Tick problems

I recently get an Adult WC Female and she has in the eyes something that looks like a tick but not sure. I have read in other posts that you can use Vaseline to remove ticks. Can I use it in the eyes without problems? I don't have access to reptiles vet in my area so I think that I have to do this by myself.

Thanks in advance.

I know you said you don't have access to a herp vet, but if it is truly a WC snake, and has ticks and/or mites, chances are that it has internal parasites too. If it does, it really needs to see a vet. The internal parasites must be eradicated in order for the snake to thrive.

On the question of ticks, you can kill the ticks by treating the enclosure with Provent-a-Mite. This will also kill any potential mites.

Steve

Where are you from? Here are some links to help find a herp vet near you...

http://www.arav.org/USMembers.htm
http://www.anapsid.org/vets/index.html#vetlist
http://www.herpvetconnection.com/

Taking on WC adults without access to a decent herp vet is playing a bit with fire in my opinion. You might get a few that have been treated or are fine, but you are going to get some with problems, that's pretty much a given.

I called a vet yesterday and they said that they are going to verify if Front Line can be used with reptiles and they are going to call back to let me know if it works.

Does anyone has ever hear or used this products with BP's?

Considering those products work through oils on the skin I would say no they don't. Why a VET needs to check that is beyond me.

Yeah, that just sounds stupid. Maybe it was the receptionist checking with the vet. (For your snake's sake, I hope it was)

Thanks for your reply's but like I said before there is no herp vet in my area so I just call one that is on my way home. I live in Puerto Rico and I can't get Prevent-a-Mite anywhere around here and it can't be ship here because it is spary and the mail don't ship it.

I read about Front Line and it comes in spray and it is used for dogs, cats and birds.
Does anyone have ever used it on BP's? Or anyone have a better idea?

I read in the forums that you can use Vaseline. Can it be used in the eyes of the snake?

Thanks

where do you even get a WC bp?

Ok, I made a search on Frontline in this forum and a lot of people has used it in ther BP's as directed by their vets. The thing here is that everybody say that you have to be careful and not let any get in the eyes, nose or mouth area and my poor baby has the d*&^ tick in the eye.

The question is if the product applied on the body will eventually kill the tick in the eye or not?

Thanks

I would be very hesitant to use Frontline.

Why have you ever used it?
Do you have a better option?
Do you ever have a problem using it or has hear from someone who have problems using it.
I have no access to Prevent a Mite, so if you have a better idea than Frontline tell me what to do, if not your answer didn't help too much.

I know how frontline and all those other products work. They are carried by the oils in the skin of the animal. To my knowledge snakes don't produce oil like we do, so the product would be a waste of $50 and could potentially harm your snake.

Also you would have to use a super super super low doseage and one that is used for a small breed. Not knowing the correct dosage can kill your snake.

Provent-a-mite is the only product I know to remove insects it completly. Others just kill adults and the infestation occurs again.

About solving your problem, sorry I couldn't wave my magic wand to cure all your problems. I gave you my advice and opinion on the use of Frontline. What more would you like?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dracovolans

Why have you ever used it?
Do you have a better option?
Do you ever have a problem using it or has hear from someone who have problems using it.
I have no access to Prevent a Mite, so if you have a better idea than Frontline tell me what to do, if not your answer didn't help too much.

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I personally would NOT use frontline. The wrong dose on a cat or dog can be lethal...much less on a ball python. That is used for what it states on the bottle...CATS, DOGS, and BIRDS.

If I were you I would be trying to find some PAM or a Herp vet somewhere. I am almost positive that no one on this forum has use Frontline on their bp's.

I hope things work out for you.

Ticks? Pick em off with a tweezers.

You might want to check on Reptile Relief. It doesn't work as good as PAM but you may be able to get it where you are.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MarkS

Ticks? Pick em off with a tweezers.

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What he said sounds like a good idea to me - to kill them first put a blob of vaseline over them till they suffocate and pay extra attention to making sure you get the head and jaws out.

I would try and look for information on how to manipulate the tick to do this best.


dr del

Hey,

First thanks all for your reply's.

Second, I ended up using Frontline, What I didi was take a clean tub and sprayed it with Frontline then I let it dry in the sun for 15minutes, After that I put the snake in the tub for 24 hours then move it to a new clean tub.

That was 10 days ago and the ticks were gone last weekend and actually found 1 dead completly dry.

The snake looks good and happy now, she is moving alot at night and very alert. Big difference compared with the days that she had the ticks.

I'm wating for next Saturday "feeding day" to see if she is interested in a meal.

Thanks Again and I will keep you guys updated with any news.

your very lucky.. you put your snake in alot of danger. I hope you can find a herp vet in your area soon for the future should you need one

I’ll throw my two cents here

Frontline has not been designed for it’s used with reptiles, Provent a mite has.

With frontline you don’t know what the long term effect on your animal will be since again it has not be designed for reptiles.

The question is do you want to take the risk of irreversible neurological damages? Obviously yes!

Now here is where to get PAM (it is always a good idea to have a can handy) http://www.entirelypets.com/proventamite.html

You still need to take you BP to a vet, if it is a wild caught animal that has ticks, it is very likely that your BP also has internal parasites. So take your BP to an HERP VET and have a fecal done.

Frontline is fine to use, I've asked about off-label use. It's Fipronil and is very safe to use on even baby animals. I've used it on baby rats and haven't had any side effects.

OK Guys,

Again I searched everywhere and didn't find Provent a Mite in Puerto Rico, plus no one ship it here because it is spray and it can't be shipped by AIR.

Frontline was used beacused it was suggested by the Vet, not a herp Vet but made a few calls to others Vets who has worked with reptiles and used it without problems. Also I made a search on Frontline on this and other Forums and other people has used it on their snakes without apparently no side effects.

I don't want to put my snake under any risk on purpose, but the only way for me to take those ticks out of her eyes was using the only product I can get here and I did my research about it when the vet suggested it to me and I found that others has used it.

I'm wating for the snake to make poop to get the fecal done.

The Vet tell me to use Frontline by applying it with a cotton swab in the belly with out touching the head or vent area.

In the forums I read about sprying it on a pice of cloth and let the snake slide through it without touching the head.

The way I did it I undestrand that was the less contact way, I sprayed the tub a few times and waited to fully dry under the sun.

Any way by now I'm happy with the results because now the snake seems to be more happy than before.

I'll keep an eye on her and if there is any problem or change on her health I'll let you know, but again this product has been used before and if it works on my snake and others you should start to think that it could work and recommed it to others who don't have acces to Provent a Mite or other products to treat this kind of parasites.

Thanks for your reply's.

Excellent news! I am glad things worked out for you. I know frontline works great on rat's for lice and mites, even baby rats. It sounds like you took care of the problem! :gj: