Fleas

[rivunel]

I just discovered that one of my cats has fleas can fleas affect ball pythons? i haven't seen anything in their cage but i wouldn't want to take a chance

[Skittles1101]

Don't believe so, but you should get Advantix or the sorts for your mammals. Provent-a-mite is always safe as a preventative if nothing else...

[rivunel]

i just wasn't sure if i had to worry about the snakes or if i had to dump eveything out of their cagers and reclean it or what not i know mites can be very bad but those are more like ticks, correct?

[Evenstar]

No. The common flea which affects dogs and cats only go to warm-blooded animals. They won't bother your snake - although they may bother you! However, be careful if you use any pesticides in your home to rid your cat of the fleas. Pesticides such as flea bombs, borax, or sprays can definitely affect your snake!

I would highly recommend Frontline Plus to help your cat. But you must use it correctly and understand a few things about it for it to be effective:

1) It can take up to 30 days for Frontline to kill all the fleas on your cat.
2) Thoroughly wash all your cat's bedding and vacuume vacuume vacuume your home emptying the bag EACH time (you could put some borax INSIDE the bag before beginning to vacuume and that will help kill the fleas you vacuume up).
3) Apply Frontline as directed and use it every month for the next 3 months to fully break the cycle. Keep the cat's bedding washed each month too.
4) Frontline will NOT stop the fleas from jumping onto or from biting your cat. All it will do is kill the fleas once they do bite and prevent any eggs that are laid from hatching out. But this is effective and WILL eventually break the cycle and you'll be flea free.

I work as a professional dog trainer for our local kennel club and have delt with my fair share of fleas. It is never any fun. I wish you the best of luck and ask away if you have any additional questions!

[PitOnTheProwl]

If its an indoor/outdoor cat.......... one word "Nematodes"

[Foschi Exotic Serpents]

If you have carpet get a can of flea powder too. Sprinkle it well on all carpeting. Leave it there for a few days to a week before vacuuming. Do this about a week after putting a good spot treatment on the cat and doing a few very good pre vacuumings first.

This will take care of any stray fleas in your house. Works wonders.

Also spraying a little RID, NIX or generic brand lice spray on your furniture cushions and under them takes care of any on the furniture.

[Evenstar]

I will say again, be VERY CAREFUL of any pesticides you use in the house. That includes flea "powders". Yes, you do need to get rid of the fleas in the house, but just be careful. Don't over do and wash hands thoroughly. Also be very careful to keep fumes and powders from rising in the air which could possibly contaminate your snake's cage. Pesticides can cause irreversable neurological symptoms in reptiles. Just use with caution.

[Foschi Exotic Serpents]

I've used flea powder as a precautionary measure on my carpets about once a year.

As long as the OP doesn't let the herps come in contact with it or crawl on the floor, there is no danger. It is the fastest way to rid your house of fleas when used in conjunction with a good spot-on treatment.

If someone used something like this and didn't use the normal common sense precautions with having children and pets, all I can think of is... Here's your sign..

[rivunel]

thank you very much for all the help my snakes are actually seperated from every other room but the cats will occassionally make a mad dash for it. thank you for all the help.

[Raptor]

The best time to do an attack on fleas is when there's low humidity. Low humidity (under 70%) prevents them from developing. While there's few adults, you can start a cleaning craze to get rid of the eggs. If you keep a close eye on the humidity and notice it creeping back, keep a close eye on your pets. As soon as you see fleas, jump into action.

Overall, the fleas shouldn't cause issues for your snakes. Now, if you raise mice/rats/asfs, the fleas could jump to them. Which could cause an issue of tapesworms for the snakes. I don't know if the species of tapes that fleas carry can infect snakes or not; snakes are probably a dead end host. If you feed f/t, then you don't have any worries.