Mites on new BP :(

[Jaust]

Everything was going great, I got a pair of Enchi Clowns and a pair of Desert Ghost Pinstripes. I set them up with Reptile Prime bedding in their quarantine rack, and even got them all to take 2 meals. Life was good.

While doing my husbandry check, I noticed some bumps under the scales of my new clown and decided to poke at them. A mite crawled out. Life was no longer good.

I ran to the local pet shop and picked up some mite spray (natural choice or something) and proceeded to completely clean out the tubs. Sprayed down a paper towel with the mite spray and wiped all the snakes down (total of 6 in the quarantine rack). So far, the only 2 with any noticeable mites are the clowns. Hopefully I contained it, but will continue to clean out everything weekly.

I'm pretty sure I caught this early on, as there was only a total of 5-6 mites on the snakes in total. (and none of them were large or engorged) If anyone has experience or advice, I'm all ears.

[Spechal]

There was a fairly extensive thread on this the other day that you might find useful ... https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...255468-Mites-(

[WhompingWillow]

Just saw this and wanted to say good luck! The reptile spray seemed really effective, and as did soaking. So far we haven't seen any more live evidence of mites on Clark. Will do a follow-up PAM treatment for good measure, but here's hoping they're gone for good.

[Spechal]

Just an FYI, I've been using Nat. Chem. and new substrate and tubs on the boa I recently acquired for at least two weeks now and while running her through my hands after a bath tonight and getting the stuck talk shed off, I noticed what I can only assume to be a massive amount of eggs on my hands. I hope PAM works as well as advertised and may buy some, but just because you can't see the mites anymore ... eggs.

[Jaust]

I hope PAM works as well as advertised and may buy some, but just because you can't see the mites anymore ... eggs.

I actually ordered some PAM (prevent-a-mite) the other day, but it doesnt arrive for another week.
2 days after using Natural Choice I noticed the mites were all over the substrate (but not on the snake) so hopefully they didn't get to mate before dying. Still have yet to see a mite that was full of blood.

Plan on feeding today, treating this weekend and then again after PAM gets in. Stupid battle lol

Side note, everywhere I go emphasises that mites are a "rare occurance" yet in the same line will tell you how common they are from ordering reptiles online or from reptile shows.. Is this because folks fear being labled as "having mites" or is it really that rare?

[Spechal]

I actually ordered some PAM (prevent-a-mite) the other day, but it doesnt arrive for another week.
2 days after using Natural Choice I noticed the mites were all over the substrate (but not on the snake) so hopefully they didn't get to mate before dying. Still have yet to see a mite that was full of blood.

Plan on feeding today, treating this weekend and then again after PAM gets in. Stupid battle lol

Side note, everywhere I go emphasises that mites are a "rare occurance" yet in the same line will tell you how common they are from ordering reptiles online or from reptile shows.. Is this because folks fear being labled as "having mites" or is it really that rare?

My first 9 snakes had no mites; . My last one was from a box store and did have mites and I was informed by their staff shortly after I purchased him but refused to return him and opted to treat myself. I would say it’s rare, but new snakes need quarantine to be on the safe side. I have also heard of various brands of subs hate having mites and to only buy kiln dried or to freeze the bag before use. 4 from a box store we’re fine, 4 from a breeder were fine, 1 from a box store (my boa) already had mites at purchase.


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[Alter-Echo]

They are annoyingly common actually, especially on bps for some reason. If you keep a lot of snakes, it's not a matter of if, but when you get a snake with them, I have 12 snakes all together and 2 had mites, both bps. The good news is that mites aren't the apocalypse bringer most people make them out to be as long as you catch them before their numbers get really high. Good quarantine and a good eye prevent them from becoming too much of an issue.

[AnnieHeart]

Awe, I'm so sorry! Wishing you and the snake good luck!

[Bogertophis]

Alter-Echo, I suspect the reason mites are so common in BPs is two-fold:

-They seem more common because so many people are keeping BPs and talking about their pets. And pet stores always sell them. So that makes sense...

-BPs are often bred & kept in racks, where mites can easily infect them all. That is but one reason I'm not a fan of racks. I know they are "practical", but
really bad things can spread quickly when reptiles are in close contact. The only times I've ever dealt with mites was many years ago, 2 different new snakes,
one bought locally and one (a BP) that was shipped to me; each time, mites never spread to any of my other snakes (and I've had a houseful for many years!),
largely because my snakes are housed in glass tanks that are not close together. Even a professional zoo-keeper from the reptile house @ L.A. Zoo commented
favorably on that fact during his visit. It really matters. And when you take a look at pet stores, again, reptiles can all share their parasites & pathogens easily.
(The other reason I don't like racks is that to me it feels like 'ware-housing' & you lose touch with what's going on...you can't fix what you don't notice. And to me, snakes are pets that I love seeing.)

I feel for the misery that so many of you go thru treating for mites, not to mention what the snakes themselves have to put up with. For me, mites really have
been "rare", even though I had quite a few snakes coming & going.