Reptile & Amphibian Forums

About a week ago I purchased a Cali kingsnake that's roughly a year old. A few days before I took him home,while I was at the store, the service rep. sprayed his cage down with Provent-A-Mite. I held the snake about 10-15 min before I put him back. /Fast Forward/ Since he's been home he's developed this weird twitching/convulsing that affects the upper 1/4 of his body, including his head. At times, when he's cruising the tank, he jerks violently with no warning(as if he felt a sharp pain), or he stiffens and curves the upper 1/4 of his body as if he's trying to "re-align" something. Also, when I'm holding him and I touch at the end of the upper 1/4 of it's body, in the heart region,THIS PARTICULAR AREA invariably triggers this "convulsing." However, I doubt it has anything to do with it's heart. I didn't become aware of this behavior until the day after I fed him the first time. I've had him about 2 weeks. He won't eat anymore. Perhaps he "tweeked" something when he constricted the mouse. Maybe the P-Mite got to him. He otherwise exhibits no signs of disease or sickness. Oh yeah, he doesn't like to move much anymore when I hold him. It's as if it hurts to move. I noticed the movement triggers the convulsing. My temps. are ideal. Maybe it's a broken rib? However, I don't recall anything falling on him. As a matter of fact, the tank is set up in such a way the it's impossible for something to "fall." So I know that isn't it. Is it a muscle spasm? Why won't he eat? I've never seen anything like it. He still flicks his tongue and is very alert. My hunch is it's a broken rib, but I don't know. Help!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was the Provent a Mite definately. It causes nerve problems. When you use that stuff, you can't spray it on glass or plastic (because it does'nt dry on these materials). Only on the bedding. And you need to let it dry for a day or so. That is your problem for sure. Your snake may die or possibly recover, depending on the amount of the chemical it was in contact with. Definately a big mistake by the guy in the store. Hope this helps. Really nothing you can do for the snake either , but wait and see...mike

I agree, except I spray my aspen-lined aquariums. The directions say spray 18 inches above the enclosure and let sit for about an hour. I let mine sit in the garage an hour then indoors overnight and have never had any problem.

Someone didn't read the directions

TC

>>I agree, except I spray my aspen-lined aquariums. The directions say spray 18 inches above the enclosure and let sit for about an hour. I let mine sit in the garage an hour then indoors overnight and have never had any problem.
>>
>>Someone didn't read the directions
>>
>>TC

TC, do you just let it air out, or do you wipe down the glass surfaces before you re-introduce your snake to the enclosure? Just want to be sure. Thanks!
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3 Corns - Squall (Normal), Freya (Normal), Peyton (Amel)
2 Florida Kings - Thor & Lilith
1 Leucistic Texas Rat Snake - MacLeod

>>>>I agree, except I spray my aspen-lined aquariums. The directions say spray 18 inches above the enclosure and let sit for about an hour. I let mine sit in the garage an hour then indoors overnight and have never had any problem.
>>>>
>>>>Someone didn't read the directions
>>>>
>>>>TC
>>
>>TC, do you just let it air out, or do you wipe down the glass surfaces before you re-introduce your snake to the enclosure? Just want to be sure. Thanks!
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I just let it air out. The key is that it is dry. If the spray is too heavy, it can be moist, and that can be absorbed by the snake. When I first started testing PAM I got it too heavy and put a small snake back in right away, then compounded the error by feeding the snake which dropped the food on the substrate before eating it. That snake died. I learned to be cautious. Since then, I've treated hundreds of cages and haven't had a problem. I always treat my cages after I do a full cleaning and sterilizing them (usually while winterizing), and when I set up a cage for a new snake. PAM works really well if you understand how potent it is. If you get a can that doesn't spray right, if liquid comes out, be very cautious, or send it back. This happens on a rare occasion and is the main problem with a spray, imho.

Good luck...TC

So the snake can inhale small traces of it it just can't ingest or absorb ANY correct?
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0.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1.0 Ball Python "Wilson" (Castaway)
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"
0.0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Onyx"

>>So the snake can inhale small traces of it it just can't ingest or absorb ANY correct?
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No, the snake shouldn't inhale either. If you leave sit for an hour before putting snake in, there won't be any fumes to inhale. People should not inhale the fumes. They are toxic

TC

i use to use provent a mite and never had any ill effects. I used on wood cages and aquariums. In the aquariums i would just give it a quick blast close this lid for a while then open it up to air out for full coverage. I did that in my quarintine cages and my non quarintine cages i used a steralite tub and sprayed newspaper in the tub , closed the lid then at the next cleaning there dry and reay for use. Now i don't use PAM at all i use heatz cat flea and tick powder and sprinkle it under carpet type stuff i use for ground coverage. To make sure it was the PAM you should take the snake to a vet tell him what happened and let them run some tests. It might be something else and might be ableto be saved.

I would never buy a snake that was being treated for mites. Although it is likely that the snake's condition was brought about by the incorrect use of Provent-A-Mite, mites carry diseases and it's possible that the snake is now carrying something.

In any case, buy healthy animals - if it's being treated, it's not healthy.

Tim

The snake is showing obvious symptoms of poisoning. As others have pointed out, the clearly used the PAM incorrectly.

I would take it back to the pet store and ask for my money back. Then take that money and buy yourself a kingsnake from a reputable breeder rather than a petstore that has mite infestations. You will save money and get a healthy snake instead.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

I would never buy a snake that was being treated for mites. It it a good practice to buy only healthy animals - if it's being treated for something, it's not healthy.

I agree with the other posters that the snake's condition was probably caused by the incorrect use of mite treatment. On the other hand, mites can carry diseases, and the snake may be infected with something.

At any rate, buying a snake undergoing mite eradication treatment is a very bad idea.

Tim