Traumatic Experience

[deltaneutral]

I appreciate the feedback.
This forum has been a great source of information and it's awesome to get people's personal experience...Thanks everyone.

We're going to follow up with PAM...it's all out war.

I'm thinking I may even buy a couple bags of substate and wrap them in a garbage bag/quarantine it for 30 or 40 days.

Since we're going to be using white (non ink) newsprint for the next 30 or 40 days while we deal with this mite issue, it might be a good idea to always have some available that has been quarantined.

I'm now concerned that anything we get from a pet store may be contaminated.

It's probably better to be over cautious.

[crystal]

i would spray your 'quarantined' substrate with PAM too let it air out and then bag it. just in case.

[broadude]

i would spray your 'quarantined' substrate with PAM too let it air out and then bag it. just in case.

I was hoping as I read that you sprayed the snake, that it was something that could be sprayed on the snake..you do mean Reptile Relief?

The idea above is one that I incorporate. Buy by the bulk and spray inside the bag (divide into two bags ..garbage bag) and shake well and leave until ready to use. When I was using paper an idea that was given to me was to pre-cut and treat the paper.

Either method works well.

[Daemonicus]

Reading this brought back some bad memories....we also got the buy 2 snakes get 5 million mites free deal from petco. I have never had any problems with snakes bought from local stores and have yet dealt with buying directly from a breeder. We used PAM on all the tanks and "reptile relief" on the snakes...been about a month now and no return visits (fingers crossed).

[starmom]

Wow. It's so hard when you are new to snake keeping and are hit with so many 'firsts'. I think that you and your wife did a really super job of identifying the several issues that were happening and dealing with each of them in order of their priority.

As mentioned, Provent-A-Mite is really the wat to go with mite eradication. If you follow the directions very well, your mite issue will be over with. The suggestion for spraying all new incoming bedding is a very good one.

As for shedding, bumping the humidity is right on target. I think I would have waited until after the shed to treat the snake, but that is just my own preference and in no way suggests wrong-doing on your part.

That your snake poo'd while soaking is totally normal and is nothing to be concerned about. In fact, some might say you lucked out since you didn't have to clean and re-treat the snake's enclosure!

Finally, things will calm down and the mites will be killed (get PAM) and you and your wife can return to learning about these fascinating animals ~~ with little adventures along the way!

[deltaneutral]

I was hoping as I read that you sprayed the snake, that it was something that could be sprayed on the snake..you do mean Reptile Relief?

It's just called "Reptile Spray" by Natural Chemistry.
It did say to use directly on the snake...

We'll have the PAM shortly...

[Chuck1289]

Damnit pet shop snakes always seem to have mites on them though your doing the snake a huge favor by getting it out the pet shop and into the comfy home you have given it!!I hope you win the war on them damn mites!Ahhhh its making me itch!

[deltaneutral]

Tht's so true...I've been itching like crazy since we found the mites

[AzureN1ght]

Welcome to BP.net!! I'm sorry you and your wife are having such a traumatic first snake owner experience, but you both are dealing with it in a very responsible way. It sounds like your BP has some very doting parents.

[bigballs]

its also a good idea to treat an enclosure with PAM whenever you get a new addition whether it has mites or not.

whenever i get a new snake thats what i do. along with proper quarantine proceedures of course. dont want mites infesting the whole collection!