BP breathing weird and MITES!! Help

I bought a pastel today and me being as too excited for the snake didn't notice he had mites. So I took him back in, they cleaned him but I insisted on a refund but of course they refused.(I picked it up for $50 that's probably why) anyway I took him into another reptile shop(prehistoric pets) and they seemed like they really knew wat they were doing they cleaned him again which I think is my main issue. Since I've brought him back right know he seems weird. He wasn't using any strength I guess u would call it? And his lower half was basically limp. Now I put him in the tank away from my other BP and he's just sitting there in the exact same position I put him in about 25 mins ago and he is breathing maybe every 45 seconds and they are big breaths. Plus he won't move! I'm thinking it could be all he went through today (being bought, treated, bathed, picked at from all the mites, me taking a lot of them out, and then again we took him for another cleaning (which again I think was my mistake)). Now he's in the tank and his breathing seems messed up as if he's taking huge breaths and not moving. Maybe it's just me panicking but my other BP she's breathing as in and out like normal. PLEASE HELP ME OUT! I'm kinda new to this stuff and I'm freaking out because I really don't want to lose this little guy.

So let me get this right. You got a pastel, found out it had mites and then put it in the same tank with your other snake? It could be a world of thing wrong and it should be taken to the vet. ALWAYS quarantine a new reptile.

No I have him in a separate tank he hasn't come in contact or even been in the other cage.

Hi,

Do you know what they used to treat the snake? If you roll him on his back does he right himself?

Sounds like it may have been poisoned when cleaned.
Who was the store you bought it from, they should have refunded unless its in their policy?
You may now have a mite infestation on both of them.
QT is for a reason.


This can be your friend
http://www.petco.com/product/109610/...t=OnSiteSearch

I've seen neurological symptoms like these in puppies that have been treated by OTC flea preparations containing permethrin. What product was he "cleaned" with?


Molly & Steve
0.1 normal BP 'Precioucess'
0.1 BCI 'Luna'

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Originally Posted by Edd_138

PLEASE HELP ME OUT! I'm kinda new to this stuff and I'm freaking out because I really don't want to lose this little guy.

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I love how people help us help them with their slow, spread out, vague responses. :O

If it were me Id be glued to the screen until I had a full understanding of the issue. :taz:

The lack of an update makes me fear the worst for the snake. :tears:

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Originally Posted by calmolly1

I've seen neurological symptoms like these in puppies that have been treated by OTC flea preparations containing permethrin. What product was he "cleaned" with?

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IIRC pyrethrin is more often the culprit. It's not the same as permethrin. Permethrin is found in PAM and the NIX/RID treatment people use for mites - though I don't use those on the snake either.

I hope your snake is okay, but judging by your lack of response, I'm thinking it's not. If he dies (and I'm sorry, but that is a real possibility), you should have a necropsy done. If the report shows that it was permethrin poisoning or whatever else kind of poisoning, you should take that report to the shops that cleaned your snake. They need to be held accountable for what they did.

This sounds like the kind of reactions snakes can have when using lice spray or permethrin products not formulated for reptiles or not diluted properly for those who know how to use them (and anyway, those products are used to treat the enclosure, not on the actual reptile).

And since your other snake might have a mite issue -- You need to know that just cleaning your BP isn't going to get rid of mites. They lay eggs inside and around the enclosure, so you have to treat that as well. I recommend getting Provent A Mite. Remove the water and the snake, spray it as directed (it tells you how long to spray and how far away to hold it), wait for it to dry completely, and then put your water and snake back. Mites should be dead within three days. Reptile Spray that PitOnTheProwl posted rules as well for killing the mites on the snake (and can be used for cleaning the enclosure), but you will need something extra to kill the eggs.

We were all new snake owners once. People make mistakes. Good luck, I hope your snake makes it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bcr229

IIRC pyrethrin is more often the culprit. It's not the same as permethrin. Permethrin is found in PAM and the NIX/RID treatment people use for mites - though I don't use those on the snake either.

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Permethrin has been the culprit in the puppies I have seen react...i was a dog groomer. It is very dangerous for dogs and reptiles alike, if not used correctly.


Molly & Steve
0.1 normal BP 'Precioucess'
0.1 BCI 'Luna'

He seems fine today. I got him in a qt and the other snake doesn't have mites. I think he was just really stressed out from the whole thing. He's looking a lot better. I was up for a while on here and no one replied but one. But the only problem is the mites in his eye won't come out. He has no wat so ever on his body but I know they can spread again easily. Any recommendations on getting them out?

And when I'd out him on his back last night he made little effort to turn over :/ but I can see he's doing a lot better

- - - Updated - - -

And when I'd out him on his back last night he made little effort to turn over :/ but I can see he's doing a lot better

Well that's great news! I see you just wanted to keep us in suspense.

The behavior could still have been from the treatments. Sometimes snakes can come back from it and sometimes they don't. Some better and faster than others.

I would give it some time and then retreat for the last remaining mites. I would think three days and then retreat. I personally like Reptile Spray as its much safer for the animal. I have used it with great success.

http://www.petco.com/product/109610/...ile-Spray.aspx

Best of all its cheap and easy to find. Most pet stores will carry it.

It sounds like he had a really bad reaction to whatever was used to treat his mites.

The thread http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...it-with-AaronP is full of great information on treating mites.

I would replace Phase 3 with applying Reptile Relief, which is sold by Reptile Basics, rather than the pesticide solution since your snake had such a bad reaction to whatever was used on him yesterday. The Reptile Relief is a salt solution that dehydrates the mites, it's not a pesticide.

They changed the name from Reptile Relief to Reptile Spray. Its the same thing.

http://www.reptilebasics.com/reptile-relief-8-oz.

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Originally Posted by calmolly1

Permethrin has been the culprit in the puppies I have seen react...i was a dog groomer. It is very dangerous for dogs and reptiles alike, if not used correctly.

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I've seen permethrin (Nix specifically) kill ball pythons as well, either because the owner used too much (active ingredient is the same but sometimes the concentration is not, not to mention the other chemicals in the mix) or used it directly on the snake. In fact, there was a post on here where someone had mentioned that they used Nix lice spray on their enclosure at the suggestion of one of their breeder friends, and their pied started showing neurological damage and died within the week (it was on a big post about using PAM). I have also read posts from people who have seen damage in their snakes (loss of motor skills, labored breathing, lethargy) after using Nix and other lice sprays, but they lived.

Either way -- I am glad that your snake is doing better, OP. Hopefully it really was just stress. Keep a close eye on him and take him to the vet if he starts struggling again! Definitely back everyone up on the Reptile Spray! Used that to kill mites along with PAM for the enclosure, and it definitely killed those suckers (but it dries out your snake too, so follow the directions so you don't over-do it).

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Originally Posted by Edd_138

He seems fine today. I got him in a qt and the other snake doesn't have mites. I think he was just really stressed out from the whole thing. He's looking a lot better. I was up for a while on here and no one replied but one. But the only problem is the mites in his eye won't come out. He has no wat so ever on his body but I know they can spread again easily. Any recommendations on getting them out?

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Don't blame me - you posted at 4 am my time. :P

But wat do u guys say about getting mites outta his eyes? And definitely gunna pick up some of that reptile spray

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Edd_138

But wat do u guys say about getting mites outta his eyes? And definitely gunna pick up some of that reptile spray

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Pick up the Reptile Spray and retreat in 3 days. They will get whats coming to them.

When I got some snakes with mites I put them in a tub and sprayed(as directed) them with the Reptile Spray. I then let them sit a bit while I cleaned their tubs. I then placed them into a fresh tub with fresh water and let them soak a while. After that I wiped them down with a towel and placed them in clean tubs.