I need some assistance with 2 unexpected balls

So I've never taken in rescues. Today at work someone came to me who found 2 ball pythons his daughter was hiding from him. He was going to dispose of them more than likely or they'd end up with someone else who didn't know their care. Long story short I told him I'd take them and either keep them or find them a home to give them more time. I know what usually comes with bringing in rescues, but now I'm freaked out. They were in a 40 gallon breeder tank with a heat lamp. They were very cold and you can see the mites crawling on them. I'm terrified of infecting my other snakes. I only have 1 room with 2 racks in it but I'm using space in both. My options are to either put them on the very bottom rack and do my best not to cross contaminate, or...well I don't know what else. I feel like they're crawling on me! Ahhhhh! Best mite treatment treatment plan? Thanks in advance

I wouldnt take them in if you dont have space. I definitely wouldnt put then in my racks. I would find either somewhere else like a friends house with no snakes or a rescue capable of taking them in. I recently took in a rescue boa but i had a full day at my sister in laws hoise to examine it for mites or other issues. Luckily it is healthy but just underfed..

Whatever you do, do not put them into the same room as your reptiles! Putting them in the same rack is already cross contaminating. The mites can and will travel up the rack as does other airborne illnesses.
Always quarantine in a separate space.

Is there anyway to have the rescues in a stand alone tub in a different room? Or as mentioned, in a different house?


For mites. Since they are infested, bathe the snakes in warm water with a few drops of Dawn Dish Soap. Rub the snakes down to get the excess mites off. Leave the snakes in the water for 15 minutes. Don't fill the water more than half way up their bodies so they don't drown themselves.

Get Provent-a-Mite (PAM) and treat their enclosure. Then use the bare minimum set up: paper towel substrate, water bowl, and hide.
PAM will usually take care of the mites on it's own, but you can bathe the snakes with dish soap every other day or so.

If you don't have PAM, you can get NIX lice treatment from your local pharmacy.

While you're at it, I would personally treat the rest of your collection as a preventative too. And whatever you do, do not handle those snakes before handling yours. If you handle the rescues, change your clothes and take a shower afterwards.

I know I shouldn't have done it. My heart just got the best of me. :( I'm trying to find a rescue. Right now they are in a tub with a lid. Not in the rack. I may have a spare heat lamp but I need to keep them warm until I can figure this out. I'm kicking myself for sure.

I would place them away from everything.. i dont care the condition of an animal, you have to protect all the other babies you have.. find an alternate location ASAP

They are in the kitchen at the moment. Trying to find a way to heat them. This is why I need an extra thermostat. Grrrrrrrr for being unprepared and dumb. Thanks for all the help guys.

I use heat lamps at the moment but want to change ASAP. Do you have a pic of the tank? My 40 gallon breeder tanks require a 150 watt bulb to heat correctly on a dimmer lamp of course. I use Zoo - med mite spray. Never needed it for more than wood mites though (darn aspen). 150 watt bulb makes the ambient day temp in my 40's hold at about 84-85 with a hot spot around 90, cold side at 79. That is with my house temp at 69-71degrees. Humidity seems to hold at 48- 55%. Just a thought, pics would help.

It's not ideal but it would will work.

After mite treatment, how long do I need to quatantine?

In a pinch, you can use a lamp dimmer to regulate a heating pad or heat lamp. But keep watch of the temp very carefully. If your ambient temps fluxuate a lot, the dimmer won't be safe. So keep ambient temps very stable.

You can also pour hot water into water bottles and put those water bottles in with the snakes in the mean time while you get everything you need.


For QT, I personally do 6 months. But most people just do 3 months.