Having Real Trouble With Humidity Of Hot Side Since Substrate Change

[ShaggyRS6]

Unless it's actually causing a problem, I wouldn't worry about it. If fact when treating for mites it's usually advisable to remove the water bowl.

That's interesting Mark. He spends a good portion of the day in the bowl at the moment. I only found 4 mites on the paper so far and one in the bowl. Why do you say remove the bowl?

[MarkS]

That's interesting Mark. He spends a good portion of the day in the bowl at the moment. I only found 4 mites on the paper so far and one in the bowl. Why do you say remove the bowl?

Whatever poison you're treating your snake with is going to be on the snake. When he soaks in his bowl, it's then going to be in the water. When your snake drinks the water, he'll also be drinking whatever poison got washed off in the water.


When I've treated for mites, I've always removed the water bowl and only give them access to it for short periods of time so they can drink.

[ShaggyRS6]

Gotcha - Ok, will empty that bowl tonight.

[gaitedappy]

Don't worry, you'll get through this! Ball pythons are hardy little snakes, mites are just nasty little creatures, and it's really good you caught them early. Also I use mite off now that I have no mites every once in a while on everything in my enclosures since it's non-toxic as a preventative, though I would not recommend it by itself as a treatment.

[ShaggyRS6]

Ok - I removed the big water bowl tonight. Will leave it with him tomorrow. I will treat him with the reptile spray again tomorrow. Only found 1 mite today on the kitchen paper.

[distaff]

Shaggy, do you think the mites came with him from the pet store?

[ShaggyRS6]

Well here is the thing. I want to believe that but he did not start bathing in his water until a week after I had him. So maybe the substrate ? What's the zoomed cypress mulch normally like ?

[ShaggyRS6]

Second treatment for Monty tonight and cleaned all the paper towel out. Vacuumed cage. I have the Provent a mite spray and will do that at the weekend.