Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Today I went herping in the area around the outside of Temecula with my new liscense. Things were moving out there. My friend and I caught 2 great basins and saw a rattler of some sort. The two gophers are both beautiful. One is a yearling and the other is probably around two years(2-1/2 to 3ft). I intend to release the older of the two tomorrow in the same location and I am going to keep the yearling because it is like none I have seen here. Bright red head and an off center blotch pattern. Very cool.

The one I am keeping needs to be rid of parasites...where and how do I go about that. I have a friend who is a vet that breeds colubrids. Especially bulls and kings. I'm thinking about giving her ring, any ideas before that?

- Evan

I've used Proventamite with good results. I've had baby garters brought in, and had mites, but they never spread, cause the cages had Proventamite sprayed down on them, to help prevent mites. Kills bugs real well! Just be sure to follow directions and really air out the cage before putting snake back in. Could also spray the inside of a snake bag with it, and use that bag when you go hunting. I imagine that would cut down on the number of living mites before you ever get home. Just an idea. And a vet check up for a wild caught animal is a good idea, surely it's carrying internal parasites of some sort that a vet can check for.
Russell Keys
Keys Reptiles

Off subject a little, could you post a photo? Sounds like an interesting snake. Where are you from?

no message......

I use a cut or broken piece of normal NO-PEST STRIPS which are placed in a plastic container with holes punched in the container. This keeps the chemical away from the snake and allows for the killing of mites on the snake as well as those in the cage.....good luck.

jim