Hi everyone,

I’m a new ball python owner, new to these forums, and I’m having a bit of a problem. (Sorry in advance for the long post, but I know the forums like details, so…) I got my baby snake cbb from a very reputable local pet store; for the first month she’s been an angel – eating like a hog, had a picture-perfect shed, friendly and curious – and I just adore her.

I’ve been getting feeder rats from a different reptile specialty store because they’re much closer to where I live – enter big problem: I guess some mites hitched a ride home on the feeder, because a few days ago I discovered the dreaded things crawling on her.

I spent all day today with the de-miting process: cleaning the cage, baking/bleaching the hides and water bowl, bathed and put some Reptile Relief on the snake, and Provent-a-Mite-d the cage itself and carpet beneath, all according to instructions.

Then, several hours later, she vomited the rat she ate two days ago. I saw her writhing around, mouth open, and I flipped out; I thought she was dying until out came the little fuzzy rat (now slimy and smells disgusting.) Now she’s roaming/exploring her simplified cage (I’m doing paper towel substrate and basic hides, no water bowl until tomorrow due to the permethrin/PAM spray) and I just wish she would feel better.

Should I be worried? Is there anything more I should do (other than leave her alone, not feed her for 14 days, etc.)??

Do you think she regurg-ed because of the stress of the mites and the de-miting process? Or God forbid the chemicals??? She’d spent the past couple days stressing out in her water bowl instead of her nice toasty hide, so does that explain the ill digestion? Or maybe I should have waited another day to de-mite, but I saw them just getting worse by the hour, little bastards.

I’m awfully worried and even started to cry on her behalf (I’m such a girl) but seriously. I feel like a bad parent.