Needs HELP!

[CB1125]

hey im new to BP.net. today at the reptile show i bought a female pastel and was told she is like two to three months. i was also told to wash everything in bleach and water including the water bowl thinking about it now was that a good idea? after putting her in the tank she yawned the last one i had did that frequently and was told to take him bakc so i did i had him for two weeks i recently got a call from petsmart saying he died i dont want this to happen all over again. also i need help on a name. any help is much appreciated!!!

[bsash]

For my enclosures and fake decorations I use a half bleach half water mix. I will scrub the enclosures and decorations with a sponge very well, then rinse very well and dry with a towel (I find microfiber towels absorbs better, but it does not have to be microfiber). I personally do not use any real wood any more because that is where my last mite infestation came from, but you could bake any real wood in the oven to kill anything on it. As for water or food dishes for any of my animals I would never use bleach on them, I just wash them with dish soap and rinse them.

[CB1125]

but since i already used the bleach water mix on the water bowl will it hurt her. i let it soak in plan water afterwards and dryed it really good with a towel.

what do i do if i see her do that yawning thing again???

[stevepoppers]

If it's dry, the bleach won't harm her.

The previous snake probably had a respiratory infection. It's normal for them to yawn occasionally, but if it's very frequent, along with strange breathing sounds (clicking, wheezing, whistling, etc.), mucus, stuff like that, then it's a big problem and you need to get it to a vet and fix your husbandry issue that caused it.

It's not surprising a pet store snake was sick. They generally don't take good care of their reptiles.

[kitedemon]

You should not be able to smell bleach after it is rinsed. Bleach kills. Everything if the concentrations are hi enough. Check everything by smell. Personally I use vinegar instead of bleach it is easier to wash away. It kills almost as many nastys as bleach does and is safer to use.

[Zenllama]

Ok, if you think that bleach is still present in any quantity after a wash down, put everything out in direct sun light for 4 to 6 hours. Sunlight destroys bleach. Household bleach is a chlorine which is approximately 3–6% sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), This compound is extremely good at killing nastys but is very easily destroyed by UV light. That includes UV basking lights(may take longer than sun, due to direct sunlight is much more potent). As far as Bsash saying and I quote "For my enclosures and fake decorations I use a half bleach half water mix." That is fine if you want to oxidize steel (rust). Most people find that a 10-1 (10 parts hot water to 1 part bleach) mixture will kill most all microbes and 99% of all parasites.
Look, when in doubt PLEASE CALL A VET. Please don't waste your time or your snakes on pet store idiots that get paid $8 an hour whether your snake lives or dies.

I wish you the best of luck with your new snake, but if you think something is wrong call a good reptile vet! it's worth the money compared to letting your snake suffer or die.

[CB1125]

okay thanks!! and trust me i will never buy anything from a petstore again

[reptilebrett]

okay thanks!! and trust me i will never buy anything from a petstore again

now wait a minute, in general yes, most pet stores have no clue how to take care of their reptiles, however, I needed a job and now I work for petsmart and all of the reptiles are taken care of. its all in who gets hired

[Zenllama]

now wait a minute, in general yes, most pet stores have no clue how to take care of their reptiles, however, I needed a job and now I work for petsmart and all of the reptiles are taken care of. its all in who gets hired

Very true. I would not say all pet store employees are idiots. but if you work at a pet store then you have to yield to the fact that most of the employees there, even at your shop should not give advice about sick reptiles. And on the same note you should agree that there is no substitute for the well educated advice of a qualified reptile Vet or specialist. I have actually met some very knowledgeable pet store clerks. But if I think that one of my snakes has a R.I., parasite issue, chemical poisoning, or environmental stressor (agent, condition, or other stimulus that causes stress to an organism) I will without a doubt consult a person that has devoted his or her life to the study of reptiles. Hands Down.

I meant not to step on any toes, just to give to most sound advice I can.

[CB1125]

thats true. what should i do to be able to tell if they know anything or not cause the last girl i bought i ball from seemed like she knew alot about them in general but not alot on that paticular one which that snake ended up sick