Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i work at a petshop, we got a shipment of baby balls (captive bred) about a month ago, they have not eaten since, today while i was working with them i noticed a small portrusion in one python's eyesocket, it turned out to be a mite, and there turned out to be dozens in all the babies eyesocket (at least a dozen per) so we spent a good part of the day removing them, and we are farely confident that they are might free, but then we noticed one had something in his bellybutton (not wherhe deficates from, but the bellybutton) we believe this is probably a nest because when we tried to remove it tiny little things came up, it could be poarts of mites or baby ones, or maybe not even mites at all, however he has this in his bellybutton, i was wondering if maybe you could give me some advise or help, anything. i love these boas, and this one especially. i was actually hoping to take him home tomorow (but probably not anymore, wouldnt wanna spread the mites). ay help or advise would be REALLY appreciated. also i was wondering if they will eat tomorow or soon, now that they are (hopefully) mite free.
thanx alot! anything will be REALLY APPRECIATED!

>>i work at a petshop, we got a shipment of baby balls (captive bred) about a month ago, they have not eaten since, today while i was working with them i noticed a small portrusion in one python's eyesocket, it turned out to be a mite, and there turned out to be dozens in all the babies eyesocket (at least a dozen per) so we spent a good part of the day removing them, and we are farely confident that they are might free, but then we noticed one had something in his bellybutton (not wherhe deficates from, but the bellybutton) we believe this is probably a nest because when we tried to remove it tiny little things came up, it could be poarts of mites or baby ones, or maybe not even mites at all, however he has this in his bellybutton, i was wondering if maybe you could give me some advise or help, anything. i love these boas, and this one especially. i was actually hoping to take him home tomorow (but probably not anymore, wouldnt wanna spread the mites). ay help or advise would be REALLY appreciated. also i was wondering if they will eat tomorow or soon, now that they are (hopefully) mite free.
>>thanx alot! anything will be REALLY APPRECIATED!

Order in some Provent a Mite for you and the store. As for mites in little body parts like that I would rub olive oil on them and hope it smothers them. I wouldn't take them home til you have some spray.
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Sonya

Sawyer's Tick Spray, buddy! It's the exact same thing at Provent-a-Mite, only 1/4 as much.

1) Take out snakes and water bowls.

2) Fog up cage, leave fogged for about an hour.

3) Let air out for 1-2 hours.

4) With that much of an infestation, repeat.

5) Put mineral oil where you can find large numbers of mites, just not near the mouth or too close to the eyes. Suffocate, evil mites!

6) Lessee. Any mites left of the snake will be killed when the snake goes back in the cage, since the Sawyers/PaM stays active for several days, on the substrate. Make sure they have access to plenty of water, since apparently S/PaM gives some snakes mild dehydration (nothing to be concerned about, tho).

7) Don't buy Black Knight or any mite/flea/tick treatment for mammal pets.

I've never heard of this treatment not working.
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-Irish
My Snakes

Your forgot a step:

8) Repeat in two weeks.

Mite eggs are surprisingly resistant to chemicals. By two weeks, they'll have all hatched out, but won't be old enough to breed quite yet.

I had a nasty mite infestation that I used Black Knight on and followed the above recipie. Haven't seen Problem One since. I'd recommend going to ProExotics.com and at least reading their mite attack plan. They're a pet store, too, after all.