need alot of help

[mrshawt]

try to submerge your snake

Don't drown it though. haha

[th3jok3r]

Don't drown it though. haha

lol can u imagine?! thats a story to tell... yea i was trying to drown mites and they were all over my bp's face so i did what the joker said and put him under water for a half hour.... you would have to be crazyyyyyyyyyyy

[vangarret2000]

Sometimes snakes won't eat if they are bothered by mites. Fix the mite problem and when the snake feels comfortable he will probably start to eat again.

[Kaorte]

Get Provent-A-Mite. It is the only product that works to get rid of mites permanently.

Google it and it should show up.

Once that is resolved, your snake might start eating again. Until then, switch substrate to paper towels and offer food weekly. Try not to handle him much.

[SoundUnsleep]

Remembering my first case of mites: I just about freaked out and - of course - followed EVERY suggestion. Gush, did I have a mess on my hands when that poor little thing shed!

Your BP is probably not going to feed until you get rid of the mites.

If you cannot afford the Provent-a-mite or can't get your hands on it right away, go to Wolly World's camping section and get a can of Repel Permanone (same ingredient as used in provent-a-mite).

Get a fresh temporary enclosure ready. If you can afford it: Wolly World has cheap critter boxes that make excellent feeding containers too. Remove the hide from your BP's enclosure soak in soapy hot (!) water for 30 minutes, dry off and mist with Provent-a-mite or Repel Permanone. Set aside and let dry. Place paper towel into bottom of temporary enclosure. Mist the container with Provent-a-mite or Repel Permanone. Let sit and dry. After it's dry place hide into temporary enclosure. Remove water dish from enclosure, soak in hot soapy water, dry off, fill with fresh water and place into temporary container (do NOT mist the water bowl and do NOT place into container before misting container!!!).

Prepare a tub: Put water into tub (should be about temperature of your skin) to a level that would just reach to about a quarter below your ball python's height (about a finger thickness deep before it reaches the top of the spine. Place tub on a heat mat covered with a towel or place a handwarmer in the center below the tub (helps keep the water warm).

Prepare a cup with a half teaspoon of Dawn Original (not scented and don't substitute!) and warm water. Make sure there are no drafts.

Place the snake into the tub and wait about five minutes in case it want's to drink some of the water. Add the Dawn solution and more warm water until the back spine is just barely covered (pour slowly to prevent too much bubbling). Leave snake sit in warm water for 30 minutes. Don't worry about the snake going for a dive (it's not trying to attempt suicide). The mites will go for the face and the snake will dive to get rid of them.

Place snake into prepared tub.

The mites that survive the bath will drop dead during the next 48 hours.

Bring your snakes enclosure outside, into garage or wherever it's far away from the snake and mist with the spray (get the spray into the crevices!). Wash out thoroughly after 2 days.

When you have to change the paper towel within the first 48 hours, lightly mist the paper towel that you are placing into the container with the spray and let dry prior to placing it.

Reason for the Dawn: Water alone will not get between the scales. The Dawn will help the water penetrate between the scales.

Best of luck!

[rabernet]

Great advice above - but will caution against using any product not specifically designed and tested as safe for reptiles. Other products contain the same ingredients as Provent-A-Mite, but not the same concentrations, and BP.net's official stance is that we do not recommend or endorse using any product not specifically tested as safe for reptiles.

Provent-A-Mite is an awesome product, you can order it directly from http://www.pro-products.com and when it arrives treat the enclosure (not the snake).

The reason you are still fighting mites, is that you have killed the mites, but not the eggs and once the eggs hatch, you are dealing with them again. Provent-A-Mite kills both mites and their eggs.

I keep a can of it as part of my husbandry supplies, and always pre-treat enclosures of any new additions to my collection as a preventative measure.

Here's why BP.net recommends Provent-A-Mite and not substitutes.

[vangarret2000]

How long does it take mites to die if they have no host to feed off of?