How do I identify/prevent parasites?

[Medusa]

I am a new ball python owner and would like to take preventative measures to make sure my new snake doesn't get affected. What can I do to prevent this and how can I identify them if they do show up?

[JeffJ]

A snake will not get parasite randomly. they usually come from the wild. CB snakes dont usually carry them and if they do they rarely reoccur once treated.

Runny, and very foul smelling fecal matter is a sign of parasites. so is regurgitation, and lack of appetite for extended periods. All new snakes should have a fecal float done by a vet its cheap and it tells you right away if they have a parasite or not. and if it has a clean bill of health after the fecal is examined then your chances of hetting them after the fact are very slim.

As for mites. you will know if you have them and they are easily treated with a few different products out there. i prefer Provent-A-Might as it works wonders but, it can be rather poisonous to your snake and even other pets depending what you have so read the direction very carefully.

[Medusa]

A snake will not get parasite randomly. they usually come from the wild. CB snakes dont usually carry them and if they do they rarely reoccur once treated.

Runny, and very foul smelling fecal matter is a sign of parasites. so is regurgitation, and lack of appetite for extended periods. All new snakes should have a fecal float done by a vet its cheap and it tells you right away if they have a parasite or not. and if it has a clean bill of health after the fecal is examined then your chances of hetting them after the fact are very slim.

As for mites. you will know if you have them and they are easily treated with a few different products out there. i prefer Provent-A-Might as it works wonders but, it can be rather poisonous to your snake and even other pets depending what you have so read the direction very carefully.

Thank you for the quick reply.

[JeffJ]

Thank you for the quick reply.

no problem.

[XGetSome]

JeffJ nailed it. youll find the mass majority of people will agree with his recommendations word for word, good luck.

[kc261]

The only thing I would add to JeffJ's post is to clarify that provent-a-mite is probably THE best product for treating snake mites.

Most of the products that are marketed for treating snake mites will kill the live mites, but do nothing about the eggs, so the mites will come back. Provent-a-mite leaves an active residue, that kills the new mites as soon as they hatch, so usually one treatment gets rid of the mites entirely.

Some other products may be just as effective, but have not been tested for use on reptiles.

[Jason Bowden]

To prevent any outbreaks or problems:CLEAN-CLEAN-CLEAN
Kind of like keeping an awesome aquarium setup. If the snake poops or urinates, clean it up asap.
I don't think you will run in to many problems if you keep things clean and provide your snake with its requirements. I would quarantine any new snake added to your collection in an other room for about a month.
Also keep some guide books handy if you need to ID any problems.

[dr del]

Hi,

It is also worth stressing the importance of a good quarantine regime to make sure that, if your new snake does have problems, they do not get the chance to affect the rest of the collection.


dr del

[Shadera]

This is a great book dealing with reptile parasites:
http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-...4929173&sr=1-1

[Medusa]

One more quick question. Can my snake get any internal parasites from the mice I feed her?