My baby has mites :'(

I can't believe it.. its one of those things you think, "It won't happen to me." I don't know where they came from, but I'm angry that I let this happen. It makes sense, he's been active lately, very active. He had a very bad shed that I couldn't get off no matter what I tried. And today he was out and I decided to take him out to check him out. Low and behold I see a small black bug on his belly, then I see more, and more and more. OMG it can't be! Yes, it can...

Needless to say, I freaked out. I also guilt tripped myself plenty too.. I immediately put him back and scrubbed with hot water and soap and then proceeded to my computer to see if maybe they weren't what I thought, but no they were the dreaded snake mites. So started researching, looks like I need PAM. Ok then, too bad I have to order it... but here I am thinking what can I do RIGHT NOW?

Well, game plan... I have a spare aquarium that has not been in contact with a snake at all and is ready to go. Since I have this spare... could I just treat the snake with Mite-off and not have to use PAM on this clean enclosure??

Can I really use Dawn dish soap and water to soak him? How effective is this? Also unrelated sort of, can I restick the head pad to the bottom of my new tank?

I'm still flipping out... so please please help! Even just posting, "I hope it gets better." Will help since it gives me something to do. Thanks you guys. You are the best and I stand by your advice over any others.

Get PAM for sure...don't hesitate it's well worth the extra money. It's only like $23 shipped. While waiting for the PAM just clean the enclosures daily, and soak the snake in water with a drop of Dawn. That's what I did, and I haven't seen a mite since about 3 days after using the PAM. Don't waste your money on the other products.

I agree w/ Lgray. Provent-a-Mite is magic. It works instantly. I received a baby with mites and I used PAM and the mites were gone the day after treatment.


But you try home remedy by using olive oil on your snake. It's suffocates the mites.

And you can give dawn soap warm soaks.

PAM.

Soak in water with A DROP of Dawn. Not like you're doing dishes. And make sure to rinse him well afterwards. Also lukewarm water for all this.

Switch to paper towels for now so you can monitor the mites.

Good luck! You'll get rid of them! Don't worry!

Can I use something besides paper towels? Like a white towel?

I'd use paper towels or newspaper.

Ok, does the tank have to be just paper towels or can there be atleast one hide?

Set your tank up as usual. 2 hides, water bowl, on paper towel. You keep the nessecities in and any decoration out. Make sure the water bowl is away from the tank when you spray the pam. But spray the hides and tank and let it dry before the snake and bowl go back in.


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Well I proceeded to take out everything in the tank. I threw away his plant because that could easily be replaced. I soaked his hide and water dish in a bleach/water solution for 20-30 mins. I soaked the baby in warm water with a drop of Dawn while I did everything. I got out the substrate and also used a vaccuum to make it more thurough. I then wiped down the whole tank with bleach/water solution, let it sit and then wiped it clean and dry.

I decided to go with newspaper, so that's in there now along with hide and water dish that I rinsed with a jet of very hot water. I rinsed off the baby with warm water and then dried him off. I placed him back in his tank where he then balled up. Poor snake :(

As I had feared, I found mites in the snake's water and the water that I soaked his hide/water dish in. It looks like there are a lot of little ones. I will repeat this everyday and order that PAM asap. Thanks for the help peeps. I feel a lot better now that I've done atleast something. I'll post my progress in this thread and hopefully it'll get better.

Sorry to hear about the mites. I placed an order today for PAM. Hope I never have to use it :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SnakeKittyFishy

Well I proceeded to take out everything in the tank. I threw away his plant because that could easily be replaced. I soaked his hide and water dish in a bleach/water solution for 20-30 mins. I soaked the baby in warm water with a drop of Dawn while I did everything. I got out the substrate and also used a vaccuum to make it more thurough. I then wiped down the whole tank with bleach/water solution, let it sit and then wiped it clean and dry.

I decided to go with newspaper, so that's in there now along with hide and water dish that I rinsed with a jet of very hot water. I rinsed off the baby with warm water and then dried him off. I placed him back in his tank where he then balled up. Poor snake :(

As I had feared, I found mites in the snake's water and the water that I soaked his hide/water dish in. It looks like there are a lot of little ones. I will repeat this everyday and order that PAM asap. Thanks for the help peeps. I feel a lot better now that I've done atleast something. I'll post my progress in this thread and hopefully it'll get better.

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Mite off does work pretty well for treating the snake itself. I use it for the snake and PAM for the enclosure. Hope everything works out for you

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Well I've been repeating the steps I did the first night every day. I'm not getting paid until Friday so I can't order the PAM until then :(

Should I go get the Mite-off and start using it instead of soaking him in the Dawn/water? Or maybe alternate? He hates his baths :\...

From my observations, it doesn't seem that bad. When I soak him, I see 1-3 adults and around 10 or so really little ones in his water. When I soak his hide/water dish I find about the same. I look at the newspaper and see little to no mites on it. Is this a good sign?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SnakeKittyFishy

Well I've been repeating the steps I did the first night every day. I'm not getting paid until Friday so I can't order the PAM until then :(

Should I go get the Mite-off and start using it instead of soaking him in the Dawn/water? Or maybe alternate? He hates his baths :\...

From my observations, it doesn't seem that bad. When I soak him, I see 1-3 adults and around 10 or so really little ones in his water. When I soak his hide/water dish I find about the same. I look at the newspaper and see little to no mites on it. Is this a good sign?

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No thoughts on the Mite-off. Follow the instructions to a t if you get it.

I would continue what you are doing. Things will be fine. Now... I did read on another forum that equate, walmart, lice/bedding spray has the exact same ingredients and potency as PAM and its only $4 a container.

Treatment using no chemical agents

http://www.allboas.com/mites.php

I know its about boas but the same process will work for BPs :gj:

Unrelated to snakes; Dawn kills fleas. I used it when my cat's frontline just wasn't enough with superb effect.

I have bad news. Today I just found mites on my other two snakes :( I'm so bummed out. I went through measures to keep the healthy snakes seperate but I guess it wasn't good enough. I'm supposed to order the PAM today, hopefully it arrives soon and 1 can is enough. I'm so sad... I want a hug... :tears:

Sorry to hear about the mites coming back... their life cycle lasts a little over 40 days, so there may be little ones developing.

If you have your tanks in a room with carpet, use a lice powder for the carpet (after removing the snakes from the room to let it all settle. If you're on a hard surface, like tile, spray PAM on a paper towel and wipe down the floor (just remember it's been treated and don't put your snakes on it - it's water soluble).

I also wipe down the top rims of my tanks with a paper towel sprayed with PAM - helps prevent any spread (If you mist, open the cage to do so, so water doesn't mix with the PAM at the top and drip down). I also hang Pest Strips in the room, but I wouldn't suggest this unless it's dire.

Soak the snake for 1-2 hours in warm water. I'll also add a little betadine halfway through to treat any open bites from the mites. Soak the water bowls and any cage amenities as well. It's also easier to use white paper towels as substrate - they make it easy to clean and black mites stand out.

Best of Luck and Keep us updated!

1 can of PAM will go a very long way - you should have more than enough with some to spare when you are done erradicating those mites.

Read the directions very carefully. Less is more when using PAM

Good luck with getting those little buggers.

I think most of us have been in your shoes - so don't beat yourself up over it - it just happens sometimes.

Little update, the PAM is still yet to arrive here which bums be out but I'm doing my best to maintain the situation. My two larger snakes are doing good. The baby was looking bad, he had started his 2nd shed cycle for me but after soaking him and drying him, his skin just started shedding off so I went with it lol He looks so good! There is some left on his head, but all the rest came off. Also after soaking, I only found one mite left on him, up his heat pit. Poor guy :\ but anyways he was really active and seemed to feel better. I decided to put some pics up, he's keeping his yellow and developing some blushing on his head and back. Can't wait to see him as he gets bigger!
http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/...W/100_3683.jpg
http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/...W/100_3684.jpg
http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/...W/100_3685.jpg
http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/...W/100_3686.jpg
http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/...W/100_3687.jpg
http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/...W/100_3688.jpg

I got the PAM. I have a question... it says don't apply in bare cages without substrate.. does that mean I have to leave their newspaper in when I spray?

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Originally Posted by SnakeKittyFishy

I got the PAM. I have a question... it says don't apply in bare cages without substrate.. does that mean I have to leave their newspaper in when I spray?

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If you're using paper substrate, then I would spray the enclosure itself.
When I do my tubs, I spray them directly and leave it outside for an hour to dry. I know others who do shorter drying times, but I'd rather be safer than sorry. If you were using wood chip bedding, then I would spray that directly.

I think the can directions are assuming people are using dirt/wood bedding and not paper towel or newspaper.

I can't really put my tanks outside since it just snowed 6+" and might see more. Is this stuff really smelly? I don't want it to spread through the trailer and make anybody sick... my fiance's mom is sensitive to sprays. Also in regards to the lids, should I spray them too? Or wipe them down with a little bit of the stuff on a rag?

Well I did it, and let me just say that it was a pain in the a**. Seriously... trying to get the smell out had to open up doors and windows and fans it was cold in here!! Still is and my poor snakes trying to keep them warm, the only room they could stay in was the livingroom. Brr... this stuff better work or I'm gonna explode! It's so stressful.. I feel like I'm nothing but a burden to the other people in the house :(

Don't feel like a burden, you have to take care of your babies. Hopefully everyone else can understand that. ;)