1 mite :(

I just found a mite on a new snake I purchased from the CRBE 2013 (Thanks SimplyReptiles :rage::rage::rage::rage:)

Guys, I need help ASAP what is the best way to get rid of them. I found 2 on its paper towel (in the bin) and one on it and I killed it but obviously there is more, I just bleached the crap out of its bin and am leaving it for 10 minutes (this includes the sides on the outside and the bottom)

http://www.albertareptilesociety.org/caresheet/Onix.pdf

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Originally Posted by Durhambreeder

I just found a mite on a new snake I purchased from the CRBE 2013 (Thanks SimplyReptiles :rage::rage::rage::rage:)

Guys, I need help ASAP what is the best way to get rid of them. I found 2 on its paper towel (in the bin) and one on it and I killed it but obviously there is more, I just bleached the crap out of its bin and am leaving it for 10 minutes (this includes the sides on the outside and the bottom)

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A less serious but, equally valid reason for QT.

Did you pick up a can of Provent-a-Mite while you were there?
At an expo I wouldn't be too hard on the vendor. There are just too many people and too many possible sources contamination to assign blame unless the animal is infested as opposed to having brought a couple home.
Good luck curing your mite issue or better yet may they turn out to be wood mites from substrate that are showing up clearly on the paper-towel.

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Originally Posted by Raven01

A less serious but, equally valid reason for QT.

Did you pick up a can of Provent-a-Mite while you were there?
At an expo I wouldn't be too hard on the vendor. There are just too many people and too many possible sources contamination to assign blame unless the animal is infested as opposed to having brought a couple home.
Good luck curing your mite issue or better yet may they turn out to be wood mites from substrate that are showing up clearly on the paper-towel.

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I took a plastic container, put some warm water in it and then put the snake in there. So far there are about 4 mites that have drowned thank god, but I've moved the container in to the garage temporarily so as to not have any get out and infest my other 6 ball pythons.

I'm extremely pissed though as I don't know what I'm going to do if all of mine get infested...

Thanks Notorious.

I will definitely get this today

Bummer man.

I know that is frustrating!

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Originally Posted by Reinz

Bummer man.

I know that is frustrating!

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It is but more so because I've never had it happen before.

I've read the guide. Moved the snake in to a different enclosure with a UTH. Sprayed the snake, bedding (paper towel) and the walls of the enclosure in and out so any that do get out will come in contact with it again.

Thanks for the link about the NIX

Since it's not an infestation, it sounds like your BP could have just picked up a few from anywhere there. It could be worse! But I sympthize with you... I once had a lice infestation with two guinea pigs when I was younger.

Good luck with everything!

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?p=2108261

Good luck, hope it wasn't mite and if it was hope you win the fight..:banghead:

"Snakes don't bite. Just humans."

Good news. I checked him this morning after the treatment of his temporary home (and him as well) found about 8 of those bastards on him so in a small shallow plastic container he went to soak.

So far they've all fallen off. I retreated just the walls and paper towel with the nix solution.

I'm hoping that's all there was and that this was just a few it picked up from the expo and it's all done now but it's staying in the room over from my other 6 BPs until I know for sure.

firstly, mites at the expos are inevitable. With thousands of people walking around, 100% SOMEONE brings home a mite.

When I get home, I dump all my clothing directly into the washing machine and then straight into the shower. All my animals, no matter who I get them from, spent their first 30 days on substrate that has been treated with Provent-a-mite.

QT and mite treatment is the first step of responsible herp ownership INHO.

For the next 30 days, every time you have to replace the paper towels, treat them with NIX or PAM and allow them to dry first. I would also re-retreat the enclosure and decorations except the water bowl every 7-10 days the same way.

No need to put NIX directly on the snake or its water dish - permethrin poisoning is deadly - but mites are pernicious little bastiges and I made the mistake with my first outbreak after inadvertently bringing home an infested snake of not re-treating the enclosure, just the paper towels. Three weeks after I thought I had 'em licked, the snake was soaking again. :mad: Fortunately due to QT only the one was affected.

It's probably overkill but when a new snake comes in, it gets wiped down with Reptile Spray in the car either at the FedEx or expo parking lot, travels home in a bag that that was treated the prior day with PAM, and its QT enclosure and substrate are treated with PAM the prior day as well. An ounce of prevention...

I sprayed the very diluted nix on the snake as this is what I was reading on all the guides.

The snake seems perfectly fine for now. And things are going good but I won't be spraying the snake again. Just the paper towels and the cage itself.

I haven't seen PAM in Canada at all... But if I ever come across it I will buy it

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Originally Posted by Durhambreeder

I sprayed the very diluted nix on the snake as this is what I was reading on all the guides.

The snake seems perfectly fine for now. And things are going good but I won't be spraying the snake again. Just the paper towels and the cage itself.

I haven't seen PAM in Canada at all... But if I ever come across it I will buy it

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Allreptiles had it at their table.

Remember, you can only see the adult mites. If you see 1, then there can still be hundreds you will see in a week or 2.

Yikes... I wish I had known about these practices when I brought home my snake! (Luckily I only have two in total to worry about).

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Originally Posted by NH93

Yikes... I wish I had known about these practices when I brought home my snake! (Luckily I only have two in total to worry about).

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At least you know now :)

My best advise, which I tell everyone who owns a reptile is to buy a can of Provent-a-mite and keep it on hand. It costs about 40.00 in Canada. If it makes you feel better, call it a 40.00 premium for mite insurance, that's hardly anything for peace of mind :gj:

Sorry to hear about the mites. It sucks but does happen occasionally. If you do not find PAM, you can also use screw worm spray from your local garden or farm supply store. Good luck!

PAM and Reptile Spray. You can get a bottle of Reptile Spray from the pet store while you wait for the PAM to ship.