Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok. So after months of deliberating and research, I brought home my baby ball. I purchased him from a pet store (I know...) and only after I had held him and become a bit attatched was I told that he was wild caught. (sigh) I wasn't happy about it, but he seemed very healthy, no problems with his scales, eyes, or vents. Not only that, but I do not have access to a reliable breeder and I am scared of buying a critter online. He was very friendly, and took a thawed fuzzy before I took him home. He's in a 20 long with all the right temps and zones. I tried to make everything perfect for him..and two weeks into it, there were the mites. I haven't taken him into the vet yet but plan to once I know I have these little devils gone for good. I stripped his tank, vaccumed it, and soaked his branches and bowl in diluted bleach. I have been treating him and his entire cage with Reptile Relief since Sept. 13th. I have repeated this treatment 4 times. I've had him on paper towels and have yet to see any evidence of more mites. Is there anything else I can do, or something that I should do diffrently? How much longer should I keep treating him before I can make his home comfortable for him again? He has been eating very well, but I don't think he is eliminating enough waste, I haven't found a dropping since I started this treatment. I'm sorry this is so long, but he is my baby and I just want to do everything right for him.
Thank you in advance.
~K

I would do it for another month, this way any eggs that hatch out, you can kill them off before they can reach breeding age and lay more eggs.

The fact your guy is eating frozen thawed right away makes me think he may not be wild caught at all. Most likely he is captive hatched. Basically all the wild eggs are gathered, hatched, then the babies sold, with the mothers returned to the wild.
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PHLdyPayne

First, I would chill on the Reptile Relief. You have killed the mites that were visible.....that's great......but there are more coming. Most likely there are eggs that you missed with the cleaning, or there were adults roaming around the outside of the cage that will find their way back.
But, if you try this, I can almost guarantee you that your current mite problem will be gone for good.
Get a can of Provent-a-Mite. Remove the snake from the cage.
Spray the substrate with the Provent-a-Mite following label directions on how much to apply......this is very easy. Next, spray a piece of cloth and wipe around the rim of the cage, and around any air holes on the sides, if using a plastic box. Allow to completely dry and vent any fumes from the cage before returning the snake to the cage.
What this process has done is, any mites that hatch and make their way into the substrate, will quickly die. Any mites that hatch and attempt to exit the cage will be met with the barrier at the top, and will die. Also, any mites on the outside of the cage will not be able to get in. Eventually, all of the mites will be dead.
Now you want to maintain this mite-free environment. Every 30 days, spray a piece of cloth with the Provent-a-Mite and wipe it along the top rim of the box/cage and any air holes along the side......if you're using a plastic box. This makes a barrier that is very effective.
Hope this helps you........it does work......give it a try.

Brian

Prevent a mite works great!

Get rid of the wood!

Nix can be bought at most drug stores or wal-marts.It is used to treat humans for head lice.It kills the mites and their eggs,you can spray the cage and the snake.This is used on human children it is much safer than the other mite products out there.I have used this for years with no harmful effects.Mix a tablespoon of nix to 8 ozs. of warm water and put in a spray bottle.Good luck.

I will try the prevent a mite first, and stop the reptile relief. I think you may be right about him being gathered as an egg from the wild. He is very docile and has never struck, and he loves his thawed fuzzies. I have not replaced his branches in his cage yet and will get new ones instead. If by chance the p.a.m doesnt work I will try the rix solution. Thank you all for your kind suggestions, I will let you know how it goes in a few weeks.
~K