New Owner Needs HELP! Scales Peeling after Mite Treatment!!

Hey i am a new owner of a ball python and have had for about 3 months he got mites i think from the last trip to the store where i handeled more ball pythons.

Well long story short he got mites, so never had to deal with this before i went about it where i read all the info online. One of my friends suggested Olive oil along with Reptile Relief. So i clean the tank etc. Give him a warm bath and rub him down with olive oil


BAD NEWS Now his scales seem to be peeling off especially his underbelly and looks raw, not horrible just when he goes through my hands clear scales come off?

Ive soaked him in warm water trying to get the oil all off thinking this was the cause

Anything i can do To eleviate this problem


Current Substrate is Reptile linear for the mite treatment
Have UTH and humidity levels are normal and temps are good on both sides.


Please HELP! I hate to see my snake like this

If you can take photos of the situation, that would help, but as I always tell people.....

IF YOU ARE THAT CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEALTH OF YOUR ANIMAL, TAKE IT TO A VET.

Good luck :)

Take it to the vet!! Quickly!

Is it scales or old shed? I know it sounds dumb, but if it has old shed that may be it?

I agree with Heather - if it's that alarming, then a vet visit is in order.

However, I will say that when I had to treat a snake for a mild burn on the belly with neosporin (which was oil based) it got all over the snake, and the oil caused a thin layer of scale to peel away (although the regular scales were still there). It was more of an annoyance in that it left scales everywhere, but did not seem to be detrimental to the snake.

I SUSPECT that's what you're seeing - however, I am not there to see it - and do this is not meant to be a diagnosis. If you are truly concerned - please have it seen by a vet sooner, rather than later.

^^^^ thtas excatly what it is doing the scales are still there sorry if that was not made clear...its just this thing clear layer that i would call a scale is coming off.....


I dont think it is from a previous shed...I am away at school and dont know any good herp vets around if there are even any?

Idk what to do i soaked it again today in warm water for like 15 mins trying to help the oil get off...

Where are you located?

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Originally Posted by rabernet

Where are you located?

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Go to school At Bloomsburg University, PA

Thanks for all the quick responses.....

Oil and water do not mix, you have to use a drop of soap to remove oil.

http://www.arav.org/ECOMARAV/timssne...t_mdsearch.cfm

http://www.anapsid.org/vets/index.html#vetlist

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

Oil and water do not mix, you have to use a drop of soap to remove oil.

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will soap be ok to mix with the water, will the not dry out my ball?


i also already soaked him today in warm water, just water...

will adding soap to water again tonight and soaking him again hurt him?

I don't think it's necessary to keep stressing him out with all the soakings, and it may actually be detrimental and dry out his skin (too much soaking will leech out the natural oils he has in his skin).

Can you take some pictures of what you are seeing?

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Originally Posted by rabernet

I don't think it's necessary to keep stressing him out with all the soakings, and it may actually be detrimental and dry out his skin (too much soaking will leech out the natural oils he has in his skin).

Can you take some pictures of what you are seeing?

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It will be really hard to take pictures of it, the scales are so clear that its hard to see them.....Its what you described with when you used an oil based neosporin.....

What did you do to stop the peeling

I didn't do anything - I just waited for the next shed. It was a pain to clean the scales off of the hides and enclosure, because they really stuck to everything.

I would just leave the guy alone for now and let him just chill for a week, offer him food as normal and just leave him alone, other than feeding and cage maintenance until he goes through his next normal shed.

And for future reference - order some Provent-A-Mite from http://www.entirelypets.com and just keep it on hand. I have a can that I keep. You only treat the enclosure, not the snake. Put the snake in the treated enclosure after it dries, and it kills all the mites and eggs on the snake.

Maybe, but pictures should show what you are seeing on its belly that you described as "raw".

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Originally Posted by FloridaHogs

Maybe, but pictures should show what you are seeing on its belly that you described as "raw".

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getting pics up now of the the scales on my black wallet, but as for the stomach its not really raw, just like when you know our skin peels off its fragile underneath thats what it looks like

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/d...c/DIGI0102.jpg
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/d...c/DIGI0101.jpg

Here is his normal tank setup but since treating for mites all is removed except linear, water bowl and one hide

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/d...c/DIGI0085.jpg

Do you have pictures of the snake?

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Originally Posted by Tosha_Mc

Do you have pictures of the snake?

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nothing really to see on the snake and hard to get close up pics of what im describing the under belly.

bump for pics!!!

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Originally Posted by SvicksTC

nothing really to see on the snake and hard to get close up pics of what im describing the under belly.

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if you can't see it in a picture i doubt it is a big problem. I would leave him alone until the next shed and see what happens. its likely the olive oil has caused some scales to shed individually.

thanks for all the responses, i am new the the community and this is a great welcome.....

Makes me even more into this now that there is all this information and people that enjoy the same things and are willing to help.....

Ill update any changes

Keep us updated!!!

This is a great site with some really smart people.

:welcome:

im going the just leave him be for awhile....check on him couple times a day of course, and in a couple days when i go to put my aspen substrate back in and his usual hides and water bowl i will give him a soak with a little dish soap to get off the rest of the oil....

Well since ive had all the main habitat items remove from my snakes enclosure the humidity levels and temps are off and that has me concerened. Now that winter is approaching and this is my first ball im going to take steps to insulate the tank sides with foam board....

I think the mites are gone so i might get the new bedding out of the freezer today and reclean the tank and add the new substrate and enclosures to get the tank back to normal levels....

The small clear scales still look to be peeling off and maybe one last soak in a tub of warm water with a little soap while i clean the enclosure for the last time will help?


Any ideas on what im suggesting to try today?

Why do you keep soaking him? A lot of soaking will take away the natural oils that the snake has and can cause a bad shed.....

well i was soaking him for treatment of mites as well as using reptile relief etc, but i used olive oil on him taking advice from a friend and i think that is what is causing him to loose these clear scales?

someone suggested using soap to get the rest of the oil off.....

Do you know when he's due for a shed? I betcha the shed will take care of everything...

I have a snake first aid kit and in it I always keep a can of Provent-A-Mite. You can purchase it on-line and I strongly urge you to get a can so that you have it if you need it. It's good stuff and will not bother your snake like the oil has. In fact, you DO NOT put it on your snake at all!!! Good stuff that PAM!!!

I ordered a can 2 days ago fro pro-products.com i believe or something like that.....

Im learning and trying and seems all the research i did piror to buying was only the basics haha....

and shed has to be due soon, so ill take your advice and let the shed take care of it...

But....think its ok to put the tank back to normal with one last final cleaning?

No signs of Mites for the past couple days.....Noticed them first this past Friday and now it is tuesday?

Leave the tank in the simple layout of paper towel, water bowl and hides for at least a month, even after you treat with PAM.

Mites are tricky and very hard to spot with the naked eye, they are also nocturnal and do not live on the snake. They live in the crevices of the tank and surrounding areas by the tank. They emerge at night to feed on the snake. The only mites you may see are the females engorged with blood walking about the body of the snake as they feed. They lay their eggs in small cracks and crevices.

Well i havent seen any on him for the past couple days and ive been cleaning the enclosure like everyday with reptile relief and disinfectinct...

The humidity levels and temp level are off since the usual habitat is not in place....

im goign to get foam insulation today to help out, but your saying leave the snake quarinteened for 1 month

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Originally Posted by SvicksTC

Well i havent seen any on him for the past couple days and ive been cleaning the enclosure like everyday with reptile relief and disinfectinct...

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I don't know if your agreeing with me or not, but to repeat what I have already posted... Mites are difficult to see with the naked eye. They are nocturnal and do not live on the snake. What you may or may NOT see on the snake is not a guarantee there are no mites, not to mention mites do not lay eggs on the snake itself or even spend all of their time on snakes.

What you may see on the snake is only a small representation of what is actually living in your snakes enclosure and room.

Just tough it out, leave the snakes enclosure simple. Do not overuse any mite treatment, you can make your snake VERY SICK if you overuse any treatment.

Stop soaking him daily, use the RR only as directed, or you risk complications like neurological problems and death.

i am using the RR as directed and i will take your advice its only a couple more weeks right? it would hurt to put the foam on the outside in the mean time to help insulation would it, or would that just add to the mite problem with more places to hide?

also im going to stop soaking him...Thanks for all the advice i just want my baby better you know

My advise would be - leave him alone until he sheds - no more soaking.

After he sheds - do a complete cleaning of his enclosure - treat the enclosure with the Provent-A-Mite (it only takes a very light application), let it completely dry - add bedding, water dish, hides and snake. No more mites.

You don't need to keep treating with Reptile Relief either. That will have killed any mites on him. The Provent-A-Mite will kill any mites that my hatch from eggs that Reptile Relief doesn't kill.

Use Olive Oil for cooking, not for snakes. :)

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Originally Posted by SvicksTC

... but your saying leave the snake quarinteened for 1 month

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Absolutely!!!!

ok well ill take everyones word and just leave it with just the basics in the enclosure for now with just reptile linear waterdish and one hide on the warm side........should i continue to feed as normal.... and will the insulation hurt in the process of trying to rid the mites?

You can do the insulation to keep him warm.

Just added insulation, My UTH wouldnt burn his belly with the oil being on his skin would it? i mean heat and oil equals cookign something right?

Im not litterally cooking Mitch am I?

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Originally Posted by SvicksTC

Just added insulation, My UTH wouldnt burn his belly with the oil being on his skin would it? i mean heat and oil equals cookign something right?

Im not litterally cooking Mitch am I?

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As long as you are controlling your UTH with a thermostat - that should be a non-issue.

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Originally Posted by rabernet

As long as you are controlling your UTH with a thermostat - that should be a non-issue.

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Ditto, any heating element NEEDS to be controlled!

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Originally Posted by SvicksTC

Just added insulation, My UTH wouldnt burn his belly with the oil being on his skin would it? i mean heat and oil equals cookign something right?

Im not litterally cooking Mitch am I?

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Seriously, that has got to be the cutest question/worry that I've heard for while... Just makes me feel like giving you a hug and letting you know it will all work out!! :P
Like Robin and Connie said, so long as your heat is controlled by a thermostat, Mitch won't be cooked!

Ok im just really worried for him This is my first ball and i knew going in these problems could arise but now that its happening it makes me panic, like i cant do anything else for him....

Do i continue to feed as normal?

You're doing fine and asking questions and trusting the answers is a huge deal-- good for you!!

I would continue to offer food and let the snake choose to take it or not :)

note sure about snakes, but i had an iguana that got mites due to me not sterilizing a climbing branch good enough.:(

i just sprayed some mite remover crap on her for a couple of days and it went away. she hated when i sprayed that on her, got whipped one time doing it.

maybe you sprayed too much?

Looks to me like Mitch's eyes are starting to cloud up and maybe begin shedding....This should help with the mitch problem and skin problems hopefully.

My Concern is if i have to bump the humidity up in the tank for the shed, wont this harbor the hatch of new mite eggs? Should i take him out and put him in a humid box outside the enclosure?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SvicksTC

Looks to me like Mitch's eyes are starting to cloud up and maybe begin shedding....This should help with the mitch problem and skin problems hopefully.

My Concern is if i have to bump the humidity up in the tank for the shed, wont this harbor the hatch of new mite eggs? Should i take him out and put him in a humid box outside the enclosure?

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Mitch has been through a lot of stress this past week. Let him shed in his enclosure. You said you ordered two cans of Provent-A-Mite. It should be here before he sheds. Let him shed, then break down his enclosure, clean it - add substrate - LIGHTLY spray the top of the substrate with the PAM and let completely dry - add hides, decorations, water bowl and Mitch. Do NOT apply ON Mitch.

Mites and mite eggs will be gone.

Thanks for everyones help.....

His eyes are turning blue so he is definitly about to shed.....My PAM shipped today since yesterday was a holiday the company said so hopefully after his shed i can have all these problems cleared up....

His eys have been blue/opaqueish for the past 3 days, so he should be begin to clear up and shed anyday now.!!!

Keep your eye on the humidity... 55-65% is good during shed :gj:

ya ive been keeping humidity up.....Trying to keep it around 65% all the time with multiple mistings a day