Bad Choice...

[habbott]

Hey guys. I know I'm going to get some heat for this, so let me explain first: My very first ball python I got when he was a baby, and he had mites. At that time, the pet store suggested I coat him in mineral oil after giving him a betadine bath. This worked perfectly, no problems..no bad shes, nothing adverse happened. So I had two full grown balls shipped last week, and both came in with mites. (I have 7 snakes, so a mite outbreak is NOT what I need!) So, seeing as it worked like a charm on my first experience with mites, I did the same procedure. So, I'm guessing you all know what happened next...scales softened up. REALLY bad. The poor things are shedding scale by scale. It's all over their enclosures, All over them, it's really bad. I've been bathing them every day and putting damp towels in their enclosures to try to slough off the scales..but it's been a few days now and its still pretty bad. I can't see how they're comfortable like this. So my question is, what can I do to help them? I've bathed/rubbed them down with towels, tried rubbing them off with my hands...I feel so bad for them. PLEASE HELP!
(Again, I know now this was NOT the way to go, I just assumed since it worked like a charm last time, and had no chemicals, it was a better option..)

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

[KMG]

Double post just make things confusing. Your answers will come.

Other post = http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...448-Bad-Choice

I think if it were me I would not be trying to rub the scales off by hand or with a towel. If it is as bad as you make it sound I would go to a rep vet. That said I have never experienced anything like this.

Pictures?

[KMG]

Double post just make things confusing. Your answers will come.

Other post = http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...=1#post2195924

[habbott]

I can't get any pictures right now because I managed to break my camera. Also, I have no idea how to use forums so I thought I posted in the wrong spot. This is the first forum I've joined so I'm still trying to figure it all out.

[JLC]

I merged the threads and deleted the duplicate post, so all fixed now.

Wish it were that easy to fix snakes, but I don't think things are too serious. Not fun, but not life threatening to the snakes. My suggestion would be to keep their enclosures simple, clean, and dry. Try to keep the ambient humidity up, but keep the substrate dry. Paper towels, small water bowl that they can't tip, hide. That's it. Then leave them alone and let them go through the natural process of sloughing. It won't be pretty, but they'll get through it and be fine.

In the meantime, order some Provent-a-Mite and/or research other successful mite remedies that don't include mineral oil. Good luck.

[KMG]

I can't get any pictures right now because I managed to break my camera. Also, I have no idea how to use forums so I thought I posted in the wrong spot. This is the first forum I've joined so I'm still trying to figure it all out.

No problem. The mods fixed it for you.

I post pics by uploading to Photobucket and then you just copy and paste the img link in the text and the pic appears in your post. You might be able to use your phone depending on what you have.

[habbott]

Okay thanks for fixing it, haha I will EVENTUALLY get the hang of this...computers are not my strong suit. I will try to get some pics. Right now, they're on paper towel, I have a damp towel lining the back of the enclosures in the hopes that they will scrub them off, and I'm misting more frequently than I usually do. I bought some jurassi-mite, which is all natural (so I know it won't kill the eggs... ugh). I don't know why, seeing as everyone seems to use it without a problem, but I'm terrified to use anything with chemicals in it! They're both active and curious, so I think it's just an annoyance..they don't seem to be too stressed, thank God. Thanks for the input, I really appreciate it! Will try to post pics asap. (Again, not good at technology, you'd think for a 22 year old I would be more adept..)

[habbott]

Alright, I have some pics, but again, I am useless with technology. I have them on my IPad and saved on my desktop, how do I get them here?

[habbott]

[habbott]

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