New Ball seems sick - advice needed

[shaunyboy]

Originally Posted by Will0W783

A lot of products may not have been invented just for reptiles, but work very well for them. I think it's really just a personal choice in the end. I like Nix, and I know a lot of people who do, but I also know a lot of people who swear by pest strips and Provent-a-mite. I just personally prefer the least toxic stuff I can use.

couldnt agree more willow,its down to personal choice.at the end of the day as long as the method you choose.

1.does no harm to the snake
2.does the job required
3.gives the keeper peace of mind

then all is well in snakeland...!!
cheers shaun

[Chu'Wuti]

About a year ago, there was a thread about mites in which the owner tried the olive oil method. As I recall, the snake began losing scales; it made me very leery of ever trying olive or any other oil for mites. It may have been the way the owner did the treatment, of course; I wouldn't know for sure.

I've read a lot about using Nix, all good. Haven't read as much about Provent-a-Mite, but haven't read anything bad about it other than it costs more than Nix.

Many of the products sold in pet stores for fleas & other pests are not very strong and do not work well.

With ALL treatments, it's important to follow directions carefully and monitor your animal for stress or other negative responses.

Good luck!

[Will0W783]

I wouldn't use oil- if the snake has a particularly hot basking area, it could get burned because oil heats up very quickly. It wouldn't get hot enough to cook the snake, but could give it burns. I still stand behind Nix. But in the case of the OP's snake, I think it needs a vet visit to check for RI too.

[mykee]

Ok, just to shed some new light on this whole mite debate:
I can come at this as someone who has personally used both products and can intelligently make these claims;

1. Both worked.
2. Both products killed all mites, and all eggs never to have the problem arise again in my collection.
3. Both snakes survived the ordeal and went on to lead healthy stable lives.

Now, that we have cleared up the effectiveness of each product for coming through with their claims,
Through my personal experience, I can critique both products unbiasedly:

Cost/Availability:
PAM:
I purchased PAM through a pet store near where I lived at the time for I believe $24. The bottle had roughly 3-5 (double treatments) in it.
Cost per treatment: $4.50-$8.

Nix:
I purchased a 28ml bottle of Nix at my local drugstore for $12. I mixed a third of the bottle into 2 liters of water. Enough mixture to effectively (double treat) over 50 snakes and their environments.
Cost per treatment: $0.08.

Ease of use:
PAM:
Removed snake, furnishings and water dish from enclosure. Spray as per directions. Wait as long as directions say. Replace snake, all furnishings and new bedding.
Problem: The fumes from this product forced me to leave the house for hours. Breathing in this chemical (the same one used in Nix BTW) caused me to cough and hack as well as become light headed.

Nix:
Remove water dish and substrate. Spray it all. Replace water dish and substrate.

Nix wins! If both products work as described, using the SAME active ingredient BUT one of these products would have definitely have melted my alveoli, it's pretty clear to me which product stands out. I'll stick with Nix AND recommend it to anyone who has mite issues.

[infernalis]

And if you have school aged kids, you probably already have some NIX laying around.

about twice a year during school, we have to buy nix anyways.

[mykee]

Wayne, for $hits and giggles whenever I go into the drugstore to purchase Nix, I stand at the counter furiously scratching my head and neck.
Great fun.

[infernalis]

do people move away???

Carry a picture of your snakes, then tell the pharmacist "I need nix for my balls"

or "my balls have bugs" "there's little black specks moving all over my balls"

[Lankyrob]

oh dear!!

[mykee]

LOL! The ball jokes abound...

[mykee]

LOL! The ball jokes abound.
"My balls have mites!!! Oh the horror!!!"

[Will0W783]

Wayne, for $hits and giggles whenever I go into the drugstore to purchase Nix, I stand at the counter furiously scratching my head and neck.
Great fun.

Oh my God, that is too funny! I may have to do that next time.....hehehehe.