical thing to do is treat so you wont spread unwanted riders to other's collections. If somebody shipped me a mite infested snake I'd be extremely disappointed especially when they are so easy to completely eradicate. Worms shouldn't be given a pass either.



I know you're just fostering a conversation here Frank so that wasn't a dig but support is not the whole answer and that is why we treat.
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“Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.” Emmerson

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