My first baby snake!

[Bogertophis]

So, a bit of an unfortunate update - little guy has mites! Ugh! So I ordered some of this (https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcos...E&gclsrc=aw.ds), which will be here tomorrow, and my vet is going to mix up some ivermectin solution if I want to pick that up tomorrow as well. Anyone have experience with either of these?

Also, he twitched a bit when I picked him up. I assume this is due to discomfort and itching, but I thought I'd make sure. Does that mean it's severe, should I get him help right away? He ate last week and seems completely fine otherwise (other than being more restless).

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Oh no! So sorry- mites are a nasty hassle. I've never used that spray but I do like other products from Natural Chemistry, so it's probably good.

YES, you need to get on this immediately- especially with such a small snake, mites can kill them quicker than you'd imagine. They each only suck a tiny bit of blood, but it's more than snakes can spare (especially since mites reproduce exponentially)- they cause circulatory collapse- shock, organ failure.

Ivermectin: how much to do you trust this vet with snakes? I ask because my understanding is that Ivermectin is risky to use with snakes, it's very potent, & while effective at killing mites, you also want a live snake. I'd have to talk more with the vet about this- & then trust your gut.

It has been many years since I had a snake with mites. The first thing I did for immediate & harmless relief (and what I'd suggest you do now) is a 20 minute soak in lukewarm/cool water with a drop or 2 of Ivory or Dawn dish soap- just to break the surface tension so the mites drown. It will get many, or most, but probably not all the mites- they hide in nostrils, or around eyes or cloaca. You need to be careful not to drown your snake when "soaking" also- stay right there with them, they should NOT have to be swimming- the water must be shallow enough so they don't need to swim, but to be effective, you want it to cover as much of their body 'height' as possible. Snakes often panic in a "bath" situation because there's no traction for them, so it helps if you can give them something to hang onto- even your hand- so they remain in the water (covered as much as possible) & long enough for the mites to drown.

When I dealt with mites, after the soak method ^ ^ ^ I briefly used a pesticide option no longer available, so you'll have to figure out what is your best option to use next to finish the job.

You'll want to keep this snake on white paper towels (so the mites show up) & discard all porous materials like branches or wood hides (mite eggs will keep hatching out to re-infest your snake).
Plastic hides are fine (washable) as is a plastic or glass water bowl.

This may help: https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...Mite-questions