Need advice about bp's growth rate

[Inarikins]

Put them on paper towels or newspaper until you get the mites cleared up. If you don't get rid of all of that infested substrate they're just going to keep coming back no matter how well you spray with PAM.

[Manasha-Bogo]

People are being too hard on the OP, but the OP is being FAR too trusting of this local store that gave her dangerously bad advice

I completely agree with this. But only halfway and I'll explain why.

I think the reason we fail to be on the same page is because some of you are taking my efforts to go back to this place and talk to the owner as a sign that I still trust him. Not at all. I want to see exactly what he thinks so that I can gauge exactly how far off the mark is he is and to see if he's truly ignorant or if he just wants to say whatever he needs to sell me a snake and make money. I could read from his body language that it was a little of both.

What would he gain from telling me that I don't need to change the bedding in a mite infested tank? Nothing. He could have told me that I need to toss everything including the water bowls so that he could sell me all new accessories.

He just wanted to give me a quick answer. An answer that would not generate more questions just so that I would leave and he could get back to selling more reptiles. That's all. I can tell that trying to educate him would be an exercise in futility, so I won't bother.

I rarely take for face value what I'm told in person or online. But for whatever reason I trusted this guy. Now I know better.

This issue I've been dealing with my rabbits and the exotics vet... I spent the last 10 days doing as much research on this disease she has as a graduate student would on their thesis. I needed to find the answers the vet wasn't giving me. He have me a single option and it didn't sound right.

This afternoon I made a breakthrough and found what I was looking for. Now I know this vet doesn't know what he's talking about. I *do* feel comfortable trying to educate him tho. I will try. And then I'm taking my rabbits to another vet I've already found who does specialize in rabbits and who can help me without breaking the bank and without giving my rabbits a death sentence.





Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Slim]

They did not have mites when I bought them. It must have come either from the hoppers, or the bedding.

How can you be sure? They could very well been carrying a few mites on them when you bought them. A few mites can turn into an infestation very quickly.

The herp store guy told me yesterday that changing out the bedding over mites was not necessary.

For this one statement alone, if you ever set foot back in that store again, you deserve everything that may follow you home and infest your collection. Especially now that you seem to know better. If that was the best advise he could give you, you need to see him for the window licking tool bag that he is, and do your business someplace else. I feel sorry for anyone doing business with this guy.

[Manasha-Bogo]

How can you be sure? They could very well been carrying a few mites on them when you bought them. A few mites can turn into an infestation very quickly.

Just a hunch. I got them back in January. Without knowing for certain how long the reproductive cycle of a mite is, I would think that the tank would have been swarming with mites a lot sooner than 3 months later.

There's no question the mites came from this store. Afterall the snakes, mice, and bedding came from this store. I just think that it was with the mice later on (if the mites could live on mice), Or one of the bags or boxes the mice came in. If its a longer cycle, then I guess it could have been the snakes themselves.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Skittles1101]

Just a hunch. I got them back in January. Without knowing for certain how long the reproductive cycle of a mite is, I would think that the tank would have been swarming with mites a lot sooner than 3 months later.

There's no question the mites came from this store. Afterall the snakes, mice, and bedding came from this store. I just think that it was with the mice later on (if the mites could live on mice), Or one of the bags or boxes the mice came in. If its a longer cycle, then I guess it could have been the snakes themselves.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

They can stay under the radar for a very long time, especially if you're not looking for them. I wouldn't be surprised if they came with mites/mite eggs and it just took this long to notice. Mites tend to burrow under the scales to feed on the snake, and unless you're looking for them they can stay pretty well hidden. There's been a looong debate for a long time whether mites travel on rodents or bedding, but either way, those mites came from that store.

I dealt with a bad mite problem after my (ex-ish) boyfriend bought me some snakes. I ordered the PAM (which I should have had on hand, with all my other snakes already). Soaking daily will help relieve their irritation. You can add a drop of Dawn dish soap to help rid the mites attached to their bodies. Now honestly, I wouldn't suggest even attempting to feed until you fix the husbandry issues and the mite treatment is underway. Snakes can go a long time without food, and chances are they won't eat anyways.

I know how it feels to buy all this crazy expensive stuff for your snakes and then find out it's ALL wrong. We all start out somewhere, and some people tend to forget that they were new once too. I came home with my first snake, and literally had to go out and buy all new stuff and different gadgets (like a thermostat, I had NO idea you needed a thermostat for a UTH). It's stressful, but once you have everything in order it becomes second nature. I am among some that think you were treated harshly because I know how long it can take to switch everything around. I also know how confusing it can get with all the conflicting info you can find online, and in person. The thing I see about you is you're using your common sense. You know you need to change things around and buy other products and treat the mites as well. It won't happen overnight, especially if you're buying anything online.

Please keep us updated on your progress. I'd really be careful using that store for anything that you don't absolutely need. I do suggest switching the substrate to newspaper or paper towels. I also suggest soaking them daily in baby warm water with a drop of dawn dish soap. Don't worry, they won't drown themselves, just make sure they can come up for air if they need to of course. I also suggest separating them asap. I know getting and building all new enclosures can take time, but in the meantime if you could divide it somehow, I think it will reduce some stress. Maybe a cardboard divider, or wood? Just don't use tape to secure anything...

Good luck, keep us updated.

[Manasha-Bogo]

This herp store is only one of two I have the option of going to to get mice. I've been to the other one and the store literally smells like reptile feces. So I never went back.

I dont want to have to go back to this store anymore for food so I'm looking around for an online source of mice & rats. I only have 2 snakes so I think ordering 50-100 mice at a time is overkill. I do have a place to put them (55g tank) but I'd have to keep them alive for half a year. I think there would be tons of baby making going on in that tank in half a year!



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[DooLittle]

Wow, ok I just read this thread. I can understand you not trusting what you were reading here online, as any idiot can post anything online, be it true or not. However, this is great community, with tons of very knowledgeable people, with the best advice you could ever want on bps and many other herps. Hopefully you can trust us. Maybe it will take you spending a bit of time here to realize that. I hope you are seperating your snakes, and getting them some Pam. As far as the mice, there are lots of place to get f/t online. Then you wouldn't have to worry about keeping them alive. As far as that terrible reptile store goes, I wouldn't come within a country mile of it ever again! Best of luck with your snakes

[Manasha-Bogo]

Wow, ok I just read this thread. I can understand you not trusting what you were reading here online, as any idiot can post anything online, be it true or not.

I actually trust online communities more than I do some licensed veterinarians, but when people fail to understand a clearly typed explanation of my intents in plain English, I begin to have my doubts.

This is going to sound insane to you, but although I have no problems watching a cute and fuzzy little mouse lose its bowel control as it dies from asphyxiation, the thought of keeping dead rats in my freezer grosses me out. Not to mention my easily squeamish husband would probably never eat food from our fridge again. He would be very happy if we didn't have any pets at all. He thinks that I'm sick for spending an entertaining evening watching faces of death and looking at crime scene photos. lol! I think that stuff is awesome. (I think I just lost everyone's respect.... sigh...)

But no, I think the dead rats in the freezer will have to come later down the road. Maybe I'll get a small freezer off craig's list and keep in the garage for stuff like this at some point.

[Manasha-Bogo]

I did find a source for live mice and rats, btw. Just wondering if there is anything I should be doing with the "food" to prevent things like mits & parasites from making it into my snakes.

[Slim]

Just wondering if there is anything I should be doing with the "food" to prevent things like mits & parasites from making it into my snakes.

Buy from a clean source and you will get clean rats. Buy rats from a source that does not also house reptiles and you further decrease your chances of having reptile mites carried to your animals by feeders.