Reptile & Amphibian Forums

OK so I figured this was going to happen buying from a petstore, but I was really beginning to doubt it as the days rolled on and with me constantly monitoring the tank daily and closely I thought I was in the clear (althought I was still taking all the proper precautions). My fiance's little petstore BP has MITES! I know they are NOT fun to get rid of, but with all the BPs I have had or have now (except her) I have NEVER had mites, and I had 4 girls that were CH.

My question is, we got her last Sunday, I was going to leave her be untill this upcomming Sunday. Being that she has mites, should I start treating her now or still let her settle in? It seems to be a light case, but as we all know that dosen't mean anything. I don't want her to suffer with these little pests, but I don't want to stress her out too much either, she REALLY needs to eat, she deficated yesterday and now she looks even skinnier and the skin around her tail is loose and starting to make folds. She isn't triangle-shaped skinny yet, but she is so small and young I don't want her going without food.

Also I am parinoid about them getting out of her cage, last night I was itchy all over feeling little things crawling on me even thought I know they werent there. I don't mind being creeped out as much as I am worried about them bothering my dog or cat, or worse, getting to my other BP. If I smeared some kind of oil (baby oil, olive oil, and I am not sure about this one, but vegtable oil?) around the top couple inches of her inclosure, will that contain them somewhat?

I have been killing them as I see them (besides the ones on her, gotta love paper towl!) but she has one or two that seem to love being in her mouth. I was trying to see if she had any in her nostrils or any other little crevaces, but I noticed one or two who like to roam under her "lips".

Would it be too stressful to treat her, or maybe just be really gentle with her and let her roam the bath hopping to remove a couple? Like I said it seems to be a mild case as far as I can see, but I don't want her to suffer. I talked about taking her back to the petstore, but my fiance is too attached. They said they would treat her if we found any, but they would have too keep her for a while to do it, and he isn't having it. I can't order anything for a little while, so I am going to have to just be SUPER clean and do some of the reommended home treatments and hope they work well.

Sorry so long, first time having mites... well, BITES.
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

I have seen my friend use provent a mite, sprayed the cage down once (not with the snakes in it)and the mites went away. That is what I would start with if I got mites.

Thanks, but nowhere locally has it and I can't order it for a while.
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

Krystal,

Walgreens carries a permethryn based spray that is identical to Proventamite in concentration and much, much cheaper

It is a lice spray and I've used in successfully many times (I work with a lot of imports).

I'll see if I have a canister of it so I can tell you exactly what it is.
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Current snakes:

1.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.4 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

OK thanks! That would be AWESOME!
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

The product is Walgreens brand "Stop Lice".

It is a 0.50% Permethrin spray. Myself or friends of mine have found it at every Walgreens in several states where we have looked.

I spray it on newspaper for just a few seconds, let it dry for at least an hour, and then use that as a substrate. I leave the water bowl out for a day to be safe.
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Current snakes:

1.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.4 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

You never cease to amaze me. Every time I need help with anything, there you are! No diluting? Could I do the same as you do with the newspaper to papertowl? What about treating the snake itsself? or should I worry about that with this method? Would the oil around the top of the cage (it is a 20 gal high I think, she can't come close to reaching the top, she has tried LOL) help from them getting out? Thanks again!
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

>>You never cease to amaze me.

Sort of ironic I've been lurking on the BP forum recently.

You do not dilute the spray.

>>Could I do the same as you do with the newspaper to papertowl?

I have also done this with paper towel. I tried to look up the recommended dosage for snakes. I seem to remember one second of spraying per square foot of substrate. I never sprayed this long.

You should find that information before spraying.

>>What about treating the snake itsself?

No, soak the snake in water with a small drop of dish soap to remove most of the mites. I have also used a bit of vegetable oil.

Do not spray your snake. I have seen siezuers from use of Permethrin. The cause was due to species sensitivity or inadequate drying.

>>Would the oil around the top of the cage help from them getting out? Thanks again!

I would probably spray the upper rim of the cage lightly.
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Current snakes:

1.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.4 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

::Sort of ironic I've been lurking on the BP forum recently.

>> You knew I needed you, it is built into your subconcious now! LOL

::I have also done this with paper towel. I tried to look up the recommended dosage for snakes. I seem to remember one second of spraying per square foot of substrate. I never sprayed this long.

::You should find that information before spraying.

>>If I just did a realy quick once-over I should be OK right? Where would I look to find that information?

::No, soak the snake in water with a small drop of dish soap to remove most of the mites. I have also used a bit of vegetable oil.

:o not spray your snake. I have seen siezuers from use of Permethrin. The cause was due to species sensitivity or inadequate drying.

>>OK I didn't think I should go directly with the spray, I was just wondering if I should treat the snake at all. Good tips then.

::I would probably spray the upper rim of the cage lightly.

>> OK thanks! I will do that then, I have a bunch of enclosures I guess I will just give her a mild semi-soapy bath and rub her down with some oil and keep her in something different untill I let the cage air out from spraying to top edge and then put the treated papertowl in (after dry time) and then back she goes!
Do you think I might be able to take care of them with one treatment? I only saw 7 and I killed 5, 2 were on her face, 4 on the papertowl, and one on her tail, which I saw then it fell and I killed it given these were almost all at seperate times. I haven't seen any besides the 2 on her face since last night, every time I go in the room I stare at the cage for a few minutes making sure I don't see more.

>>Thanks again! You are amazing!
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

Also, what are your thoughts on This for future prevenative purposes?
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

What are your thoughts on Reptile Relief? My fiance picked some up on his way home, and I have heard good things about it, but I just wanted some opinions before I use it. Thanks
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

I've heard lice treatments work like "Nix". And you can get them everywhere! =) Water it down alot and spray it on her enclosure and her. Believe it or not, but its safe to use and will kill all the mites. You might want to search this forum to get the exact thread.

Good Luck
~Andrea
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1.0 02' Surinam Redtail "Vegas"
0.1 03' Normal BP "Kamaria"
0.1 04' High Yellow Reduced BP "Kanoni"
1.1 03' & 04' 100% Het Albino BP "Cosmo" & "Kalos"
0.1 Tuxedo Cat "Nickie"
0.1 Rescued Mouse
1.0 Betta "Pearl"

"The best place to find a helping hand is at the end of your own arm." unknown

Thanks for the tip. If Chris can't find more info I will try Nix. I know we have used it on lice for my niece (don't you HATE public schools!) and it worked decently. We had to use a stronger one the last time (Doc said it was a new species after about 4 different brands did nothing, we had to get a prescription!) but I think that one would be WAY to strong.
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

Krystal,

The vegetable oil spread on the snake will be enough to kill the mites on her, use that after a good long soak. It suffocates the mites.

I too have used Nix to rid a cage of mites but I would not spray it on the snake, just the enclosure and let it dry. No use risking your snakes health by spraying it with a chemical when the vegetable oil takes care of the mites on the snake.
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Jeff West

Thanks, I am going to take Chrisadvice and spray the top edge of the gace and the papertowl and let it air out while I give her a warn bath and rub her down with the oil. Thanks for your concearn!
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

Chris' advice* and cage*
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

Simple, return her. Why even bother de-miting her if you can return her and use your "petstore money" to buy 2 maybe 3 HEALTHY CAPTIVE HATCHED balls from REPUTABLE breeders. Keywords: captive hatched.

And where does that leave the snake? The money is already spent, her boy friend is attached to it and it is in the snakes best interest to stay with them and be treated. Sometimes it isn't just about the money.
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Jeff West

..............on a snake,it's a good way to poison and kill your snake! chris is right about the bedding spray,it's used for the enclosure only,it has a lasting effect and will kill mites for some time.reptile relief works best on the snake itself,it kills on contact and has NO lasting effect.i put the RR on my heat tape and warmed it up a bit,then sprayed the bottom of a small tub and put in the snake,this gives him coverage on the belly.i then held the spray bottle about 12" above the snake and sprayed and the mist covers the topside of the animal.i called the company and they told me spraying the head area is not harmful to the snake,and i found this to be true,you can deceide for yourself.i also used small pieces of prozap pest strips in small pill viles inbetween the tubs in the rack.they were gone in a day or so.i think most people use one method and find it difficult to remove the mites,a more agressive approach worked well for me.have fun!

Thanks, that helps alot. I am happy to hear from someone who has used the RR. Do you think I should still giver her a warm bath with a drop of dish soap before the RR? What about the vegtable oil the day after or something? I plan on getting the "Stop Lice" for the substrate and rim of the cage, but don't plan on using it for her. Thanks again!
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

Correct, it's not about the money, it's about recieving product that was unhealthy. If you went in to "Who cares what pet store" and bought a hamster, only to find out when you brought him home that he had fleas, would you treat it, out fo pocket, or take it back and DEMAND your money back? When you buy something form a pet store, you are under the assumption (guarantee) that what you have purchased is in good health and otherwise disease-free. This was not the case. If you would rather treat the animal than take it back, woudl you be interested in some swamp land that I've got for sale in Florida, great future site for condos..........

::Correct, it's not about the money, it's about recieving product that was unhealthy. If you went in to "Who cares what pet store" and bought a hamster, only to find out when you brought him home that he had fleas, would you treat it, out fo pocket, or take it back and DEMAND your money back?

>> I would probably treat it too, although fleas are easier to spot and I probably wouldn't have bought it there anyway. I'm sorry, I have a love for animals, and I would rather treat them than know they are suffering. If I had the time, money, and ability, I would buy/adopt any mistreated, unhealthy, niglected, etc... animals and rehab them and either keep them or find them proper homes.

::When you buy something form a pet store, you are under the assumption (guarantee) that what you have purchased is in good health and otherwise disease-free.

>> Nope. I know petstores are pretty sucky generally and most are pretty unknowledgeable about herps.

::This was not the case. If you would rather treat the animal than take it back, woudl you be interested in some swamp land that I've got for sale in Florida, great future site for condos..........

Actually I think you went a little overboard with that one. Comparing something living to a piece of swamp land? and honestly if I liked Flordia and had the money I might have bought it, then noone would end up destroying it for a mall or somehting killing all the herps and other animals abiding there.
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

Actually, the expression, "I've got some swamp land in Florida" though terribly outdated, is a jovial way of saying that there is a sucker born every minute. I'll be honest though, my choc. lab is 2.5 yrs. old and was diagnosed with sever degenerative arthritis at 6 mos. and I had the ability to return her to the breeder for either a refund or a trade. I kept her as the attachment is too great, as wobbly as she is, she's the love of my life. I was playing devils advocate I suppose, though it really does light a fire under my a$$ to hear of pet stores selling WC mite-ridden reptiles.

Yes, but exactly as you love your lab, we love this snake. We just coulden't give her up. You understand if you went through the same thing with your dog. There is many different ways to get mites, there is no saying they are WC (although I am not saying they're not). It could be one snake that had them and passed them on, a bad batch of feeders, anything.
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

Boajeff hit the nail right on the head. The money we paid is nothing, yes we could have got (for the prices I paid for my CH babies last year) 2 CH babies and ALMOST paid for shipping too, but he has his heart set on this one, once he saw her he knew she was his. We went back and got her and he is already attached. She is staying. She is better off here and I coulden't put her back in a bad situation (even though the petstore we got her from was one of the best herp-wise I have seen). I would rather spend more money and treat her and have her than just throw her back. We like her, and she is worth every penny, even if "she" turns out to be a he.
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

"One of the best herp-wise" and she has mites? Time to raise your standards sweetheart...

No, I realize the fact that she had mites makes them not perfect. Has no decent breeder went through an animal with mites? I bet most of them if not all have. It is unavoidable sometimes. I never said they were perfect either, just the best I have seen in a PET STORE so far. They did have a few things that needed to be changed, but not NEARLY as many as other pet stores. Just stateing. Yes I did think about passing up on buying there because of the simple fact that they are a pet store and you can't fully trust them, but "she" was a good looking lively snake and my fiance was already set on having her. She is worth it to us.
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

I hope this is not too late. Soak your snake. Make sure it's dry. Then rub it down with olive oil. The oil is natural and won't harm the snake but suffocates the mites. Simple as that, no nasty chemicals. I had to deal with mites on iguanas for a while. And I used olive oil as a precaution for my snakes not to get them. They never did. If you don't want mites to escape and infect your other snakes, Coat the top rim of the cage with vaseline. Too slippery for them to get past.
Good luck. I hate mites!!!!