Help!!!

[sweety314]

Can of PAM. I always have one in my snakey first aid kit!

Since it sounds like you need help identifying the mites, just a word of warning, PAM as mentioned here ISN'T the cooking spray by that name.

PAM is an abbreviation of the name Provent-A-Mite. Two definitely, VERY different products in a can!!!!!

Just so any newbies reading won't get confused.

[sweety314]

Yeah, my boa looked so bad when she had mites! It was really hard to see, but after I got rid of most of the visible mites by cleaning the cage and soaking the snake/wiping her down it seemed a lot better, they were not gone but at least I got rid of probably a couple hundred so they could not suck her blood.

Don't worry, if it is mites they do clear up wonderfully with PAM (PAM kills the mites and the eggs I believe, this is what keeps them from coming back), I would just suggest to use it monthly or bi-monthly after a full cage cleaning to make sure they have no chance of coming back.

After my RTB had the mites, they popped back up on my hog island boa about 4 months later, and I have seen a couple on 2 of my other snakes, so they can come back.. I spray all 12 of my cages with PAM bi-monthly now and haven't seen any new mites.

If you're soaking your snake in a small tub (or the kitchen sink-sized), a drop or two of liquid dishwashing soap added to the water will break the surface tension and help drown the mites better.

P.A.M is good for it, b/c it kills adults, and works on killing eggs too, whereas Reptile Relief is just for adults, and has to be used regularly, religiously for an extended length of time until all the eggs (missed in cleaning the cages/hides/bowls) have hatched.

I used the RR on the snake until I could get the PAM on-hand. Using the PAM ever other or every 3 months (see the label) is good protection.

[RBCpythons]

thanks for the info. i have PAM on the way right now. As i went through and checked my reptiles, my boa was the only animal with them. I dont know how they got in his cage, but they did. So he has been quarrentined, out of the reptile room. Thanks again everyone for you help.

[starmom]

Since it sounds like you need help identifying the mites, just a word of warning, PAM as mentioned here ISN'T the cooking spray by that name.

PAM is an abbreviation of the name Provent-A-Mite. Two definitely, VERY different products in a can!!!!!

Just so any newbies reading won't get confused.

This was good additional information! I remember when I was a noob and first read references to PAM and was thinking "How the heck can cooking spray get rid of mites?!" LOL!

[edie]

If you're soaking your snake in a small tub (or the kitchen sink-sized), a drop or two of liquid dishwashing soap added to the water will break the surface tension and help drown the mites better.

P.A.M is good for it, b/c it kills adults, and works on killing eggs too, whereas Reptile Relief is just for adults, and has to be used regularly, religiously for an extended length of time until all the eggs (missed in cleaning the cages/hides/bowls) have hatched.

I used the RR on the snake until I could get the PAM on-hand. Using the PAM ever other or every 3 months (see the label) is good protection.

I always forget that PAM is a cooking spray! Almost everyone I've talked to about it gets confused until I remember to call it by its full name. I only used reptile relief until I could get PAM as well because they sold it at Pet Co so it was easy to get a hold of

[RBCpythons]

okay, so i finally have got it handled. I got my P.A.M. today (along with a few other things from bean farm. I officially feel much better that this is finally being handled. Thanks once again everyone for their help.

Brandon

[sweety314]

It's great that you've remembered to quarantine your mite-y snake!! Just also keep in mind that you'll also xfer them on your clothes, not just you.

They can't run marathons, but they WILL travel to get to another snake. April (the mod w/all the giants), also sprayed on the floor around her racks. Since I've had a couple of flare-ups, I've sprayed a few lines in the carpeting, and that's helped too. (My "snake room" is a spare bedroom).

Quarantine practices are going to be even more critical.

[RBCpythons]

oh definitely, i have made sure that all the other snakes are cared for before i handle mr. mitey. I also use a spare room for a snake room. i really want one more bedroom for quarentine, due to how many new snakes i keep buying.

[sweety314]

Your last comment reminded me of something.....

April and others have stated, (and I've taken to heart...) that if you quarantine Snake A, and the intent is to quarantine for say, 3 months, but at the end of Month 2 you add Snake B, then Snake A's quarantine period should start over @ 0 (needing a full 3 months again) as now Snake A has been potentially exposed to any illness, parasites or disease that Snake B may have and therefore A will need to be "started over".

Make sense?

Just a few friendly guidelines.

[RBCpythons]

that makes a whole lotta sense. which kinda sucks. so how would you quarentine those 2 snakes? say one in the living room, and one in the bedroom? all of course being kept away from the snake room.