OMG! I feel terrible!!!

[J.J.]

You guys know cha cha, my sick abby boa, well she is doing a lil better an all, but now i found out she has mites!! I feel like a terrible owner! She is the only one we have had problems with!!! So, we cleaned her cage and all, and we bought some stuff at menards * its a michigan store only i think* anyways, i washed it REALLY good, yet it still as a tiny bit of a different smell to it, it is JUST like the reptile cage carpet you can buy, but it has a black rubberish bottom. Do yuo think i should toss it and get some *golf carpet* or whatever its called, or do you think it will be ok, cause we are DEFINANTLY NOT using ANYMORE bark!! I found mites in one of the bags i bought, so i called the company, and made a big deal about it, and they said that they would send me a free bag, like i want the free bag now!!!!!!!!!! Well, Let me know!! THANX!!

[sophia]

Hey, if they do send you the free bag, freeze it for at least 30 days and that will kill anything in it, mites or otherwise. And the mites were no fault of yours doll, that's a risk we all run!

Tay

[Linds]

It sounds like your saying your snake itself has mites. If they are woodmites then your snake should be unaffected by them. They can be difficult to avoid when using natural substrates and are completely harmless little white bugs. All ya have to do is boil, bake, or my favourite - microwave the substrate prior to using. Nothing can survive the microwave! Weeeeeeeeeeeee!

[SilverTongue]

Umm I hate to say this, but................roaches can survive microwaves no problem at all. Dont ask why I know this please....

[Quervo]

Actually Linds .. I hate to disagree with you, but there are a few things that microwaves don't affect. Fruit flies for example. The theory is that they are too small for the MW to cook!! I saw a demonstration where they put a glass of water and a bag of fruit flies in the mw, and when all was done .. the water was boiling, and the flies were .. well, flying.:eek:

[Linds]

OK, maybe I can see it surviving the microwaves itself, but not the heat that the object attains in the microwave. I know I can't even touch the stuff with my bare hands when it comes out....... :firestart

[C.Marshell]

Sounds like what you are talking about is just the common wood mite(as linds said)
The best choise of substrate in my opinion,for sick ,debilitated,or young boas is paper towel..easliy cleaned,and if there is a problem with the stool,you can catch it easy and right away,and mites will show up good on paper towel,if they are snake mites.

Add a couple of hide areas,a water dish and you are done.
good luck,let us know how things turn out.

[Quervo]

Ahhh .. good point Linds .. while the little guys are running around dodging the microwaves, they'll be toasting their little feet off on the wood.:D

Hmmm .. that's kindof a gruesome thought isn't it?:eek:

[J.J.]

LOL!! Oh my gosh Lunds, that was funny about the microwave thing, weeeeeeee, it does sound cruel, but i HATE those stupid lil mites!!!!! Well, we were thinking of fuemigating (spelling?) our house cause we live by a woods, and we tend to get spiders!! ( i hate those things too!) Well, we would take all the animals outside the house to someone elses house for three hours, but do you think that after that , it would be safe for the snakes to go back in the house? I think it should be alright,but i thought i should ask first!! Also, do you all think that the golf carpet would be ok to use? Like that fake short grassy like stuff? Well, let me know!! If not, i guess i will have to use paper towel ,which no offense to anybody, but i would rather keep the cage more decortive with carpet stuff or that * golf carpet. Well, i better go!! Thanx everyone!!! Bye!!

[J.J.]

OOPS!! Im sorry bout your name being spelled wrong Linds!! MY MISTAKE!! LOL! BYE!

[BIG SCOTT]

don't feel to bad J.J. i think everyone ahs a problem with mites at some time. Things will get better Red-Tails are great pets and when she gets better you will be able to see that.

[SilverTongue]

I would keep your pets at someone elses house for atleast 24 hours if you can. It is not worth the risk

And make sure you have windows open for long periods to vent well

[J.J.]

ok I will see if someone is willing to do that! Almost everybody in my family hates snakes, hate to say it, but it's true!! well g2g!