Cleaned Hide, now Snake won't use it.

[bptm302]

Hi there,

Yesterday, I did a bleech clean on the plastic box and interiors in which my royal python resides as-well-as rubbing oil on my snake as I was advised to do due to a mite scare (I acted as soon as I saw them as the internet gave me a right scare about it). I thoroughly rinsed everything and having handled her today, she seemed no different to handle and the mites seem to have gone but since this she hasn't been using her hides.

- Was this the right thing to do for the mites?
- Why does she not use her hide which she spent most her time in before this? (Surely this slightly scary experience would make her want to hide?)

Thanks for your time

[The Serpent Merchant]

Does the hide smell like bleach?

Are your temperatures correct?

Where is she in the tank?

[piedplus]

Could be that being mite free makes her feel like being out for a while....

[Slim]

What kind of oil did you use on your snake?

[bptm302]

Temperature and humidity are all fine. I used sunflower oil, nothing smelt of bleech and she is in a plastic box (which yesterday she was circling and looking for escape routes I think) within a viv which she will be moved into when she's a little bigger.

She is however in her hide this morning, so I am happy.

Nonetheless, was sunflower oil and bleech cleaning a satisfactory method of getting rid of mites? I also bathed her in some warm water after. (Are mites these tiny tiny little black things that crawl around on the snake?)

Thanks for all your replies,
Regards

[ballpythonluvr]

I would not use any more type of oil on the snake, it is really bad for their scales. Where are you located? Depending on where you are located you might me able to order a can of Provent A Mite. This is a spray used to treat the snakes enclosure. You DO NOT spray it on the snake.

[rebelrachel13]

Mites are indeed the tiny crawly black dots. The best way to get rid of mites is to clean the enclosure, get new substrate, and use Provent-A-Mite on everything while watching the snake closely for any mites that may have latched on.

And your snake is probably just getting used to the clean smell. My snakes act like their world's been turned upside down after any cleaning.

[bptm302]

Hi,
I'm based in London.
Surely you would also need something to treat the snake with, not just the enclosure?
How did the mites appear? How are they prevented?

(When shes out her hide again I will double check for mites again, hopefully wont need another traumatic de-mite experience)

Thanks for your time and replies,
Regards

[rebelrachel13]

You treat the snake by removing the mites and treating the cage. There are some direct "spray-on" mite killers that you can buy from pet stores or online sellers, but most people don't trust them a bit. You'd be better off giving her a bath, just with water - generally the mites fall off.

The mites appear from an outside source like substrate or branches. If it turns out that you do have mites, you'll also want to replace your bedding and use paper towels until the mites have cleared up. This way it's not as easy for them to reproduce or hide from you.

Good luck. Glad to see someone so concerned and inquisitive about their pet.

[jcoylesr76]

i have used a 1/10 bleach/water mix for years with no effects as long as the items and cage where completely dry and odor free, i have not used sunflower oil, but i do use Extra Virgin Olive Oil as an aid with mites, when i have the issues to help suffocate the mites on the animal, but only then and no other times, prevent-a-mite is a great aid as well and although it is a great aid when you have mites, when used properly, it helps prevent the re-infestation later on.