New reptile owner Ball Python

[hoo-t]

If the "mites" you saw are snake mites, one quick treatment with reptile relief probably didn't do the job. You'll want to watch very closely for recurrence. Provent-A-Mite (PAM) is the best way to handle mites. Do a search on this site on its use.

They generally don't come in bedding, although it is possible if the bedding came from a store that is infested. There are a lot of other bugs that can occasionally come with the bedding. Keep an eye in the water bowl for little black specks. If you find any, look at them under magnification, a microscope if one is available, or strong magnifying glass otherwise. You may want to google snake mite images so you know what to look for.

Steve

[frankykeno]

Steve, apparently where he lives he can't order in Provent-A-Mite due to some sort of state law there.

One thought about your tank with regard to keeping a small BP in there. BP's are naturally shy snakes and that tank being a good size and clear glass may freak the snake out a bit. You might want to consider covering the outside of the tank on both sides and along the back with something that will block light and allow your snake to feel somewhat less exposed. You can use something as simple as black plastic, black construction paper or something as decorative as a store bought tank background (or if you have a good printer, heck print your own).

You can also add in some "cage furniture" to take up some space. Remember though that anything that goes in there must be snake safe and easy to clean because they will drop feces and urates on anything in their home and chipping those off stuff loses it's charm really fast.

Here's a tank one of my daughter's did for her milksnake. Different species but you get the idea.

[Mochelem]

I have used nothing but care fresh in my setups.... Ive never had mites in the bedding, all it is is newspaper.....

I have seen many people buy snakes from pet stores and then take them home and they have mites... All it takes is 2 mites and they breed an infestation....

[steve42683]

during the first mite treatment with reptile releif hundreds of them came off i treated him for a total of 3 days and haven't seen a mite on him or in his water dish in over a week so i think i am clear on that, is there any other recommendation besides PAM seeing as i can't acquire it here, although i am working on that,
i have a 150 watt CHE and my ambient temps hover around 80 i haven't been able to get under tank heaters yet will those help raise the ambient temp along with keeping a cool side and a warm basking side? And should i get more than 2 since i have such a large tank. My understanding is i want one under the cool hide and one under the warm hide?

[Mike Schultz]

Under tank heater on one side of the tank. This way there is a "hot" hide and a cool hide depending on how the snake feels.

If you buy one of those zoo med UTH's make sure you get a dimmer for it. They get very hot and i bought zoo med's own rheostat thing and now they are just the right temp

[Schlyne]

Covering three sides of the tank will also help your ball feel more secure.

[TanyaL]

during the first mite treatment with reptile releif hundreds of them came off i treated him for a total of 3 days and haven't seen a mite on him or in his water dish in over a week so i think i am clear on that, is there any other recommendation besides PAM seeing as i can't acquire it here, although i am working on that,
i have a 150 watt CHE and my ambient temps hover around 80 i haven't been able to get under tank heaters yet will those help raise the ambient temp along with keeping a cool side and a warm basking side? And should i get more than 2 since i have such a large tank. My understanding is i want one under the cool hide and one under the warm hide?

Don't count on the bites being gone! I used the same reptile relief and did have some relief for a short time but as I suspected they did return. It was only until I got PAM that they were gone! It's been a few weeks and still to this day I have seen nothing. That's stinks that they can't ship to your state!

As for the UTH, I think you should make it one of your top priorities! BP need belly heat to digest. The overhead heat I'm sure is better than nothing, until you can get one but then again, I could be wrong and it might be good enough to supply the heat they need to digest.

[frankykeno]

Mites have a 30 day life cycle and while that Reptile Relief might remove the adult mites on the snake, it doesn't do much towards knocking down the eggs. Watch in about a month for an outbreak before you're really sure you've got them beat.

[yukon]

few things i would go with digital thermometer and humidity gauge those ones your using can be way off .i would get a uth and at the very least a rheostat for it. as you will find glass aquariums hard to maintain heat and humidity. i have used a 55 gal aquarium and was difficult to maintain 90 hot side 80 cool side temps and 50% humidity. i did manage but had to play with it alot.here was my set up i took tinfoil and covered the screen on the top with 3 layers then duck tape 3 layers them i cut about 1/4 section 3sides and pulled back. played with water dish starting at the far cool side moving toward the hot side till got a stable 50- 55% humidity.all i use is newspaper for subtrate

[cinderbird]

The provent-a-mite is not legal in NY i tried purchasing it and got an email saying it can't be purchased in NY b/c of the DEC
forums

While this is true... there are other websites that will ship to the state of NY (I currently live there and ran into the same problem you're having). My snake didnt have snake mites, but there were wood mites in the enclosure.

Its more of a don't ask, don't tell sort of thing..