Strange ball python behavior! Help!

I am either doing something terribly wrong or I just have bad luck but my snake is showing some very strange signs and they just started happening today. I finally got Provent-A-Mite in the mail and I took her and the water bowl out and sprayed the cage. I sprayed her with the Natural Chemistry Reptile Spray and then soaked her in water since that's what the instructions said but she didn't drink or anything.

After I sprayed the cage with Provent-A-Mite and let it air-dry for about 20 min but remembered I forgot to spray the new bedding and I sprayed that and let that air dry for about 10 min and so I put her back after I let it air dry and I leave for about an hour and I come back and she's rubbing her face against the cage and then keeps opening her mouth (by her water bowl where she usually doesn't hang out) and closing it so I was worried she might be dehydrated so I soaked her again for a little bit and it didn't drink I don't think and so I put her back again and she curls up in her favorite hide and I'm still seeing her rubbing her face and gaping. I don't know what to do.

to treat mites, it is not necessary to use any chemicals directly on the snake. and its risky. PAM, on its own, with good hygiene but without any other chemical products, gets the job done.

im no expert, but your snake seems irritated, and there doesnt seem to be much that can be done.... the smell is dissipated and you gave her another soak. except to hope for the best, and to never again use chemicals directly on your snake, at least not for mite treatment.

When I've used PAM it was not dry in 20 minutes, it usually took several hours - but this was in the summer when the ambient humidity was much higher.

If you're treating for mites your BP shouldn't be on bedding at all. Treat some paper towels with the PAM, allow them to completely dry, and use those as substrate. Keep some pre-treated paper towels on hand so you have dry ones ready to go when your snake makes a mess and you have to replace them.

When using the Reptile Spray my vet recommended spraying it on a paper towel and then wiping the snake with it, rather than spraying the animal. You use less overall, more of what you use ends up on the snake, it's less stressful for the snake (mine hate being sprayed), and you can avoid getting it into the snake's eyes and heat pits. Next time soak the snake, dry the snake, then wipe with the Reptile Spray so it doesn't wash off.

I will be more careful next time with the spray; thanks. Is it okay to leave her in her aspen and stuff now or will it put her in danger? She's stopped doing the mouth thing now

Update: she keeps moving around in her hide too

I would remove the aspen (you can put it in a bag and keep it for later use). Spray some paper towels with PAM and use those as your substrate until you know your snake is mite free (after they dry of course). Use white paper towels without print. The reason for this is so that you can see the mites easier. Your enclosure may still have mite eggs that will hatch and try to re infest your snake. The PAM will kill them once they hatch but not before. When you no longer see any mites on the paper towels, you can switch back to aspen.

I always thought to spray PAM and wait atleast two or three hours before putting the snake back in. I would not even use it since a heard of it causing neuro problems and just use the Reptile Relief.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PghBall

I would remove the aspen(you can put it in a bag and keep it for later use). Spray some paper towels with PAM and use those as your substrate until you know your snake is mite free (after they dry of course). Use white paper towels without print. The reason for this is so that you can see the mites easier. Your enclosure may still have mite eggs that will hatch and try to re infest your snake. The PAM will kill them once they hatch but not before. When you no longer see any mites on the paper towels, you can switch back to aspen.

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Don't keep the bedding, it has mites in it!

Definitely get it on paper towels treated with provent a mite.

Also you need to let the provent a mite dry way more then 10/20 minutes...Not sure of an exact time (few hours at least) because I haven't used it in years, but it should give a dry time on the can...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by coldbloodaddict

Don't keep the bedding, it has mites in it!

Definitely get it on paper towels treated with provent a mite.

Also you need to let the provent a mite dry way more then 10/20 minutes...Not sure of an exact time (few hours at least) because I haven't used it in years, but it should give a dry time on the can...

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I was under the impression that this was fresh aspen bedding that he had treated with PAM, not the old mite infested bedding.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PghBall

I was under the impression that this was fresh aspen bedding that he had treated with PAM, not the old mite infested bedding.

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Either way not worth the extra hassle.




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