I have a snake full of mites

A few weeks ago I bought a few snakes from LLLReptiles and everything seemed fine until I noticed the ball python wouldn't get out of her water dish. I admit I'm a newbie but I did my research making sure she was quarantined before I put her in the rack and although I had seen her in the water a few of times, I though it was normal. A week after she was in the rack, she wouldn't get out of the water, and not only that, the pastel on the same shelf started doing the same thing. The picture bellow is not the best quality, but I was able to check them out through my stereo microscope.


I've been researching the best way to get rid of them but most websites have conflicting information an I thought I would like to know what worked best for people on this forum.

Buyers beware.

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...027_101449.jpg

How long did you quarantine for? It seems like you only did it for a few weeks, you needed to do it for a minimum of 90 days. I have not dealt with mites but everyone usually suggests you use Prevent-A-Mites.

Sorry to hear that, that is horrible. Check this out, was just posted on YouTube. Talks about how to use prevent-a-mite.
https://youtu.be/yag02DDZmKM


Honestly best of luck.

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In my idiocy, I took the word quarantine literally and quarantined for 40 days. However, from what I undestand, these mites can migrate up to 10 feet a day. I guess that when I purchase a new reptile, I should use glue boards on the floor around the quarantine area.

Omg I had no idea. That's gnarly

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How long was it between receiving the snake and noticing the mites? Reason being how do you know the snake was sent to you with them? Mites can be introduced multiple ways. Your quarantine duration was way too short, and being that now you snake is in a rack, you have introduced mites to all your snakes. Best way to treat them is remove all decorations and substrate from the racks, you can use "reptile spray" to wipe down the snakes (do not directly spray on the animal, you put it on a rag and wipe them down. Spray your tubs and wipe them clean, put down paper towels, spray all the tubs with Prevent-A-Mite, put in water bowls, and monitor for improvements.

I think the signs of mites were there from the beginning and I failed to pick up on them. The water dish in the quarantine tube was much smaller and she really couldn't immerse herself in there. I know it came with this snake because I never had this issue and I haven't purchased a reptile for at least 8 months prior.

They may very well have come on the animal, however just a side note for future reference, you can introduce them through bedding/decorations purchases from a reptile store, visiting a show, etc.

Prevent-a-mite. It's the best solution.


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Also if you would of done a search on lllreptile you would see what their reputation is.

Good news is, while annoying mites are manageable. Just stay on top of the after treatments. I make it a habit to treat for mites for any new animal, no matter where it came from. A good breeder can get mites from someone else at a show, just protect yourself and assume you are bringing them home with mites.

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Originally Posted by OhhWatALoser

I make it a habit to treat for mites for any new animal, no matter where it came from. A good breeder can get mites from someone else at a show, just protect yourself and assume you are bringing them home with mites.

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This. That means pre-treating the quarantine enclosure and paper substrate with your permethrin-based mite-spray of choice the day before the snake arrives, and wiping the snake down with reptile relief when you remove it from the shipping box. If the snake arrives with mites you will know within a day or so, not weeks later after everything else in your collection is infested.

In the US 90 days is considered the minimum quarantine period. In Australia there are people who do it for a year because of the Sunshine Virus, which thankfully hasn't yet made it into the US.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OhhWatALoser

I make it a habit to treat for mites for any new animal, no matter where it came from.

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^This^

Along with strong quarantine procedures (animals in different rooms, working with established collection first than QT animals etc) preventive treatment no matter the source is ALWAYS a good idea.

Now this can be solved all you need is to treat ALL your animals, enclosures etc

I have edited the title of this thread, because this is not the place to provide feedback on businesses. If you would like to leave feedback or a review, please make a thread in the Inquiries/Feedback section. Thank you, and I hope that you are able to resolve the issue with the mites quickly.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rikoku

How long did you quarantine for? It seems like you only did it for a few weeks, you needed to do it for a minimum of 90 days. I have not dealt with mites but everyone usually suggests you use Prevent-A-Mites.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mangiapane85

Prevent-a-mite. It's the best solution.


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It's Provent, not prevent :P

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Deborah

^This^

Along with strong quarantine procedures (animals in different rooms, working with established collection first than QT animals etc) preventive treatment no matter the source is ALWAYS a good idea.

Now this can be solved all you need is to treat ALL your animals, enclosures etc

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Provent btw :P

Anyways, was just trying to be sure you actually know the correct spelling in case people see provent and think it's not the right one or something. But, as others have pointed out about being persistent in treatment. I do the same about treating for mites regardless of where I get the snake from, it's more of a precautionary measure. I treat all enclosures with PAM, and then I use the reptile spray for the snake.

With anything permethrin based never put it on an animal. When I use PAM, I remove the water bowl, hide from the container, I spray it down, I let it sit for a few days to properly dry in the room I QT any new additions in. Then I put the water bowl and hides back in on the day of arrival. Then when the snake gets here I treat with the reptile spray(used to be called reptile relief IIRC). I do a pass with it, then if I see any flakes, I soak them for a few minutes after the pass, then I do it once or twice more, depending on the scenario.

The picture below is actually my Rufous that I bought from a show which I still have to date, he's the one that lets me pet him and comes to me.
https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/t31.0-...52842171_o.jpg

Some breeders are known to have mite problems, more so than others, another problem is when they're vending at shows mites can be spread easily there, and then they bring the animals home and BAM they have mites. This is one reason I don't bring my animals to shows.

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Originally Posted by Neal

It's Provent, not prevent :P

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For the longest time I thought it was Prevent lol. Learned something new today.

I had an issue with mites and caught it early. I used Reptile Spray. I applied it to the snakes and the tub, pulled the tub out and sprayed the entire rack. By the time I caught it, it they had been on 2 snakes. I removed the water bowl, used kraft paper, and sprayed everything including the snakes. When I sprayed the snakes I kept it off the head and then let it crawl through my hand to spread it all over. With in a week doing this every couple days they were gone. Once gone then I cleaned everything again sprayed the rack and put everything back in.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rikoku

For the longest time I thought it was Prevent lol. Learned something new today.

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Just for PAM, though. ;)

I think calling it PAM is bad given the numerous times people have thought we were talking about the cooking spray lol

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Originally Posted by OhhWatALoser

I think calling it PAM is bad given the numerous times people have thought we were talking about the cooking spray lol

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When I first joined this forum, I kept seeing PAM and I thought exactly that, Non-stick spray. And my mind was trying to rationalize how that would work.

I use PaM and then bake at 125F for 20 mins and all mites are dead!












But in truth, just take the snake and water bowl out of the cage. Spray the décor and bedding with Provent-A-Mite. Cover or close the cage door and let the mist sit and settle for about 20 mins. Then open or uncover the cage and let it air out for about an hour. Then put the snake and water bowl back in. Repeat this once a week for 3-4 weeks. Then on the 5th week, throw all the substrate outside in you garbage(not in the garage) and replace with new substrate. That should take of your problem. You can also spray around the cage on the floor and tables too. just remember to not breath it or have any kind of insects in the area as it will kill them.

Our guy came from LLL and he was covered in mites too. It's taken two weeks and we've seen one single mite after stripping his enclosure and soaking everything twice.