Of all the Dirty Luck!

LukaTisus · #1 (**permalink**) 07-08-2008, 07:32 AM

Hay guys!

Remember that pretty little Woma I got recently?

Well. He came as a package deal with an adult female. My friend told me last night she found mites on her.

Just checked my Woma, and be darned if he doesn't have them as well! This is my first time dealing with these blood-sucking little beasties. I don't have any PAM, but you can bet I'm ordering some right this instant. Now I'm going to be periodically checking my other snakes for the ruddy little things as well, 'cuz I'm paranoid like that..

However, at the moment, I've got him soaking in a tub of water, with a listerine solution, hoping that'll kill the ones I found lurking under his scales. There was one or two in his water-dish and a few teensy specks on the paper-towel, but nothing I would've noticed had I not actually been looking for them..

I can't believe I didn't notice them earlier, he had no signs of them when I got him so I can only assume he had eggs under his scales that hadn't hatched yet, that escaped my notice as I was looking him over. NOT Cool, man!

Icicle · #2 (**permalink**) 07-08-2008, 07:36 AM

Did you tell the seller that you are not happy about the extra package.

good luck

LukaTisus · #3 (**permalink**) 07-08-2008, 07:39 AM

In the middle of doing that right now.. He's a beautiful snake, but it'd be nice if he hadn't come with the stowaways..

Anyone used NIX? Someone mentioned that it's just as good as PAM and a bit safer on the snakes.. Plus I can run to the store and pick some up tomorrow, rather than wait around for the package of PAM to get here.

Xeikeness · #4 (**permalink**) 07-08-2008, 08:01 AM

I use Equate lice bedding spray instead of PAM. PAM costs about $20+ per can, and for the same size can of the SAME active ingredient, Equate is $3.

I'll take the Equate, thanks. lol

What you want to do is after the snake's soak, put some olive oil on a washcloth, and slick him down with it. Put him back in his(fully cleaned) cage until you get the mite-killer.

The olive oil will stay on the snake for a good long while without harming him, and it's safe to get on his eye caps and near his nose/lips. It will smother and suffocate the mites living on him, as well as saturate and drown the eggs.

Olive oil in conjunction with a mite-killer used on his cage and bedding(while he is NOT in the cage... remember to give the cage a couple hours to air out before returning the snake to it) should do the trick perfectly.

Good luck! You're fighting the good fight. lol

LukaTisus · #5 (**permalink**) 07-08-2008, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xeikeness

I use Equate lice bedding spray instead of PAM. PAM costs about $20+ per can, and for the same size can of the SAME active ingredient, Equate is $3.

I'll take the Equate, thanks. lol

What you want to do is after the snake's soak, put some olive oil on a washcloth, and slick him down with it. Put him back in his(fully cleaned) cage until you get the mite-killer.

The olive oil will stay on the snake for a good long while without harming him, and it's safe to get on his eye caps and near his nose/lips. It will smother and suffocate the mites living on him, as well as saturate and drown the eggs.

Olive oil in conjunction with a mite-killer used on his cage and bedding(while he is NOT in the cage... remember to give the cage a couple hours to air out before returning the snake to it) should do the trick perfectly.

Good luck! You're fighting the good fight. lol

Thanks for the info, Darlin'.

I'll head down to the store tomorrow and look for it.

I keep him in a 27L sterlite tub, with paper-towel as substrate currently.. I read somewhere that treating for mites on papertowel's not the best option, and to switch to a substrate like Aspen... not sure how true this is, but I know my friend switched all her snakes to aspen shavings or something, the first time she had to use PAM for her mite problem..

Is it ok to stick with paper towel?

LukaTisus · #6 (**permalink**) 07-08-2008, 08:12 AM

Oop... I guess this means I'd better move my Tarantula into another room if I plan on using anything meant to kill mites, eh?

Xeikeness · #7 (**permalink**) 07-08-2008, 08:50 AM

Yes - move the T far away for about a month and a half. You will need to repeat the mite treatment in 3 weeks to be SURE you've killed them all.

I do just fine treating for mites on paper in my racks. I find the mites have more places to hide and lay eggs in wood shavings. It's easier to keep everyone parasite-free and healthy of paper.

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