My personal opinion is that you have a toxicity issue directly related to the Provent a Mite. I have seen neurological issues brought on by excessive heat and they typically manifest themselves in the form of a very lethargic snake, not one that is overly active. These snakes were also unable to drink on their own unlike this kingsnake. Although I believe the snake was overheated, it doesn’t sound like it was to the point of physiological damage. Injury during probing to the degree that it would cause this behavior is highly unlikely and would also definitely show some blood loss. The thrashing and jerky movements and mouth agape all would indicate to me a form of neurological damage brought on by a chemical toxicity issue.

One rule that should be strictly followed with the use of Provent a Mite is to not spray it directly on the reptile. You knew not to do this, but the spraying of the bark substrate could be a problem for very small snakes. The bark can absorb the spray and hold it for extending periods, slowly releasing it over time. The bark could also delay the drying time as well. Lab studies during the initial development phase of this material showed that PAM did cause the death of some small reptiles when it came into direct contact with the body. Most survived but there were a few deaths recorded. With larger reptiles I feel it is fine to follow the directions with regards to spraying the interior of the cage and letting it dry, and keeping water bowls out for a day or so. However, with smaller colubrids, I feel it is best to allow the PAM to stay in the cage for about an hour after spraying and then wipe the residual up with paper towels before putting the animal and bedding back in. This has proven safe and effective with the smaller snakes. The other procedure that can be done concurrently is to spray the exterior of the cage as well, with the residual killing any mites moving from or into the cage. This completely eliminates any possibility of direct contact with the chemical for really small reptiles. Please let us know how things turn out.

Kelly

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