Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm curious to know what you guys would do in this situation. I purchased an expensive snake about 2 months ago, at first everything seemed fine with her and then two days ago I noticed mites and other little bugs crawling all over her....I mean ALL over her. When she first arrived, I inspected her, quarantined her, and kept my eye on her and she was fine up until the other day. I have been keeping boas in the same setups, same substrates, and same conditions for years without any problems. Not one of my other boas have any signs of bugs or mites. I used PAM to spray their tubs and cages and everyone else came up clean so far, her tub however looks as if I shook a pepper shaker throughout it, and she still has bugs crawling on her. I have not contacted the seller yet as I do not know what to expect from him (if anything) other than to just let him know how things are going. But what I really want to know is, if these bugs and mites came with her, how come they didn't show up until now? How can I prove they came from her to begin with and not from my setup somehow? If they did come from me, why is she the only one with an infestation when her tub is right next to my other babies? Let me know what you guys think I should do, I appreciate your comments and thank you in advance.

Darren.
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If you don't stand behind our troops, please, feel free to stand in front of them!

What is PAM and what is it used for??

PAM = Provent A Mite
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If you don't stand behind our troops, please, feel free to stand in front of them!

Never used Blk Knight but hear it is very good. I have used Equate Bedding Spray for years with very good results-buy it at Walmart for about $4 a can. The only thing Equate does not have is instructions for reptiles-use the same as PAM: don't spray the animal directly, spray the substrate and let dry thoroughly.

What type of substrate are you using and did you use a new batch of substrate with your new boa? Mites/bugs can be brought in with new bags of substrate. Bark chips are real good for carrying bugs. When I switched to newspaper my bug problems ended. The problem with bugs is their eggs can lay dormant for long periods of time and that is why they suddenly appear out of no where. Give the PAM time to work. Repeat treatment in two weeks and eventiallly they will be gone. It kills all stages of mites including their eggs. Good luck with this-Bill
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...three years ago it was just another snake cult...
The Retic is King.
Anacondas-the other Dark Side.
Afrocks-the dark side of the Dark Side.

I have been using screened sawdust substrate that I get from EBV. With every new bag opened I spray PAM or Equate (whichever is handy at the time) inside the new bag of substrate and let it sit for a day or two before changing cages. I try and do everything I can to make sure this doesn't happen. She is now back in the quarantine room until this can get straightened out, but now I'm worried about while she was with the others for that short time I'm going to have a bigger problem. Only time will tell.
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If you don't stand behind our troops, please, feel free to stand in front of them!

QUARANTINE!

The MINIMUM is 3 months. Periods of 6 months to a year would be even better.

As for screened sawdust, that's a new one. Never heard of it.

jb
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What's written above is purely my opinion. In fact, MOST of what you read on the internet is someone's opinion. Don't take it too seriously

Jonathan Brady

Deviant Constrictors picturetrail

I've only seen screened saw dust at East Bay Vivarium and thought I would give it a try. I actually like the stuff and it resembles sani chips but the individual pieces aren't as big (if that makes sense)
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If you don't stand behind our troops, please, feel free to stand in front of them!

IMO too much water under the bridge to be able to trace it back to the seller. Clearly could be the new substrate. Every pet store battles with mites from time to time. Nature of the business is animals coming in and out without quarantine.

So, any visit to any pet store or reptile show can result in something hitching a ride home on you. Yeah, not likely but can happen.
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count (05/26/2009):
36.51 BRB
29.42 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Mite eggs on the snake take about 2 weeks or so to hatch after being laid. I've seen this with new animals - they look fine, then in 1 or two weeks, I see a few mites. Even with a plastic cage and newspaper substrate. Mites didn't come from the newspaper. Bigger snakes harbor mite eggs much easier than say a small kingsnake.

Mites often lay eggs on substrate in and just outside the cage. When you use PAM, spray the floor just outside the cages too.
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Mark