Lethargic Snake - When somethings wrong you know it

Any advice would be most welcome.
My BP has recently just finished his shed and didn't eat during this time which is no problem but I have recently found mites on him and I have no idea where he got them from. I have cleaned the viv changed the substrate sprayed inside the viv and all decorations with Callington mite spray and all seems to be good now the mites have gone but my BP seems to be very lethargic, I know they are not the most active of animals but when something is wrong you know its wrong. He does not move hardly at all and if I hold him for a while and put him back in his tank he just stays there. Will the mite spray do this to him and its just taking time for my BP to shake off the effects or could there be something else. Its is feed day tomorrow and I am fairly certain he will not take it again.
Nothing has changed in his heating or set up so I might be reading to much into this.

I am not familiar with that mite spray. Does it have any warning on it?

Many times during mite treatment you want to put the snake on white paper towels so you can easily see any mites. They are almost impossible to see in most substrates.

It has no warning on it at all, the instructions were to spray directly on to the snake from a distance of 30cms and remove the water bowl for 1 day so he cant soak. I googled other peoples reviews of this spray before using it and most people seemed to spray directly on to the snake. I did spray directly on to my BP but for a very short time and then I concentrated on his enclosure and decorations more then him, I let the viv vent before putting him back in.

http://www.mite-spray.com/?gclid=CNa...FcwV0wodohsPnw

Above is a link to the spray I used, I purchased it from my local reptile shop.

It seems like most people have had good results with no issues with that product. I know that some products can make a snake lethargic but Im not seeing this being one of them.

Were the mites really bad? Could they have zapped the life from the snake? Any other changes in the setup or conditions?

BTW, you can bring mites home from pet shops, shows, or any place that has them. They can hitch hike home with you. Many people shed their clothes once they get back from such a place and make sure they and their body is washed before entering their snake area.

Im hoping he is just being lethargic from the spray and will shake it off.

The mites were not bad I caught them at an early stage and on regular inspection after treatment nothing seems to have returned. He was fine while he had the mites and while he was shedding (no difference in behavior or movements).

The set up and conditions are all exactly the same as always, He is handled on certain days (Lock on viv so kids cant open it).

If they did zap the life from him will he recover by himself over time.

Im lost as to how he got them in the first place the only thing I can think of that might have caused this is that I have a dog and I may have stroked the dog at some point not cleaned my hands and held my BP. Like you said thou they could have come from anywhere I guess ill never find out.

You are safe to pet your dog and then the snake. Mites are specific to the host.

You would have had to pick them up somewhere that had reptile.

If the mites were not that bad I wouldn't think they would have done it. But Im not going to say the didn't. I truly don't know.

It may very well be the spray. But if it is I don't think you have much to worry about. Certainly if this spray caused a large concern or harmed snakes you would be able to read about it.

Thanks for you help and comments, I will leave him alone to chill until tomorrow and then try to feed him. He might surprise me and wallop his food down.

Thank you

Keep us updated! Hoping the best for you and your little fella. :)


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The spray you bought seems to be a 2% solution of d-phenothrin, another pyrethroid like the one used in prevent-a-mite.

It's scientifically agreed that they're dangerous to reptiles (see this) and shouldn't be sprayed on them. Not sure why the instructions say the opposite.

If you can afford it bring it to a vet, I know I would.

Another good article: http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Rept...d-Permethrins/

Thanks for the update on my spray, Can I ask a question and get an honest answer.

I sprayed him for 3 seconds if that long as I said in my original post I didn't want to spray him at all. When I got home this afternoon he is out and about in his viv looking like his hungry and back to his normal self. I know this mite spray is strong and should not be sprayed directly on the snake but for some reason the instructions say to do this.

Should I take him to the vet or try to feed him tomorrow and see what happens.