Is PAM really safe?

[hu4561]

I have a young ball python and I've been battling mites and decided to give PAM (prevent-a-mite) a try. I gave some newspapers a good few sweeping sprays across all sides with Pam. they weren't wet but maybe damp/it was a good coat.. well I let the newspapers dry completely for 6 hours on a rack outside my room and put them inside the cage and then my snake/her waterdish and hide back in on the papers..well to be honest I'm a bit worried.. is PAM completely safe when used correctly? And is it easy to use too much?

[BeelzeBall.]

you don't have to coat anything, just a light spray would do. its very toxic but it is safe when used correctly.

[hu4561]

Well like I said the paper wasn't saturated or wet .. I just probably did more than the one second per square foot .. I've heard of people double treating newspaper.. but I want to be safe so should I remove the snake? Or am I just being paranoid.. I know the stuff is highly toxic.. but I'm also a worrisome person lol

[Sauzo]

I was told by Bob that the stuff is effective for at least a month. They list it at 2 weeks because that is what the EPA made them state when they were applying for their registration on it. It gave a 2 week residual on a sandpit used outdoors for Komodo dragons. Indoors, he said they found it lasts several months. So really you don't need to apply a ton and Bob told me usually 1 application is enough to kill off the mites. What I have heard from some people is they pretreat papers by spraying them and then just stacking them up. Then, once a week, throw out the old paper, clean the cage out and then put in new treated paper. The key is make sure to remove anything that the mites can hide in and lay eggs like thermometers and anything else that has nooks and crannies like hides or water bowls. What I do is about every 2 months, I will spray a rag with PAM and wipe down the outsides of my cages just as a precaution if somehow I bring home hotchhikers. Bob told me that a lot of guys do that as well as the stuff lasts several months indoor when not exposed to rain or weather. One thing I will say is, I would leave the water bowl out of the cage 24 hours after spraying it down inside the cage. The stuff is drawn to water. I've been told by several people to leave the water bowls out for the night after spraying until it is 1000% dry. the snake wont die with no water for 1 day but they can if they drink water with PAM in it.

And yes, PAM can kill your snake. But if used correctly, its fine. Just go lightly on it. Bob told me, you don't need to soak the cage with it. A little goes a long way. Also if you have any feeder insects or insect pets, remove them from the room as the fumes will kill them. It seems just wiping down surfaces with it wont kill bugs in the room as like I said, I wipe down my cages every couple months and I got a dubia roach colony in the same room and they are fine. The mist from the spray though will travel and kill them.

[hu4561]

A lot of good information In there! Thanks Sauzo, I already removed the papers just to be safe and I'll do a much lighter spray tomorrow and let the papers dry as I'm at work 😛 Thanks for the fast replies guys and have a great morning!

[Freakie_frog]

When used properly PAM is the safest most effective mite prevention and treatment I've ever used. I use it after every show or anything I get a new animal from someone. This coupled with a topical treatment like Reptile Relief is a perfect way to keep your collection parasite free no matter what you do. The thing to remember with PAM is to not use treat the tub and bedding but treat the rack.

[cchardwick]

I've seen big breeders spray their cypress bedding in the tub lightly, then wait a few minutes and put the snake in along with fresh water. Easy peasy.

[bcr229]

Permethrin, the active ingredient in PAM, is safe for most snake species as long as it is not ingested. This is why it's so important that the product be dry on the substrate and in the enclosure before your snake comes into contact with it.

There are supposedly a few species, such as natrix natrix, that do not react well to permethrin. I've also read that BRB's don't tolerate it well but I've never had an issue using it for mine when I had an outbreak.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Like anything else it is safe if used properly according to directions.