New Centralian Carpet Python/ Mites!

charlesc84 · 04-24-12, 11:50 PM

Hey guys I just picked up a baby male Centralian Carpet Python from LLL Reptile at the White Plains expo on Sunday. Anyway, great looking snake, appeared healthy... Problem is about 2 hours ago I noticed 2 mites. I took them off the snake, but now whats the next step? I'm annoyed because the tank and substrate are brand new, and I cleaned everything else. I'm thinking I should replace the substrate, soak the snake in lukewarm water, and clean the whole tank, but beyond that does anyone have advice? I want this problem taken care of asap.
All help is appreciated!!!

Terranaut · 04-25-12, 12:18 AM

If you can buy prevent a mite do it and follow the instructions. If not get a head lice product called Nix. The two have the same active ingredient. If you get Nix google how to use it. Good luck. Those little bastards are not fun.

charlesc84 · 04-25-12, 01:30 AM

Under the snakes neck (where it starts to thin out) the scales lift a bit in some spots and theres black under them. I think thats the mites... I'm thinking of calling a reptile vet tomorrow. It seems like a pretty bad case if I'm right, also the snake is very docile but doesn't like when I touch the head or neck area. If it comes down to it, I guess I can just get the nix and the snake will have to deal with it.

Terranaut · 04-25-12, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charlesc84

Under the snakes neck (where it starts to thin out) the scales lift a bit in some spots and theres black under them. I think thats the mites... I'm thinking of calling a reptile vet tomorrow. It seems like a pretty bad case if I'm right, also the snake is very docile but doesn't like when I touch the head or neck area. If it comes down to it, I guess I can just get the nix and the snake will have to deal with it.

Save your vet money. Just use the nix. You pour the small bottle of Nix (its a cream rinse for head lice) into a 4L jug of distilled water and shake the hell outa it!! spray it all over the viv with the snake out (remove and toss your substrate its not worth keeping use paper towel for the next few weeks). While your waiting for it to dry soak your snake in the same spray. Do not worry about it getting in the snakes eyes, nose or heat pits. I mean don't drown the poor little guy but those are places mites hide so you need to get it in there. No water dish for 24 hrs and if you see the snake in there for the next few days after that,change the water out right away. Then in about 2 weeks do it all again. Sounds like a pain in the but ,but this will work. It will work the first time as long as 2 weeks from now you repeat even if you do not see mites. Anything in the tank like plants or anything can be washed in the same stuff or baked at 250f for 20 min. If you do this a month from now you will be glad you did , if not you will be trying to order Prevent a mite. I had an epic battle with these but won. Good luck and remember they walk from cage to cage so if you have this new sanke in quarentine like you should then treat some of the room around the viv as well and don't touch your other herps without a thorough wash.
Good luck !!!

charlesc84 · 04-25-12, 02:38 AM

I'm gonna pick up the nix before work tomorrow... Do supermarkets or K mart have it? Thanks for your help btw. Next time I get a reptile I'll quarantine it before putting it in a complete set up.

shaunyboy · 04-25-12, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charlesc84

Under the snakes neck (where it starts to thin out) the scales lift a bit in some spots and theres black under them. I think thats the mites... I'm thinking of calling a reptile vet tomorrow. It seems like a pretty bad case if I'm right, also the snake is very docile but doesn't like when I touch the head or neck area. If it comes down to it, I guess I can just get the nix and the snake will have to deal with it.

PROVENT A MITE

get a can of provent a mite,that will sort your mite problem out

imo,no snake likes its head touched mate

main thing is not to worry as mites are very easily dealt with

that said,its a DISGRACE that a breeder would sell,a mite infested snake at a show,terrible husbandry on the breeders part

cheers shaun

AaronRiot · 04-25-12, 09:42 AM

Nix, in Canada at least, is sold from behind the drugstore counter. It's cheap, might as well grab the 2pack in case the first round misses some.

Allow the animal a soak in non-medicated water first in case it needs a drink... dont want it drinking the meds.

I got my first snake in many years recently, and it came with mites as well (I missed them after a quick cursory check). It blows my mind how people can sell infested/sick animals.

Have you confronted the seller?

UwabamiReptiles · 04-25-12, 09:51 AM

I use Nix and have had good results with it. A lot of people swear by Prevent-o-mite too. Both seem to work very well. I would get him paper towels so you can monitor how many mites are there and whatnot.

shaunyboy · 04-25-12, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UwabamiReptiles

I use Nix and have had good results with it. A lot of people swear by Prevent-o-mite too. Both seem to work very well. I would get him paper towels so you can monitor how many mites are there and whatnot.

with provent a mite there is.....

NO need for repeat treatments,its always worked first time everytime,for me and the other people i know who used it

NO need to apply chemicals (nix) DIRECTLY on to the snake

the above are the reasons i preffer to use provent a mite above ALL other mite treatments

cheers shaun

Terranaut · 04-25-12, 11:07 AM

PAM is not available everywhere like Nix. Sometimes if you want to treat today instead of waiting a few days/weeks before your mail order comes in almost every drug store has Nix.
I did buy PAM after treating with Nix but had I waited the infestation could have been bad.
I wish I had saved my money. Both products use the same active ingredient so I find it hard to understand how one could be better than the other. PAM is easier to use in the nice spray can but you get 4L of Nix at a fraction of the price.
BOTH work. I personaly prefer Nix but I did recomend PAM first for ease of use.

shaunyboy · 04-25-12, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terranaut

PAM is not available everywhere like Nix. Sometimes if you want to treat today instead of waiting a few days/weeks before your mail order comes in almost every drug store has Nix.
I did buy PAM after treating with Nix but had I waited the infestation could have been bad.
I wish I had saved my money. Both products use the same active ingredient so I find it hard to understand how one could be better than the other. PAM is easier to use in the nice spray can but you get 4L of Nix at a fraction of the price.
BOTH work. I personaly prefer Nix but I did recomend PAM first for ease of use.

i wasn't having a go at anyone using Nix mate (sorry if it came across that way)

i just don't like anything that involves,putting chemicals DIRECTLY on a snake

also i don't like having to repeat treatments,when theres an alternative that needs only 1 treatment

i understand BOTH treatments use the same active ingredient,i just preffer provent a mite's delivery system

cheers shaun

charlesc84 · 04-25-12, 12:14 PM

I just call LLL Reptile and let them know what happened. They were nice on the phone though. They said try POM and Reptile Relief. I'm gonna head to a pet store and drug store right now actually... I'll look for Nix and and POM whichever I find first I'll use. Thanks for the help guys I"ll keep you posted on how it goes.

Terranaut · 04-25-12, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaunyboy

i wasn't having a go at anyone using Nix mate (sorry if it came across that way)

i just don't like anything that involves,putting chemicals DIRECTLY on a snake

also i don't like having to repeat treatments,when theres an alternative that needs only 1 treatment

i understand BOTH treatments use the same active ingredient,i just preffer provent a mite's delivery system

cheers shaun

I'm sorry. Didn't mean to sound "that way" either at all.
In Canada PAM is very expensive and hard to find. It uses exactly the same active ingredient as Nix. If you have huge collections having 4l to use is great. The shelf life is supposed to be a year but it only lasts a few months before its just soap. So from my point of view I think 180 ml of PAM at $44 is not as good as 4l of Nix at $13.
Now I know the op is not Canadian but he may not have been able to find PAM today but Nix is everywhere. Considering it sounds like the snake is covered I would think to treat today and treat the snake dirrectly as it has to be suffering from this too.
Again I too was not having a go at you or PAM just IMHO for me and for this situation I feel Nix the better choice and I have used both.
Cheers!!

shaunyboy · 04-25-12, 02:13 PM

i agree PAM is expensive £28 ($42) per can

that said a can does go a long way

i'm lucky i've only ever had 2 occasions,where snakes i bought had mites

the provent a mite is also good for using as a preventative measure

i spray All my quarantine tanks 24 hours before the new snakes/snakes arrive

also when treating a complete collection,i find its easier to spray tanks,rather than treat each individual snake

what i'm saying is i'm lazy,i think ?

cheers shaun

charlesc84 · 04-25-12, 02:57 PM

They had a small bottle of Reptile Relief spray for 8 bucks at the pet store so I got that. When I get home from work tonight I'm gonna try it. Here's 2 pics. On the second pic the saturation is increased a bit to show the red.