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Ugh, Someone posted in my reptile group today that their roomate had moved out and abandoned 2 "red tails". they could barely stand to be in the same room as them so they were taking basically any offer. 2 red tails 2 tanks, accessories and 2 heat mats for $80. Hopped in the car and went over. How the **** do people live like that... after moving all of their stuff out the place was still a **** hole. I figured it would be bad and at first glance i was kinda surprised, one was a late 2013 and looked in good shape, the other was a 2012 i think and had clearly not shed well for a while. But it wasnt until i picked her up that i noticed she was COVERED in mites, big ones too, i have had mites once before but these were very well fed.
at the end i took them out of pity, and one of the tanks which is now on the porch to freeze for a week or so, along with all of my clothes i was wearing and my winter boots which have now been retired for the year. I am about to cover myself in garbage bags and start the fun! Fortunately i have dealt with mites before but never this bad, they are quarantined and are getting the first of many mite baths in a few minutes. I will take some pictures as i go but since my computer is in the reptile room im not coming in and out until im 100% done.
Pics didnt turn out, but fortunately i had the forethought to grab some footage for my youtube channel, here is a tiny piece to show the snake in question. long way to go
Holy crap those mites! I'm glad you took them in, just be very careful not to spread them through the rest of your reptiles but I'm sure you know that by now.
I've been there and done that with two carpet pythons I took in. In my opinion, mineral oil all the way. It killed almost all of the ones on my carpets. Then froze their tanks outside, put them in new bins and cleaned the newspapers daily. Mite spray was also my best friend for a few days. Sprayed the enclosure and the snakes as well but I think the mineral oil is what helped the most.
irrelevant she isnt in her final enclosure, i mist the quarantine bin every day when i change the paper towel. So it would be high. The final enclosure will be measured and maintained between 40% and 60%, higher at shed times.
irrelevant she isnt in her final enclosure, i mist the quarantine bin every day when i change the paper towel. So it would be high. The final enclosure will be measured and maintained between 40% and 60%, higher at shed times.
How is humidity not relevant? I'm just asking what her current humidity is. Temporary enclosures are not excuses for temporary changes in husbandry. To my knowledge 40-60% is a bit low for boas.
The reading is irrelevant at the moment because she is in a quarantine bin that is not her standard enclosure, i will be happy to give you a full stat readout when she is settled into her permanent home. for now the humidity is high and she is getting bathed daily to help soothe the mite irritation, and those baths will kinda trump any humidity for the moment.
I clearly dont think humidity is irrelevant in the long run, i just mean that the exact reading at the moment is not important because of other factors. I am aware of how to deal with bad sheds and adjust as necessary.
And yes, considering i pulled her from a crappy little undersized dry as a bone fish tank that hadn't been cleaned in months i'd say changes in husbandry are definitely due in this case. She will be well cared for, and i will be brushing up on the exact ideal numbers for a red tail tomorow, it has been a while since i kept one.
The reading is irrelevant at the moment because she is in a quarantine bin that is not her standard enclosure, i will be happy to give you a full stat readout when she is settled into her permanent home. for now the humidity is high and she is getting bathed daily to help soothe the mite irritation, and those baths will kinda trump any humidity for the moment.
I clearly dont think humidity is irrelevant in the long run, i just mean that the exact reading at the moment is not important because of other factors. I am aware of how to deal with bad sheds and adjust as necessary.
And yes, considering i pulled her from a crappy little undersized dry as a bone fish tank that hadn't been cleaned in months i'd say changes in husbandry are definitely due in this case. She will be well cared for, and i will be brushing up on the exact ideal numbers for a red tail tomorow, it has been a while since i kept one.
My mistake, I should have phrased it " excuses for temporary changes in proper husbandry". The fact that the snake is in a quarantine bin is irrelevant, requirements do not change.
Quote:
i will be brushing up on the exact ideal numbers for a red tail tomorow, it has been a while since i kept one.
In the book The Complete Boa Constrictor, the author keeps his boas at 80% during the summer and 50-60% in the winter. Many keep their boas around 60-75% without issues.
Dont worry, i dont have an actual hygrometer in there because i want to expose as little as possible to the mites, but it feels as muggy as my BRB tank in there which is usually about 75% or more, they are getting heavily misted more than once a day and will be monitored closely. I have kept red tails without issue in the past it's just been a little while.
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