What to get?

[Corey209]

I traded in my boa and I'm able to get a new snake around $125. I'm not really sure on what I want at the moment so I'd like some suggestions if possible. I never really liked BPs but there are some neat morphs but I'm not sure if 125 is enough for anything but maybe a pastel..

[nick654377]

Get a carpet or go to an expo and ull find something for $125.

[Gungirl]

Why did you trade in your boa? The reason you traded it in could help people give you suggestions to avoid you not wanting your next snake after a while.

[Corey209]

Why did you trade in your boa? The reason you traded it in could help people give you suggestions to avoid you not wanting your next snake after a while.

The snake had URI like literally two days after getting him and my temps/humidity were fine. For about two months I tried to get him better which he did but then somehow I got the mites which made his RI bad again. Nothing about the actual snake I disliked. I am thinking about a Pastel BP but I'm not sure if I'll regret it.

[zippopunk1]

i have a carpet and its great

[BarelyBreathing]

You traded a sick snake?

[Corey209]

You traded a sick snake?

Traded it back to the place I got it, I told him it had RI but he thinks it doesn't because it's eating. Either way he offered to trade me a snake of equal value back. I'm thinking a male pastel BP.

[Terranaut]

Royals are great but a little boring and do very little in any light. Get a carpet. Awesome.

[SWDK]

Carpet pythons are the way to go.

[Gungirl]

If I got a sick snake from some place I wouldn't want to trade it for another. I would want my money back and I would search else where for another snake.. Just My opinion though.

[Aaron_S]

The snake had URI like literally two days after getting him and my temps/humidity were fine. For about two months I tried to get him better which he did but then somehow I got the mites which made his RI bad again. Nothing about the actual snake I disliked. I am thinking about a Pastel BP but I'm not sure if I'll regret it.

You're full of it.

You need to STOP buying reptiles right now.

How are mites somehow associated with an URI? It got it "two days" and it was "two months" later it was better.

Either, it had it prior to you owning it and it would have been full blown and you didn't know what you were doing to notice.
It was the early affects of RI in the first two days and pretty much anything at that point will cure it.
The original seller of the animal is correct and you clearly don't know what you're doing.

[millertime89]

If I got a sick snake from some place I wouldn't want to trade it for another. I would want my money back and I would search else where for another snake.. Just My opinion though.

100 percent spot on

[dinosaurdammit]

i dont think reptiles magically get mites. All you have to do to check for mites is look under their heads. If it got so bad you noticed them else where you wernt monitoring your snake well. I notice everything about my boas, even when they have a scale that is out of place due to a coil.

The ri also doesnt magically appear as if sent from Nergal. RI's take a while to set up, if your temps and humidity were correct then it shouldnt have been a problem if you didnt notice the drooling, open mouthed breathing, panting, wheezing, and excessive fluid in the mouth with associated bubbles...

[Corey209]

You're full of it.

You need to STOP buying reptiles right now.

How are mites somehow associated with an URI? It got it "two days" and it was "two months" later it was better.

Either, it had it prior to you owning it and it would have been full blown and you didn't know what you were doing to notice.
It was the early affects of RI in the first two days and pretty much anything at that point will cure it.
The original seller of the animal is correct and you clearly don't know what you're doing.

Mites stress out a snake and the RI wasn't completely gone, making RI worse which I think from soaking in the cold water. Two days after getting the snake I noticed popping and all of my temps and humidity were fine. About a month and a half to two months later he had almost no popping but only a little mucus in his mouth. He never had any bubbles or anything serious it was always a minor case of RI and it was almost gone like I said until he got mites, stressed out and soaked in cold water.

@dinosaurdammit, he only ever had a little mucus in his mouth and popping. He never had any drooling or bubbling out of his mouth.

[Terranaut]

I'm not going to insult you but given what you have said in this thread and the mites thread you do honnestly need to spend some more time researching snakes and snake care. Sorry but its true. Sounds like you have owned 1 snake with mites and 1with an a RI. But hey your husbandry is spot on. Please read more and say less until you know what your talking about.

[Corey209]

I'm not going to insult you but given what you have said in this thread and the mites thread you do honnestly need to spend some more time researching snakes and snake care. Sorry but its true. Sounds like you have owned 1 snake with mites and 1with an a RI. But hey your husbandry is spot on. Please read more and say less until you know what your talking about.

How so? I haven't had any health problems but one case of RI and mites. I should have actually treated the king with something to kill the eggs but I did not think about that so yes that is one mistake. Tell me what I don't know what I'm talking about? Last time I checked RI takes time to dissipate which it was for me, until I got mites. Then my boa was soaking in cold water which could have easily made his RI worse. Keep in mind RI never actually goes away completely and snakes that have had it have a higher chance of getting it again. Messing up once with getting mites is a common thing and it was a mistake but I'm confused on what I should research as I don't see much I've done wrong. Anything medical about my snakes I talk to an ex-vet about and I'm pretty damn sure she knows a lot more then most on this forum.

[KORBIN5895]

I doubt she does.

[Wyldrose]

So was the snake with an URI taken to a actual Vet?


According to your signature you got the pastel bp? How is he doing? Are you quaratining him away from your king snake to prevent him from getting mites?

[Terranaut]

Most vets know a lot about mamals but very few know much at all about reptiles. Getting mites is not a mistake but the treatment method you seem to have used is like using a sledge hammer to drive a trim nail. A mild RI is very treatable even without using drugs to do it. Bubbles and the symptoms you described are not a mild RI. Open mouth breathing is a first sign. Bubbles or drooling is much more serious. Cold water in a sbakes enclosure that has RI is not good care. Not trying to hammer you here but be a little more accepting to the info from this site. The people here mostly do know what they are talking about. Ask your vet what reptiles they own.

[Aaron_S]

I've never heard of water somehow making an RI worse. I want to know where you get your information instead of just assuming things.

You know nothing about RI's. Did you get a culture done to see if it was bacterial or viral? Did you then get medication that was specific to that?

You're wrong about RI's. They can and DO go away. You're making excuses for your shoddy keeping.

[dinosaurdammit]

I've never heard of water somehow making an RI worse. I want to know where you get your information instead of just assuming things.

You know nothing about RI's. Did you get a culture done to see if it was bacterial or viral? Did you then get medication that was specific to that?

You're wrong about RI's. They can and DO go away. You're making excuses for your shoddy keeping.

My boa came with an RI, he didnt show any issues at the shop i got him from and the second I got home the open mouth began- much to my displeasure, called the shop they gave me a half refund. Took him to the vet the next morning, did a culture and it was bacteria. Lucky for me I already had a herp vet in mind to see my snake the day after I got him. His RI cleared up in about a week after a series of 3 shots. He hasnt had an issue since. Also the vet told me to bump up his humidity to help get the gunk out of his lungs. A warm moist air helps them hack up that nasty film.

Point is OP, get a HERP VET. Not just a regular vet but one for reptiles. Humidity DOES help. And RI's are completely TREATABLE. I think the total cost for EVERYTHING was about 120. That was the visit and the 3 rounds of shots. Not an issue since.

[Corey209]

So was the snake with an URI taken to a actual Vet?


According to your signature you got the pastel bp? How is he doing? Are you quaratining him away from your king snake to prevent him from getting mites?

She's a co-owner to a reptile store and was a vet previously. But yeah the pastel BP is doing good, letting him get used to his new environment and yes he is currently on the other side of the house. I have yet to see any mites on the king snake though so I hope he's cleared up.

[Corey209]

My boa came with an RI, he didnt show any issues at the shop i got him from and the second I got home the open mouth began- much to my displeasure, called the shop they gave me a half refund. Took him to the vet the next morning, did a culture and it was bacteria. Lucky for me I already had a herp vet in mind to see my snake the day after I got him. His RI cleared up in about a week after a series of 3 shots. He hasnt had an issue since. Also the vet told me to bump up his humidity to help get the gunk out of his lungs. A warm moist air helps them hack up that nasty film.

Point is OP, get a HERP VET. Not just a regular vet but one for reptiles. Humidity DOES help. And RI's are completely TREATABLE. I think the total cost for EVERYTHING was about 120. That was the visit and the 3 rounds of shots. Not an issue since.

The snake was almost completely good after one month of heat and humidity. He had a little mucus in his mouth but RI never fully clears up it always leaves the snake at a higher risk of getting it again (I'm not arguing about this, talk to a reptile specialist...). So I think which I am assuming is that when he got the mites he stressed out which does weaken the immune system and he was soaking in his water dish which could have easily cooled his temps down a lot making his RI worse. The ex-vet I know did work with reptiles by the way.

[Lankyrob]

Answer the questions, WERE cultures taken? You seem to be avoiding it and as the person is an "ex" vet i would assume they have no access to labs etc. did they even look at the snake or just take your description and diagnose from that?

[Aaron_S]

The snake was almost completely good after one month of heat and humidity. He had a little mucus in his mouth but RI never fully clears up it always leaves the snake at a higher risk of getting it again (I'm not arguing about this, talk to a reptile specialist...). So I think which I am assuming is that when he got the mites he stressed out which does weaken the immune system and he was soaking in his water dish which could have easily cooled his temps down a lot making his RI worse. The ex-vet I know did work with reptiles by the way.

I am one, thanks.

To my knowledge, it can go away if treated properly. You sir, did not. If you just treat the symptoms (as you did) then yes it can come back. If it's just bacteria then it's 100% curable as stated. Virus makes it more difficult.


Your mites must have been DISGUSTINGLY over populated for it be so quick acting.

[Corey209]

I am one, thanks.

To my knowledge, it can go away if treated properly. You sir, did not. If you just treat the symptoms (as you did) then yes it can come back. If it's just bacteria then it's 100% curable as stated. Virus makes it more difficult.


Your mites must have been DISGUSTINGLY over populated for it be so quick acting.

I didn't get any medication because all he had was popping and an occasional open mouth breathing. He was getting a lot better with just heat and humidity but I wasn't checking on him as much because of him being sick and I didn't want to stress him out. I only found a few on him even after soaking so they weren't that bad but there is a possibility I wasn't thorough enough.

You can't tell me though that from the mites and self soaking his RI couldn't have gotten worse.

[Lankyrob]

How many days was he soaking for before you checked him?

[Corey209]

Answer the questions, WERE cultures taken? You seem to be avoiding it and as the person is an "ex" vet i would assume they have no access to labs etc. did they even look at the snake or just take your description and diagnose from that?

No culture but they did examine the snake in person recommending to raise temps because it was very minor. He was still eating as well.

About the soaking only one or two days.

[Aaron_S]

I didn't get any medication because all he had was popping and an occasional open mouth breathing. He was getting a lot better with just heat and humidity but I wasn't checking on him as much because of him being sick and I didn't want to stress him out. I only found a few on him even after soaking so they weren't that bad but there is a possibility I wasn't thorough enough.

You can't tell me though that from the mites and self soaking his RI couldn't have gotten worse.

Never once heard of soaking making RI worse. This would be the first case. Especially if it magically happened within a day!

Your information doesn't add up.

[Corey209]

Never once heard of soaking making RI worse. This would be the first case. Especially if it magically happened within a day!

Your information doesn't add up.

That was just my assumption like I had already said, his RI was getting better he got mites soaked in cold water then his RI had gotten worse.

[Aaron_S]

That was just my assumption like I had already said, his RI was getting better he got mites soaked in cold water then his RI had gotten worse.

Yeah, and you passed your assumption off as fact. You're guessing. You failed.

Anyway, you don't have the animal anymore. Let's hope the ball python fares better.

[EmbraceCalamity]

That was just my assumption like I had already said, his RI was getting better he got mites soaked in cold water then his RI had gotten worse.I'm not gonna say anything about the RI 'cause I don't know, but I have a possibly really stupid question: How was the water cold? I mean, wouldn't the enclosure be warm enough that the water wouldn't be cold?

~Maggot

[CMRetics]

I doubt she does.
Ego check please. You don't know more than every vet, you don't know this vet, so lets kick that before it starts. Internet diagnoses are pretty humorous. doctor. LOL

I've never heard of water somehow making an RI worse. I want to know where you get your information instead of just assuming things.

You know nothing about RI's. Did you get a culture done to see if it was bacterial or viral? Did you then get medication that was specific to that?

You're wrong about RI's. They can and DO go away. You're making excuses for your shoddy keeping.
You're sitting here telling people about RI, but then you list cultures done for 2 types of RI. If you knew so much you would have suggested fungal as well. Careful before attacking someone on their lack of RI knowledge. ;)

The snake was almost completely good after one month of heat and humidity. He had a little mucus in his mouth but RI never fully clears up it always leaves the snake at a higher risk of getting it again (I'm not arguing about this, talk to a reptile specialist...). So I think which I am assuming is that when he got the mites he stressed out which does weaken the immune system and he was soaking in his water dish which could have easily cooled his temps down a lot making his RI worse. The ex-vet I know did work with reptiles by the way.
Mites + cold water will make an R.I. worse, especially if it hasn't cleared up fully, it's very easy to regress. If it's a viral RI you're pretty much stuck and every little thing can bring it back on, if it's a really set in bacterial one- antibiotics are sometimes needed to help finish it off, or else it will stick around.

Next time, move him into a small shoebox style container with paper towel as bedding, heat the whole box up, keep humidity high and treat the mites, but deny him a tub big enough to soak in. He's soaking to get rid of mites, which you can kill easily, if he's soaking after that, his humidity is too low.



I'm not gonna say anything about the RI 'cause I don't know, but I have a possibly really stupid question: How was the water cold? I mean, wouldn't the enclosure be warm enough that the water wouldn't be cold?

~Maggot
Water is naturally cooler than air, and if placed away from the heating element, its easy for it to be too cold.

[KORBIN5895]

Ego check please. You don't know more than every vet, you don't know this vet, so lets kick that before it starts. Internet diagnoses are pretty humorous. doctor. LOL


You're sitting here telling people about RI, but then you list cultures done for 2 types of RI. If you knew so much you would have suggested fungal as well. Careful before attacking someone on their lack of RI knowledge. ;)


Mites + cold water will make an R.I. worse, especially if it hasn't cleared up fully, it's very easy to regress. If it's a viral RI you're pretty much stuck and every little thing can bring it back on, if it's a really set in bacterial one- antibiotics are sometimes needed to help finish it off, or else it will stick around.

Next time, move him into a small shoebox style container with paper towel as bedding, heat the whole box up, keep humidity high and treat the mites, but deny him a tub big enough to soak in. He's soaking to get rid of mites, which you can kill easily, if he's soaking after that, his humidity is too low.




Water is naturally cooler than air, and if placed away from the heating element, its easy for it to be too cold.

Yay! ******** is back!

[Corey209]

Ego check please. You don't know more than every vet, you don't know this vet, so lets kick that before it starts. Internet diagnoses are pretty humorous. doctor. LOL


You're sitting here telling people about RI, but then you list cultures done for 2 types of RI. If you knew so much you would have suggested fungal as well. Careful before attacking someone on their lack of RI knowledge. ;)


Mites + cold water will make an R.I. worse, especially if it hasn't cleared up fully, it's very easy to regress. If it's a viral RI you're pretty much stuck and every little thing can bring it back on, if it's a really set in bacterial one- antibiotics are sometimes needed to help finish it off, or else it will stick around.

Next time, move him into a small shoebox style container with paper towel as bedding, heat the whole box up, keep humidity high and treat the mites, but deny him a tub big enough to soak in. He's soaking to get rid of mites, which you can kill easily, if he's soaking after that, his humidity is too low.




Water is naturally cooler than air, and if placed away from the heating element, its easy for it to be too cold.

Thanks for the advice man, and yeah I assumed that's what caused the RI to get worse, but everyone here seems to think I'm an idiot for assuming so.. And for people to say that water wouldn't be cold is ridiculous.

[KORBIN5895]

Thanks for the advice man, and yeah I assumed that's what caused the RI to get worse, but everyone here seems to think I'm an idiot for assuming so.. And for people to say that water wouldn't be cold is ridiculous.

The water should be close to whatever your ambient air temperature. It's all about thermal exchange. Have you ever heard of something being at room temperature?

[CMRetics]

The water should be close to whatever your ambient air temperature. It's all about thermal exchange. Have you ever heard of something being at room temperature?
Depends an extreme amount on where he has the water dish on the temp gradient, and where it is in proximity to the heat element. Moving the dish from 1 side to another can change the temperature more than you would think.

[EmbraceCalamity]

Depends an extreme amount on where he has the water dish on the temp gradient, and where it is in proximity to the heat element. Moving the dish from 1 side to another can change the temperature more than you would think.I don't think anyone's arguing that it won't have an effect, but even if the dish was on the cool side (which seems like a bad idea in and of itself), it still should only be room temperature, not "cold."

~Maggot

[CMRetics]

I don't think anyone's arguing that it won't have an effect, but even if the dish was on the cool side (which seems like a bad idea in and of itself), it still should only be room temperature, not "cold."

~Maggot
Cold for us, and cold for a snake is a lot different. Especially if the animal is stressed/recovering, even a few degrees will make the water too cold.

[EmbraceCalamity]

Cold for us, and cold for a snake is a lot different. Especially if the animal is stressed/recovering, even a few degrees will make the water too cold.I don't doubt that the water was cooler than it should have been (though would it have made a difference?), but I don't know of anyone who would call room temp water "cold." And it seems strange that someone who is aware enough of the water temperature needs of reptiles to call room temp water "cold" because it would be to a snake would make the mistake to put it somewhere in the enclosure that would allow it to be so, thus the explanation that the water simply was cold for some reason appears more likely than an altered vocabulary and contradictory actions that don't reflect this level of understanding.

~Maggot

[Corey209]

I don't doubt that the water was cooler than it should have been (though would it have made a difference?), but I don't know of anyone who would call room temp water "cold." And it seems strange that someone who is aware enough of the water temperature needs of reptiles to call room temp water "cold" because it would be to a snake would make the mistake to put it somewhere in the enclosure that would allow it to be so, thus the explanation that the water simply was cold for some reason appears more likely than an altered vocabulary and contradictory actions that don't reflect this level of understanding.

~Maggot

I keep the dish more on the cool side because I'm assuming it'd be good for the snake when he wants to cool off. The snake isn't going to soak unless he wants to cool off or is irritated anyways so I don't see why it would be a bad idea.

[iBaman]

Yay! ******** is back!

Ugh, don't let these guys get to you, CM. Though if i may say, Wayne...why doesn't Korbin get a warning for using the word Douche like I did? and he uses it constantly. I don't care if it's blurred out, it's the principal...

[EmbraceCalamity]

I keep the dish more on the cool side because I'm assuming it'd be good for the snake when he wants to cool off. The snake isn't going to soak unless he wants to cool off or is irritated anyways so I don't see why it would be a bad idea.I'm no snake expert, so someone else here can verify or negate this, but I don't believe snakes soak to cool off - literally or figuratively. I'm pretty sure they do it for moisture needs, hence them doing it when they're shedding. Snakes can thermoregulate just fine without a dish of water. And you said so yourself that it could have cooled his temps and made him sicker, so why you're confused about it being a bad idea is a mystery to me. To my mind, it would make much more sense to keep the water in the moderate temperatures so that the snake could use the water without it raising or lowering its body temperature too much, especially if you know it's sick.Ugh, don't let these guys get to you, CM. Though if i may say, Wayne...why doesn't Korbin get a warning for using the word Douche like I did? and he uses it constantly. I don't care if it's blurred out, it's the principal...I'm pretty sure that's not what he said. :p

~Maggot

[Corey209]

I'm no snake expert, so someone else here can verify or negate this, but I don't believe snakes soak to cool off - literally or figuratively. I'm pretty sure they do it for moisture needs, hence them doing it when they're shedding. Snakes can thermoregulate just fine without a dish of water. And you said so yourself that it could have cooled his temps and made him sicker, so why you're confused about it being a bad idea is a mystery to me. To my mind, it would make much more sense to keep the water in the moderate temperatures so that the snake could use the water without it raising or lowering its body temperature too much, especially if you know it's sick.I'm pretty sure that's not what he said. :p

~Maggot

I don't think it's a bad idea for a healthy snake. I didn't think about the water dish being on the cool side at the time while my snake had RI which in that case was a bad idea but could have been avoided completely. If it is true they don't use the dishes to cool off then I will make sure to move it into the warmer side.

[EmbraceCalamity]

I don't think it's a bad idea for a healthy snake. I didn't think about the water dish being on the cool side at the time while my snake had RI which in that case was a bad idea but could have been avoided completely. If it is true they don't use the dishes to cool off then I will make sure to move it into the warmer side.My suggestion that it seems like a bad idea is based on the fact that snakes sometimes soak when they're in shed, and if you allow it to get "cold," then when they go to use it, it's going to lower their body temps, even if they don't need to be lowered.

Why exactly would a snake soak when it's "irritated"?

~Maggot

[Corey209]

My suggestion that it seems like a bad idea is based on the fact that snakes sometimes soak when they're in shed, and if you allow it to get "cold," then when they go to use it, it's going to lower their body temps, even if they don't need to be lowered.

Why exactly would a snake soak when it's "irritated"?

~Maggot

If the skin is irritated like with mites or burns and that's true, I'll readjust my cage tomorrow. Even if it isn't bad for the dish to be on the cold side it wouldn't hurt to have it on the warmer side so that by chance the snakes temps don't drop.

[KORBIN5895]

Water isn't a magical element that will miraculously be lower then the ambient temps. If you raised your hot end temps then your cool end temps would've also raised. Again your water is going to be roughly what your ambient temps are in the cool end because that's where you have it.

[EmbraceCalamity]

Water isn't a magical element that will miraculously be lower then the ambient temps. If you raised your hot end temps then your cool end temps would've also raised. Again your water is going to be roughly what your ambient temps are in the cool end because that's where you have it.Can you verify or negate my suggestion that snakes don't generally/need to soak to cool off and that cool/cold water would be less ideal than water kept warmer?

~Maggot

[Corey209]

Water isn't a magical element that will miraculously be lower then the ambient temps. If you raised your hot end temps then your cool end temps would've also raised. Again your water is going to be roughly what your ambient temps are in the cool end because that's where you have it.

My cool end was around 85, for a snake with RI I would assume that's a bit low. Either way the mites could have easily stressed out the snake making his RI worse so it could be either or.

[KORBIN5895]

Can you verify or negate my suggestion that snakes don't generally/need to soak to cool off and that cool/cold water would be less ideal than water kept warmer?

~Maggot
The only time I have heard of a snake soaking to cool off is when the temps are way too high. As with any heat exchange there is lost energy so the water will be a degree or two cooler.

My cool end was around 85, for a snake with RI I would assume that's a bit low. Either way the mites could have easily stressed out the snake making his RI worse so it could be either or.

85°f seems a bit high for a cool end temp.

[Corey209]

The only time I have heard of a snake soaking to cool off is when the temps are way too high. As with any heat exchange there is lost energy so the water will be a degree or two cooler.



85°f seems a bit high for a cool end temp.

Temps were hard to manage in a 40g, I had the hot side at 90 while basking was 95 and the cold side was 85 so I was happy with that since there's not a whole lot I can do with a glass tank.

[EmbraceCalamity]

Temps were hard to manage in a 40g, I had the hot side at 90 while basking was 95 and the cold side was 85 so I was happy with that since there's not a whole lot I can do with a glass tank.How are temps hard to manage in a 40 gallon? I have a 20 gallon and keep the hot side in the low 90's and the cool side can easily stay at mid 70's.

And how on earth was your water cold when the ambient temp was 85?

~Maggot

[Wildside]

i dont think reptiles magically get mites.


I must respectfully disagree. Sometimes I think aliens abduct them and put mites on them for teh lulz.

[KORBIN5895]

How are temps hard to manage in a 40 gallon? I have a 20 gallon and keep the hot side in the low 90's and the cool side can easily stay at mid 70's.

And how on earth was your water cold when the ambient temp was 85?

~Maggot

You are fighting against the wind. You and I know what your saying makes sense but he won't get it.

[EmbraceCalamity]

You are fighting against the wind. You and I know what your saying makes sense but he won't get it.I'm not saying he's the worst owner ever and should never care for another herp, but what he's saying simply doesn't make sense. At all.

~Maggot

[dinosaurdammit]

I must respectfully disagree. Sometimes I think aliens abduct them and put mites on them for teh lulz.

Makes me think back to high school when we learned that people in the dark ages would believe that a pile of clothes in the corner would magically and spontaneously generate a rat or two. That rats that carried the plague were magically not there and then POOF there they were.

[Wildside]

Makes me think back to high school when we learned that people in the dark ages would believe that a pile of clothes in the corner would magically and spontaneously generate a rat or two. That rats that carried the plague were magically not there and then POOF there they were.


So how do snakes that are kept in clean cages, and on newspaper, and with the same owner for well over a year, spontaneously generate mites?

[dinosaurdammit]

So how do snakes that are kept in clean cages, and on newspaper, and with the same owner for well over a year, spontaneously generate mites?
Ancient Aliens!
http://memecrunch.com/image/4edd0a501861331d64000000.jpg

on a serious note maybe its coming in on the bedding or even the mites could have been hibernating or what ever it is mites do. I havnt had an issue with mites but once and its when I got jerry rice. He was infested. Some PAM and daily soaks in warm water and a little bit of mineral oil did the trick. I still treat his and athena's cage once a month just in case of aliens. I wonder if you could just pick them up walking into a reptile shop or brushing against stuff in there. I dont know mite life cycle but it wouldnt surprise me if they could lay eggs that stay dormant until ideal conditions are met. I bake all my bedding, treat with PAM, and make sure all food given has had at least a month in the deep freeze. Call me paranoid but i havnt had magical mites since.

[CMRetics]

I must respectfully disagree. Sometimes I think aliens abduct them and put mites on them for teh lulz.

So how do snakes that are kept in clean cages, and on newspaper, and with the same owner for well over a year, spontaneously generate mites?

I have no clue. I've had this group of retics breeding/eating/acting 100% fine. I've used the same caging, nix now and then, and I use newspaper as bedding. Randomly a wild mite appears.

It's baffling where these bastards come from LOL

[Wildside]

I have no clue. I've had this group of retics breeding/eating/acting 100% fine. I've used the same caging, nix now and then, and I use newspaper as bedding. Randomly a wild mite appears.

It's baffling where these bastards come from LOL


Aliens... I'm tellin' ya!

[Aaron_S]

I have no clue. I've had this group of retics breeding/eating/acting 100% fine. I've used the same caging, nix now and then, and I use newspaper as bedding. Randomly a wild mite appears.

It's baffling where these bastards come from LOL

I would go over who you let in and who you buy animals from. Someone isn't as clean as you are.

[Terranaut]

I would go over who you let in and who you buy animals from. Someone isn't as clean as you are.

Yup. I got mites from a herp shop. After I got them the one time I have had them I of course not knowing they came from there went back for advice on getting rid of them. The owner said it's tough to get rid of them all and they always come back. Thats when I realized his IJ soaking and the mites walking on its head. I put it together and left. Never been back.

[Lankyrob]

This is why if i visit ANYWHERE with reptiles, even a friends collection who i inow is as paranoid as me, i walk into my house, strip completely and shower whilst all clothes go in the washing machine. :)

[KORBIN5895]

I would go over who you let in and who you buy animals from. Someone isn't as clean as you are.


This reminds me of the guy that's like " I have been faithful to my wife for thirty years but every now and then I randomly get crabs."

[CMRetics]

I would go over who you let in and who you buy animals from. Someone isn't as clean as you are.

Yup. I got mites from a herp shop. After I got them the one time I have had them I of course not knowing they came from there went back for advice on getting rid of them. The owner said it's tough to get rid of them all and they always come back. Thats when I realized his IJ soaking and the mites walking on its head. I put it together and left. Never been back.

Musta been the new herp shop I visited, as I haven't gone anywhere else that could have mites in a good while, and I just visited a local shop recently, shortly before the outbreak... HMMMMMM

[red ink]

Mites are a part of reptile keeping... learning to deal with them in the correct manner should be husbandry 101 (or 102 after temps and enclosure sizes).

A quarantine room/area should be part of husbandry 101 but alas nearly everybody fails that class as well...

[CMRetics]

Mites are a part of reptile keeping... learning to deal with them in the correct manner should be husbandry 101 (or 102 after temps and enclosure sizes).

A quarantine room/area should be part of husbandry 101 but alas nearly everybody fails that class as well...
I need to start QTing my blue-jeans so they cant transfer mites, I shoulda stayed awake for that chapter for sure!

[red ink]

I need to start QTing my blue-jeans so they cant transfer mites, I shoulda stayed awake for that chapter for sure!

Probably a good idea if you start going to places with high exposure and high turn over of animals... No doubt that you are being facetious in that statement but hey, I'm not the one wondering how mites miraculously show up in my collection ;)

[Wildside]

Mites are a part of reptile keeping... learning to deal with them in the correct manner should be husbandry 101 (or 102 after temps and enclosure sizes).

A quarantine room/area should be part of husbandry 101 but alas nearly everybody fails that class as well...

Sometimes this forum really needs a rep system