After treating with PAM

I asked this in another thread but got only one response.

Soon I am going to get PAM just to be safe, and I got question about how to use it..

I ve seen that some people after they are finished with the treatment of their enclosure, they throw out the substrate(we are talking about loose sustrate like aspen), and replace it with new one so the snake doesnt ingest treated substrate.

Also, I ve seen people treating the substrate and not changing it, as people say, once PAM is dry, it is safe for the snake.
This would, offcourse be easier and faster to do, if it isnt dangerous to the snake that is.

I am interested what you do when there is mite problem already going on, and what you do with PAM just to prevent it.

As I am getting 4 new enclosures, I was thinking about lightly spraying the substrate and whiping the vents and leaving it to dry for 3-4 weeks before putting any animals in there. But I would like to do the simmilar thing with my old ones also.

So what would your advice be?

so instead of spraying the substrate just use cypress. (although using PAM is still a good idea) If i am not mistake it has a naturally occurring insecticide that is safe for reptiles. But spraying the enclosure is still a Must.

As far as what to do when you have an existing mite problem... there are many things and i declare full out war.

soak them in a tub of water with a few drops of soap as well everyday.
Newspaper and paper towels ftw as bedding can also be used, and clean the cage every 3days with windex. after that spray it down with the anti mite spray(PAM or other). then sprinkle tiny amounts of anti mite powder(again if you have it or feel it is needed).

here is what i used when i got the burm i had and had to get rid of them because i couldnt get PAM at the time, and even if i had it i would still have used these items as well because i hate mites...

http://www.reptiledirect.com/bensonandsonssnakeoil.aspx (not really all that needed but it helps)
http://www.amazon.com/Nature-Zone-Mi.../dp/B0002ARSKS
http://www.amazon.com/DeFlea-Reptile.../dp/B0002QIII8

you must be super diligent in this and even if you think it is safe to stop treatment, keep doing it for another 3-4weeks at a minimum

-todd

quarintine the animal to a completely different room as the mites can climb out of most tanks!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Helix

IAs I am getting 4 new enclosures, I was thinking about lightly spraying the substrate and whiping the vents and leaving it to dry for 3-4 weeks before putting any animals in there. But I would like to do the simmilar thing with my old ones also.

So what would your advice be?

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good idea to do if you have the space to shuffle them around in do it.

If there is a mite problem, I don't use substrate. I use newspaper because newspaper will not provide a natural hiding place for the mites. I only had to deal with mites one time. I sprayed the cage and lightly sprayed the newspaper. I wanted about 4 hours (because I am paranoid) before putting the snake back in the treated cage. I actually didn't put the water dish back in right away either because I didn't want the snake to move around and through the water dish contaminating it (even though that might not have happened) This took care of the mites very fast and since the snake was in quarantine from the start, none of my other snakes ever got mites.

Star

I'm new to this and curious. Are you talking PAM like the cooking spray?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Helix

As I am getting 4 new enclosures, I was thinking about lightly spraying the substrate and whiping the vents and leaving it to dry for 3-4 weeks before putting any animals in there. But I would like to do the simmilar thing with my old ones also.

So what would your advice be?

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PAM is like frontline and needs to be redone every 3-4 weeks. If you are putting snakes into those cages that possibly have mites, then I wouldn't wait 3-4 weeks before putting them in it as the PAM would no longer be active. If you are spraying the cages down just in case they might have mites in them, then I would do what you said.

Star

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kirke13

I'm new to this and curious. Are you talking PAM like the cooking spray?

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No. PAM = Provent a Mite http://www.pro-products.com/index.ph...d=53&Itemid=59

It is a pesticide that is used to treat and get rid of snake mites.

Star

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kirke13

I'm new to this and curious. Are you talking PAM like the cooking spray?

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No, Provent-A-mite

http://www.pro-products.com/index.ph...d=53&Itemid=59

tcutting - hahahahaha we were typing at the same time and used the same information. :D :D :D

Star

Quote:

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Originally Posted by weird_science04

tcutting - hahahahaha we were typing at the same time and used the same information. :D :D :D

Star

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Same link and everything... :D

When I have used PAM in the past, I have always removed my snake from the enclosure, cleaned the entire enclosure as normal and then treated the enclosure with PAM. After I let the PAM dry completely I would then put in the new substrate and treat it as well with PAM. I would let this completely dry and once it had aired out, I would put my snake back in. Works great and have never had any trouble at all using this method:gj: Love PAM!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Helix

I ve seen that some people after they are finished with the treatment of their enclosure, they throw out the substrate(we are talking about loose sustrate like aspen), and replace it with new one so the snake doesnt ingest treated substrate.

Also, I ve seen people treating the substrate and not changing it, as people say, once PAM is dry, it is safe for the snake.
This would, offcourse be easier and faster to do, if it isnt dangerous to the snake that is.

I am interested what you do when there is mite problem already going on, and what you do with PAM just to prevent it.

As I am getting 4 new enclosures, I was thinking about lightly spraying the substrate and whiping the vents and leaving it to dry for 3-4 weeks before putting any animals in there. But I would like to do the simmilar thing with my old ones also.

So what would your advice be?

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Mix the substrate in a large container.

Spray it down.

Cover it for an hour.

Let it air for an hour or so.

Place in cage.

Don't spend another minute worrying about silly things like having your snake eat a piece of substrate with dried PAM on it.

Hello,

PAM should be sprayed onto DRY substrate. Allow a half hour-an hour for it to completely dry before putting your snake back. As a general rule, if it smells like PAM still, it's not dry. You can even put a fan near it. Don't worry, it won't blow the PAM away!

Once the PAM is dry, you can put your snake back and check back in about 3 weeks. In 3 weeks do a followup spray just to be sure.

While your snake is out, give it a bath in some warm (NOT HOT) water, with a few drops of iodine. This will kill the mites (they can't swim) and will also relieve your snake. The iodine acts as a mild disinfectant. Also, take a Q-tip and gently roll it over your snakes eyes, heat pits and its neck to help pull off any mites that burrowed into these spots.

During the 3 weeks that your snake is in there (after the spray) try not to bother it too much. Being eaten alive is stressful and painful, and the less you handle it the faster it will heal!

And as far as your snake digesting PAM - don't worry about that. If you ARE worried, feed it elsewhere, or lay down some paper towel over the substrate and then feed it to ensure it doesn't ingest it. Do not remove the substrate after spraying it, otherwise you'll be removing the PAM therefore wasting your time :)

Goodluck!

Thank you guys for quick response.

@Skiploder
Yeah thats a good idea :)

@rickyRRE
I was thinking about that..If you get rid of the treated substrate, you lose the PAM with it..its logical..but I know I ve seen some people say that they do it.
Since Im a bit paranoid around my snakes, I would rather be changing the sustrate x number of times then let something happen to them :D

But yeah, the thing that interested me the most was - if I could feed on already treated substrate (when its dried out offcourse).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Skiploder

Don't spend another minute worrying about silly things like having your snake eat a piece of substrate with dried PAM on it.

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^^^
:gj: