PETCO advises treating mites with vinegar water?!

[mirau9]

Hi, I am wondering if anyone can shed some light on this issue I am having with a chain pet store that sells ball pythons, PETCO.... some one who works there and supposedly has several of these snakes advised me recently to bathe the snake in vinegar water as a means of ridding the snake and its cage of the mites. I cannot find out anything on line about spraying the cage and submerging the snake in vinegar water as a means of treating and preventing mites. I am not sure what vinegar does to a snake. Is toxic or poisonous to them??? I cannot imagine why some one working as a "snake expert" in a chain pet store would advise doing some thing to a snake that was not suitable. Please let me know if you have ever heard of this vinegar bit.

I was also advised upon entering the pet store not 2 hours after spotting a mite on my new baby pet snake, Diamond, against purchasing their commercial mite product and that it would not work but that vinegar water is the best way to solve the problem of the mites.

I think that the mouse I bought from them had a disease or mites, the employee also stated that a mouse was a possible source of the infestation. My snake ate its first meal after weeks of not eating anything when offered and was fine before I fed it that mouse. After that is when I began to notice that it seemed sick. It had diarrhea and was leaking several times a day, there was also like some lump thing toward the end of its tail. I am thinking that maybe it was a cluster of mites or eggs or some thing. I just don't know where the mites might have come from because I had the snake several weeks and did not notice a mite until after it ate.

I read earlier on a blog post some where that snakes can be poisoned from eating mice that have been over treated for pestilence or sprayed for any kind of diseases or mites or some thing before being sold to the public.


Please let me know if you can provide any insight here as I am very fond of Diamond.


Thank you,

Mi.

[blackcrystal22]

I don't think vinegar would do anything. Even if it did, it would not get rid of the eggs inside the enclosure itself.

PAM is what you need.
http://www.pro-products.com/index.ph...d=53&Itemid=59

I would not risk it, because they're respiratory systems are very sensitive, and vinegars fumes make me queasy.

It's advised to soak the animal in water with a drop of soap to break the tension to get rid of some of the mites on the animal and relieve the animal temporarily, it is not a permanent solution though.

[kc261]

In the short run, I'd be more worried about the diarrhea and "leaking several times a day" than I would the mites.

Also, if you post a pic of that lump you mentioned, someone might be able to identify it for you.

PAM is an excellent product for mites. That stands for Provent-a-mite; it is not the cooking spray. As far as where the mites came from, it is likely your snake had mite eggs on it, and you are just now noticing them because they just hatched.

[Calift]

PAM is the best!


I was told a million ways to get rid of mites by different people. One store told me to soak the snake in regular, anti-bacteria soap. Another said to use human lice-killer.


Anyway....just go with the PAM and you'll save yourself a lot of headache

[mumps]

One word: Nix

Chris

[Freakie_frog]

First the people that told you this are MORONS!!! Your snake can't get mites from the mice you feed it the mite that preys on Reptiles don't bother with warmblooded animals. Second the only proven way to rid the snake of mites is by using (properly by instructions on product) a produce that is geared for such a purpose..However there are some great other uses for Vinegar

1: cleans coffee pots very well.
2: makes great salad dressings.
3: Help the kid-o's dye Easter eggs.
4: De-glaze grittles or frying pans.

My suggestion buy a mite treatment product like Black Knight or PAM (prevent-a-mite) and laugh as the mites die and the snake thrives..

[RebelYell83]

i've had good resualt with reptile relief

[MarkS]

Vinegar and water? I've got a great comeback line for that but I'm not sure it would be family friendly enough.

This won't work, it may drown a few mites but if you follow this advice you'll never be free of them. Every now and then you'll see someone recommend a 'safe alternative' to killing mites. These NEVER work. The only way to eradicate a mite infestation is to use poison. Prevent-a-mite or Black Knight will both work fine as long as you follow directions. Other poisons will also work as long as you know how to use them correctly so you don't hurt your snakes.

[icygirl]

Well, you said Petco advises this treatment, but really it's just this one associate from this particular store. Actually, on the Petco BP care sheet it just says to take the snake to a vet if they have mites. Every Petco is a little different, and it doesn't seem like this particular store takes very good care of its ball pythons or its mice for that matter.

What did the mouse look like when you bought it? Did it appear alert and healthy, or lethargic/sluggish? Did you notice any abnormal feces? How about the mouse setup as a whole?

Snake mites are not the same as mouse mites. I don't think snakes can get mites from mice... but correct me if I'm wrong.

I'd go to the vet ASAP, or if your animal is still under warranty (15 days from Petco), I'd take it back and get a refund. You're better off buying a snake from a reputable pet store or breeder.

[JeffJ]

Well, you said Petco advises this treatment, but really it's just this one associate from this particular store. Actually, on the Petco BP care sheet it just says to take the snake to a vet if they have mites. Every Petco is a little different, and it doesn't seem like this particular store takes very good care of its ball pythons or its mice for that matter.

What did the mouse look like when you bought it? Did it appear alert and healthy, or lethargic/sluggish? Did you notice any abnormal feces? How about the mouse setup as a whole?

Snake mites are not the same as mouse mites. I don't think snakes can get mites from mice... but correct me if I'm wrong.

I'd go to the vet ASAP, or if your animal is still under warranty (15 days from Petco), I'd take it back and get a refund. You're better off buying a snake from a reputable pet store or breeder.

Correct Snake mites are not the same as mites that rodent may get. Although a rodent that ahs been exposed to snake mights can and will carry them with it to where ever your taking it. they hitchhike.

As for taking the snake back. i find it hard to return an animal after you have purchased it. especially for something as easy to get rid of as mites. if you know what your doing. Keeping the snake and starting it in a new life being cared for properly is a better idea to me then taking it back to a sub standard situation.