Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I see so much about people getting them, but what is the best way to avoid them?

ANY new incoming snake into a collection, no matter who it came from, should be quarantined and treated for mites (I prefer Pro Product's Provent A Mite spray...best stuff on the market). We follow a 90-day quarantine period before a new snake goes into our permanent collection. During this time we treat for mites (even if we don't visibly see them), do fecal checks and treat for any internal parasites. Once we have three consecutive negative fecals along with being in outwardly excellent health, we will then consider adding them to our permanent collection or find a good home for them. The key to mite control is quarantine adn that means having a place that is far away from your established collection. We have received "healthy" animals from some of the top breeders in the U.S. who came in riddled with mites; shouldn't happen but it does. It is a lot easier to treat one snake than it is to treat an entire collection. Rob

Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
City of Lake Forest Parks & Recreation (IL)