My baby has mites :'(

[SnakeKittyFishy]

I can't believe it.. its one of those things you think, "It won't happen to me." I don't know where they came from, but I'm angry that I let this happen. It makes sense, he's been active lately, very active. He had a very bad shed that I couldn't get off no matter what I tried. And today he was out and I decided to take him out to check him out. Low and behold I see a small black bug on his belly, then I see more, and more and more. OMG it can't be! Yes, it can...

Needless to say, I freaked out. I also guilt tripped myself plenty too.. I immediately put him back and scrubbed with hot water and soap and then proceeded to my computer to see if maybe they weren't what I thought, but no they were the dreaded snake mites. So started researching, looks like I need PAM. Ok then, too bad I have to order it... but here I am thinking what can I do RIGHT NOW?

Well, game plan... I have a spare aquarium that has not been in contact with a snake at all and is ready to go. Since I have this spare... could I just treat the snake with Mite-off and not have to use PAM on this clean enclosure??

Can I really use Dawn dish soap and water to soak him? How effective is this? Also unrelated sort of, can I restick the head pad to the bottom of my new tank?

I'm still flipping out... so please please help! Even just posting, "I hope it gets better." Will help since it gives me something to do. Thanks you guys. You are the best and I stand by your advice over any others.

[Skittles1101]

Get PAM for sure...don't hesitate it's well worth the extra money. It's only like $23 shipped. While waiting for the PAM just clean the enclosures daily, and soak the snake in water with a drop of Dawn. That's what I did, and I haven't seen a mite since about 3 days after using the PAM. Don't waste your money on the other products.

[satomi325]

I agree w/ Lgray. Provent-a-Mite is magic. It works instantly. I received a baby with mites and I used PAM and the mites were gone the day after treatment.


But you try home remedy by using olive oil on your snake. It's suffocates the mites.

And you can give dawn soap warm soaks.

[KatStoverReptiles]

PAM.

Soak in water with A DROP of Dawn. Not like you're doing dishes. And make sure to rinse him well afterwards. Also lukewarm water for all this.

Switch to paper towels for now so you can monitor the mites.

Good luck! You'll get rid of them! Don't worry!

[SnakeKittyFishy]

Can I use something besides paper towels? Like a white towel?

[Skittles1101]

I'd use paper towels or newspaper.

[SnakeKittyFishy]

Ok, does the tank have to be just paper towels or can there be atleast one hide?

[Homegrownscales]

Set your tank up as usual. 2 hides, water bowl, on paper towel. You keep the nessecities in and any decoration out. Make sure the water bowl is away from the tank when you spray the pam. But spray the hides and tank and let it dry before the snake and bowl go back in.


Check out what's new on my website... www.Homegrownscales.com

[SnakeKittyFishy]

Well I proceeded to take out everything in the tank. I threw away his plant because that could easily be replaced. I soaked his hide and water dish in a bleach/water solution for 20-30 mins. I soaked the baby in warm water with a drop of Dawn while I did everything. I got out the substrate and also used a vaccuum to make it more thurough. I then wiped down the whole tank with bleach/water solution, let it sit and then wiped it clean and dry.

I decided to go with newspaper, so that's in there now along with hide and water dish that I rinsed with a jet of very hot water. I rinsed off the baby with warm water and then dried him off. I placed him back in his tank where he then balled up. Poor snake

As I had feared, I found mites in the snake's water and the water that I soaked his hide/water dish in. It looks like there are a lot of little ones. I will repeat this everyday and order that PAM asap. Thanks for the help peeps. I feel a lot better now that I've done atleast something. I'll post my progress in this thread and hopefully it'll get better.

[DellaF]

Sorry to hear about the mites. I placed an order today for PAM. Hope I never have to use it