Provent-a-Mite too much or too little? How do you know?

[DustinS85]

I got Provent-a-Mite for my Ball Python who has mites.... I sprayed my tub in my rack, but I am worried I sprayed too much. I see like a white film in the tub and wood. I have seen some horrid videos of snakes convulsing and what not from PAM being sprayed too much. I am scared to move my ball back to his tub because of the film. Anyone have opinions/ideas on this one? I am new to Ball Pythons and mites.

[Oxylepy]

First of all: Read all the instructions.

Second of all: You need to treat the entire rack and every snake. Discard all old substrate. Freeze future substrate before giving it to your snakes (72 hours should do it). Clean the entire room really well. Consider using diatomaceous earth in the room (don't inhale it, don't get it on your snakes or any of their bedding, don't use so much you're kicking up clouds when you walk), as well as treating the area surrounding your rack.

Anything loose in the room I'd either bleach or freeze or treat with PAM.

Mites are like ringworm. Unless you get them early or go all out, they'll come back.

Third, read all directions, try to read between the lines on them too.

Also, one of thr best parts about provent a mite is that it's pretty easy to NOT mess up. Even the one video I saw of someone using too much said "let it air out completely". I never even had snake mites but when I had my first snake I was using PAM proventatively and chlorohexadine to clean the enclosure. Never had issues with it. I let it dry for like an hour and then did a touch test

[DustinS85]

Everyone says the instructions are clear, but they aren't exactly clear on how long to spray the product or how much. I see a little white film on the sides of the bin the snake was in. It wasn't a full blown infestation by the way. I don't want to throw him in if I sprayed too much.

[Oxylepy]

1 second to coat 1 square foot.

Again, the biggest thing is it being dry after, fully dry

Can you take pictures of your enclosure and everything else you sprayed with PAM, upload them (2 or 3 should be more than enough) somewhere like Imageshack, and post them here?

[JodanOrNoDan]

Once it is dry, as long as it is not in the water bowl it is ok. For me, it takes about a half hour. Depends on humidity and temp as to how long it takes to dry.

[Oxylepy]

Do you have a box fan, standing fan, or some other fan you can use to blow it out?

I'm fairly sure it's water based so I'd definitely suggest avoid the enclosure building up condensation (although I honestly used to spray my 40gal tank within 3 days of putting PAM on, sooo). You can also increase the heat (if you have a clamp lamp handy have it pointed at the enclosure, or increase any heat you have in or to the room). It would also be very very wise to have done the PAM outdoors, or open your windows

[DustinS85]

http://i.imgur.com/kMjSiP5.jpg

- - - Updated - - -

The whitish looking specs are the spray residue on the wood.

[Oxylepy]

That doesn't look problematic. Is that a flash from the camera in the tub above the pasta sauce?

That paper wasn't in there when you sprayed, was it?

[DustinS85]

Yes it was in there; is that bad? I saw that guy on SnakeBytes spray his paper, and thought it was okay. Is that a bad idea?

[Oxylepy]

If he wants to spray his substrate, let him. But he isn't paranoid about using too much.

You could also take that paper out, and spray the new paper LIGHTLY with PAM. Let it air dry before putting it back in.