New Ball Python questions

[Psycl0n_B]

Well I've got some "GREAT" news, apparently the reason he's been soaking all this time isnt because he's been too warm...He has MITES.

Ive only had him for like 6 weeks I dont see how this could have happened. I dont know what to do...Would taking everything out of the terrarium and cleaning it with a water/bleach solution work? Then soak the snake to get rid of any on him and put em back?

[unrezt]

Thats too bad ...

There is a product called "Prevent-a-mite"[PAM] or something. I have seen it reccomended for pretty much every time I have read about mites.

[eMonk]

were you using aspen bedding?

[Psycl0n_B]

It was some kind of a wood mulch (not the kind that is bad for them though I know that).

I think after this, no more wood substrate, im gonna try paper towels and newspaper for awhile. I just got back from the local grocery type place and found a ten gallon aquarium brand new for 8 bucks. So right now ive got him soaking to drown any mites that might be on him while im disinfecting and baking all his 'furniture.'

After that im just gonna stick him in the new aquarium with paper towels and see how it goes...I dont think the problem is severe yet as I only saw one crawling on him and a few in his water dish.

[stratus_020202]

I love paper towels. You can see when they go so much better. I had aspen, and I only changed it after shed. With small cleanings of course. Then I switched to paper towels when I noticed wood mites. My female seems to go twice as often. lol. And now I know I'm getting everything cleaned up when I do clean. I think you will like it.

[Kaorte]

Regarding your temps, how are you measuring them?

Also, all heat sources (most importantly, UTHs) MUST be controlled with a thermostat or else you could cook your snake.

Also, provide two identical tight fitting hides (the rock cave type). One for the cool side and one for the warm side.


Check out the sticky ball python care-sheet. Read it twice and then ask some questions

Welcome!

[k2l3d4]

Why does everyone say identicle hides? I have two identicle hides that my baby BP does not even touch, a 1/2 log thing that it likes and a bush that it hides under..... Do we really think that in the wild the snakes would have identicle hides?

[Psycl0n_B]

I was just using one of those junk stick on liquid crystal thermometers to measure temperature. Clearly I need to get a laser one or something that I can point at certain areas and check. As far as the thermostat goes, are you talking about like a "dimmer" for the UTH or an actual thermostat that reads temps and can be set by them?

[Kaorte]

Why does everyone say identicle hides? I have two identicle hides that my baby BP does not even touch, a 1/2 log thing that it likes and a bush that it hides under..... Do we really think that in the wild the snakes would have identicle hides?

Identical hides are important because in the wild, ball pythons have a variety of hides to choose from and this allows them to thermo regulate. In captivity, we can't offer them that. Ball pythons WILL sacrifice being at the proper temp for security. If they favor one hide over the other, they will stay in that one, which means they could become sick from not thermo regulating. Make sense?


To the OP. I would suggest getting a thermostat now. Dimmers are a quick fix while you wait for a thermostat to arrive in the mail (since you can't really find them in stores). With a dimmer, you will have to constantly check the temp and adjust the dimmer switch. With a thermostat, you set it once and then you never have to worry about a temp spike.

[frankykeno]

Snake mites have an average life day life cycle. Try to get some Provent-A-Mite if you can and use it exactly as directed (it does NOT go directly on the snake). Most other products may get rid of the adult mites but if you don't deal with killing off the eggs, guess what comes back in about 30 days again.