Help: Ball Python: Mites

[XoVictoryXo]

Hey Guys.
Last Saturday My hubby came home with a new pet .:fight:
A baby Ball Python
He was begging to get a Ball python for years but I have had a snake fear for quite a while. Well after I researched a ton I discovered, yeh not all snakes are vicious lol. and well the little guy grew on me and he is actually really sweet and cute! <3
Well, he bought him from a pet store of course, (I know I KNOW, buy animals from breeders to avoid issues like these!) So the pet store called the day after we brought him home and, the snake has mites!
so upsetting! We brought him in to the Vet the pet store uses and they have been treating him all week! Is it normal for him to be there all week? I hope he comes home this weekend!
We soaked his entire enclosure and equipment in water mixed with bleach to disinfect and kill off any mites,
does anyone have any experience with this? any other tips you can give me?
Im worried about him!
Here is the little guy

 

[Aimless]

are you kidding me? the pet store vet is keeping him?? how much are they charging you?

mites are a big pain, but easy and cheap to treat yourself, at home.

that snake looks a little underweight (although it may just be angles in the picture) but he definitely looks a little on the dry side. I hope he's eating for you.


OK, back to the mites:
treating snake mites is a lot like treating your house for fleas. you have to consider the whole life cycle of the mite, and that the standard drug used doesn't kill eggs.

ok, this is important, if you want to get rid of them completely. I fostered small snakes (usually BPs) for a herp society over 6 years, and I have 15 pythons myself, so I have experience here, and I've tried a lot of things over the years.

don't waste your money on "mite-off" or "reptile relief" as they absolutely do not work. also, you'll run into people who try to tell you that dish soap baths and/or olive oil will work. they DO NOT. they may kill some or all of the surface mites, but they will keep coming back. they're gross and a pain, but most of all unchecked mites will eventually kill your snake, in a very slow and horrible way.

so - get yourself some Provent-a-Mite (PAM, for short). you can find it at a lot of online places for supplies. most pet stores do NOT carry it. the active ingredient is 0.5% Permethrin. you can get a spray-treatment for lice at any human pharmacy with exactly the same active ingredient for about 1/2 the cost. make absolutely certain it's the same ingredient!

note: permethrin can be toxic. be very careful to use it properly.

1. remove snake from enclosure
2. spray thoroughly with PAM
3. let dry 100%
4. as substrate, use newspaper / butcher paper / paper towels etc. that have been thoroughly sprayed with PAM and then completely air-dried
5. when you add back water dish, fill it only a little (you don't want your snake tipping the dish and wetting the PAM)
6. replace the substrate with newly-sprayed paper for a minimum of 6 weeks after the last mite you saw to be certain they won't come back

now, this is a pesticide. you don't want to be breathing in a bunch of it, either. if it's warm enough, I spray it outside and clothes-pin the paper to dry. if it's cold or rainy, I spray in the bathroom with the exhaust fan running and leave (with door closed) while it dries. don't spray your snake with it; don't get it in his/her water.

if you follow this list carefully, you'll never have to worry about mites again.

 

[XoVictoryXo]

Thank you so much!
He is still at the Vet. They actually gave my hubby his money back for the cost of the snake, and they are taking full responsibility of the vet bill. They offered to give him another snake but hubby refused he said he bonded with this guy and wanted to work with him only. This is against my wishes I told him he should use that money to purchase from an established breeder but thats another story lol!
The sad part is, he is currently in a shed, so they said its going to delay their "procedures" and take another week! My gosh 2 weeks that is a long time! I feel horrible for the little guy. We only had him for 1 DAY when the pet store called. We didnt even have enough time to feed him. We have frozen pinkies just waiting for him when he comes home.
Ok I am going to get that PAM.
Here is a better pic of him and his set up. please feel free to critique: my hubby is open to making any necessary changes, he followed the advice of petsmart employee and their pamplet.
I will tell him to remove that woodchip bedding and use the sprayed newspaper.

 

[Aimless]

what type of wood is in the shavings? cedar is toxic to herps, and most "pine shavings" contain some cedar.

if it's cypress or aspen you're ok.

it looks a little bare. you might add some fake vines, or a hide with only one entrance. this will help him feel more secure.

he's in shed so they're delaying the "procedure"? what are they doing to him? I can tell you I've rescued snakes for years and that makes no sense at all. the only treatment you would have to see a vet for, pertaining to mites, is an Ivermectin shot (which can be effective, but still needs to be backed up with PAM treatment for eggs and can also have toxic side effects).

I'd pick him up, bring him home, and treat him yourself. this whole scenario seems fishy to me

 

[XoVictoryXo]

I agree it is fishy. Makes no sense to keep him for that long. I am going to call them tomorrow. I would call now but they are closed. Hubby is a little too trusting of vet/pet stores and doesnt ask the in depth questions that I would ask!
That is aspen bedding. Ok I will def find a more secure and comfy hide.
What do you secure your tanks with to prevent escapes? We have clamps but they dont seem strong enough so we have slate tiles on top as weights, but I would like to make extra sure he cant escape (and bite me lol)

 

[Aimless]

he's not likely to escape just to bite you

I use clamps on my aquarium-style vivs. if I can get the edges of the screen up with the clamps on, I add weights too. it's not pretty but it works.

after trying to convince you so much to buy another, I'm really wondering if a) it's died and they hope you lose interest; or b) if the health problems are worse than mites, and they know this good and well.

it might be worth it to cut your losses (I know, your husband has a crush on the snake) and go elsewhere.

I trust 3 of the 4 bigger exotic vets in my area...I don't trust big-box-pet store vets. what "good" vet could be ok with the corporate-mandated poor standard of care within the store?

 

[XoVictoryXo]

Ok I just spoke with someone who works there. They said he just completed a shed today, they said that is what caused the delay and also they consider him "quarantined" and want to guarantee all mites are gone so they will observe him after the treatment soaks which is why they initially said one week but has fell into 2 weeks.
They are currently soaking him again and said right now he has way less mites then before but they are still present. She said they are going to back it up with a prescription medication.
I asked the names of the medication unfortunately she did not know the names, she was not the vet, just an assistant. They also plan to feed him on Thursday.

I wish I could persuade Hubby into another ball python but his heart is set on this guy :/

 

[Corwin's Keeper]

I wish I could persuade Hubby into another ball python but his heart is set on this guy :/

Don't give up on this guy!

 

[brooksylc]

Like Aimless said, I am really suspiscious of why they took him back at all for mites, as mites are not a problem to seek a vet for. They can be treated from home, as you should be treating the areas where the snake was as well as the surrounding areas. IF you had any other snakes you could have been treating them too dependant on ones quarantine procedures, so taking one away makes no sense. and now odds are that the whole petstore/vet clinic is battling mites if they are bringing back infested animals. This alone would make me from every buying anything (even supplies) from them since everything in their store could come with free mites. I have heard of people getting mites from the substate purchased at a petstore even.
I know it is hard when one gets attached but it seems like there is more to the story. I have never heard of a breeder or store taking a snake back for mites. It just makes no sense at all. I am curious what happens, so please keep us upto date and I am wishing the three of you (you, your man & the snake) the best.

 

[cricket4u]

XO did you get him back yet?

I don't think they will be charging you for keeping him? Honestly I would not rush them and let them do what they have to as long as they are not charging you of course. If they are treating him with Ivermectin, it would make sense why they are keeping him. They have to administer 2 doses, second dose repeated in 2 weeks. Obviously they have to address hydration and nutritional needs. Did you have that wood log when he had the mites? If so, I would toss it out. This is a better hide for snakes which is cheap, the only problem is it's light and may move with him, but at least it will make him feel more secure.

Reptile Hide Boxes from Reptile Basics

 

[XoVictoryXo]

Thanks for all the help guys, unfortunately He is still at the vet. Tomorrow he gets fed so Im going to call and just make sure he eats ok. They are taking full responsibility of the bill and medication costs, which is great but I trust my own herp vet way more. Apparently they have some sort of store policy that they do not sell unhealthy animals which is why they immediately took him back and refunded us. Hubby asked them if he could treat the snake himself or take him to his own vet and they declined because they said they have to make sure the mites are gone before they are allowed to resell him. Um hello! then they should have checked him out in the first place! I think when He gets home, I am going to bring him to my herp vet I trust just to check him out.
Ok That woodlog is going in the garbage. I actually saw the snake itching his head against it and thought it was super cute at the time, but now I realize he did that because the mites itch! I saw those hides in the store so Ill go get one, that website charges $10 shipping lol
Poor Dude, Im so impatient and just would like him to come home so we can hang out with our new exciting pet. Hopefully this weekend...
Never thought I would have a heart for a snake, I ALWAYS had a really bad fear of them! The sad part is he doesnt have a name yet because we havent even spent any time with him to learn his personality
Im actually relieved not to treat at home because I am scared the mites will transfer to my geckos. and then I would have to KILL my hubby LOL jk

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Xo ~

Good that you are covering ALL bases. Quite understandable wishing NOT to have mites in your home.

Hope those buggers are gone soon and that the snake will return to you guys.

 

[XoVictoryXo]

He has been there a total of 3 WEEKS! Hubby called today and they said they he will be ready to be released on Monday. They say they see no more mites, but are doing one more treatment. Said he ate, shed well, one more treatment just to be sure and he is set to go. When I get to the vet office I am going to ask to see the names of the "treatments" and pick up some P.A.M

 

[XoVictoryXo]

YAY Today is the day! cant wait to FINALLY see him! Ive been so impatient! Funny that this is really "hubby's pet" but I am starting to really to dote over him. I still wont watch him eat little cute furry mice without getting upset though. right now he is on frozen pinkies, is frozen mice less nutritious then live mice? we went with frozen because we hear the horror stories of snakes getting injured.
And as far as handling him by myself, that wont be happening often, I am still a little scared! LOL
I ought to find a snake forum but I like it here too much

 

[Aimless]

some of us are switch-hitters and can talk snakes, too

good luck with him!

 

[XoVictoryXo]

Thanks for all your help!

 

[XoVictoryXo]

Just an update we are doing great here!
Feeding time:

we decided His name:
Everyone meet Fang!

 

[Corwin's Keeper]

He's adorable!!! I am glad to hear he is doing better, what a cutie!!

 

[Aimless]

he's a cutie; I'm glad he's doing better.

 

[brooksylc]

I am glad to hear that everything seems to be working out very well. He's a looker, he even got my co-workers attention when she walked by my desk haha. And the co-worker doesn't like snakes but thought he was pretty.