mites

[electrostorm33]

So I bought my corn a week ago and it's 11 weeks old. I have a problem, he has mites. They are in his eyes and on his chin. I've just bought some zoomed mite off spray but looking at the reviews apparently it's not effective. Now I have no idea what to do. Reptiles vets are not common in England. Someone please help. Thanks

[TyeW]

Search up nix treatment online. I used it when I had mites and it worked great. Be sure to carefully follow the article. I think I used the directions on Alberta herp website.

[electrostorm33]

Thank you!

[electrostorm33]

Unfortunately just seen that it's not widely available in the UK, or is very expensive. Money is an issue due to the fact that my parents want nothing to do with my snake /:

[smigon]

Unfortunately just seen that it's not widely available in the UK, or is very expensive. Money is an issue due to the fact that my parents want nothing to do with my snake /:

I never want to discourage anyone from doing or having something they want, but if your parents won't help and you can't afford the proper needs for an animal, I would suggest letting someone adopt him who can afford it. Wait until you are stable and on your own before taking on a life who will rely on you for its every need.

Can you get a job babysitting, lawn care or delivering newspapers or something? Maybe offer to volunteer in a pet shop in exchange for your snake's needs? Or (you don't state your age, I am assuming you are in school) talk to a science teacher about prospects. Explain your situation and they might just let you bring him to school as a mascot and help with the costs of his care.

Many of my snakes are in my home due to situations just like yours. Someone had gotten them and either grew bored with the snake or couldn't afford the care needed. They are REALLY awesome pets, but you do have to remember that they have a life span of up to 20+ years, and if you can't make that commitment then talk to a vet or animal shelter about rehoming him. I wish I lived near you, I would help you out here.

Best of luck with him, I hope that the job idea works out so you can keep him!

[Todd120]

I agree. Never buy a pet on a budget. You never know when a vet expense or something major will pop up. The animal relies on you to take care of it now. What will you do if it ingests something it shouldn't or hurts itself? Always budget for the worst case scenario. If you are still able to handle that, then move forward with the purchase.

[electrostorm33]

Sorry I meant the mite thing, they hate mites. The snake will always be paid for. I'm sorting it anyway. But thanks for you help.

[electrostorm33]

I just knew a lice treatment should not be that much money. But I hear zoo-med can be really effective if used right. I haven't let the mite situation get out of control anyway

[smigon]

Sorry I meant the mite thing, they hate mites. The snake will always be paid for.

Sorry, I have to call you out on this. I think you misunderstood Todd and I, we know the snake is paid for. You said "my parents want nothing to do with my snake", and then changed it to "Sorry I meant the mite thing, they hate mites" when we gave you an honest answer that you may not have wanted to hear.

But what happens when (not "if", but "when") something happens to your snake, or any pet? They do need the proper diet, substrate, heating equipment, hides, dishes, and enough meals to get him through at least a month. And that is just for the setup. You will always need to have funds saved up and available because he will always need to have a food supply, a larger viv, or if he gets injured or sick, like he is now, just one week after you got him.

You made a commitment to him when you bought him that you would do anything it takes to keep him healthy, this is the case with all pets. We spent $8000 on one cat one year when she went into renal failure. Many trips to the vet hospital, two surgeries and several ultrasounds and giving her sub-cutaneous fluids daily helped her recover almost completely. If she were too far gone or if doing what we did would cause more harm than good, we would have put her to sleep without question, it would be the humane thing to do, but since there was a chance she could live and thrive with our help we opted to pay that huge bill with the money set aside for all of our animals. We made a promise to her that we would keep her comfortable for the rest of her life, and we did.

On a different note, since you just got him, I would contact the breeder or pet shop where you got him from. Most breeders and shops have a health guarantee on their animals. I don't know if mites would be covered under this since there is no way to know if he got them at your house or had them when you bought him, but it is worth a shot. I would call them immediately.

I really hope you take our concerns to heart, we are here to help owners help their corn snakes, and to learn new things ourselves. But this is a case where you, as the owner, need to step back and really evaluate what is best for this snake.

[TyeW]

Try to get provent-a-mite if you can't buy nix. Those two are the only products I know of that actually work.

[electrostorm33]

I'm sorry but you know nothing about me. I've got a job as my mum has a business. It's not like this is our first pet. My dad has a fish breeding room and a scorpion, and I've had gerbils, rats, rabbits all been looked after until they died of old age! Once one of the rats had a respiratory problem and we took to the vets and payed for that. Unfortunately only one rabbit died of circumstances completely out of out hands, we still took it to the vets. We have insured all our pets. I recently bought my snake, which I've only had two weeks, another brand new viv, because I thought the other one wasn't suitable. Also a brand new heat matt to go with it. I'm 15 years old. It's not like I'm a 10 year old with a phase. I'm looking into breeding once my snakes the right age. And on course I know breeding comes with many complications and if anything goes wrong he will have the best treatment. I don't know how you can say all those things. You no know anything about me

[daddio207]

The Zoomed Mite Spray will work with some extra effort though not as quickly acting and potent as Pro-vent-a-mite but IMO much safer for a 11 week old snake. Since you are new at this I would avoid any home remedies. It will take some work and time to break the Mites life cycle. Mites will feed on the host then fall off and find warm place to lay there eggs. The cycle is pretty quick in snake cages thanks to the added heat. Place your snake in a plastic container with slightly cool to the touch (85 degrees) water that is deep enough to cover his body but shallow enough so the snake can lift his head out of the water to breath. Leave him in for 20 minutes. While he's in there, remove everything from the viv and rinse out the glass tank. It must be glass or plastic. Replace the substrate with paper/newspaper. Use a plastic water bowl and plastic hide. If your not using a dimmer/thermostat on under tank heater now then you might want to get one to regulate it since you wont have the substrate depth anymore. remove the snake from the water and dry him off. Spray him with the Zoomed mite spray especially the head and return him to the tank. You will do this routine weekly for about 6 to 8 weeks.
Good luck and welcome to the wonderful word of reptiles :)

[electrostorm33]

Thank you so much. Since Tuesday he's been in a Smaller container, at a lower temperature of 24degrees with his heat mat and kitchen roll paper for the substrate and his water bowl. I think this is the best way because the mites will be reluctant to lay their eggs. Plus I change the paper and water daily, I am spraying him every 3 days and already there is a result in mite reduction. His viv has been thoroughly disinfected. On a plus side he's eating very very well and is not bathing or rubbing on things so the mites are obviously not irritating him. But I'll give him a lukewarm bath tomorrow just before I spray him. I don't know how he'll like it because he is never ever been in his water bowl to soak haha. Also, can I still spray him if he's about to shed? He's not dull yet but I know hatchlings can shed every month sometimes. Thanks

[smigon]

I'm sorry but you know nothing about me. I've got a job as my mum has a business.

So, if you DO have a job, why can't you afford to treat him?

I don't know how you can say all those things. You no know anything about me

No, I know nothing about you except for the fact that you told us the treatment was too expensive and your parents wouldn't help you out because they want nothing to do with your snake. But then it was the MITES they didn't like. Another example of your double talk since your mother is the one giving you a paycheck so you CAN afford to keep a pet.

And I said "those things" in a polite, gentle manner and gave you a lot of helpful options to choose from. Never was I condescending nor rude, my concern was (and still is) the your husbandry of your snake. You were the one who said you couldn't afford it. And THAT I do know about you, so don't try to make me the bad guy here. You asked, we answered, you apparently didn't like the advice. If you don't want to hear the truth about pet ownership, don't ask. The term "troll" is coming to mind right about now. I think the dead horse has been beaten enough.

We can't help those who won't help themselves.

[electrostorm33]

That one treatment was around £50 plus shipping from America. That's the only issue. I'd have to wait 2 weeks to get it! That's no help. That was the one persons opinion on what's best. There are many ways to treat a snake. And in different opinions some are better. I'd happily pay that money if it was coming from the UK because my snake would be treated a lot faster. After all the snake is my main priority and will be for the next 15-20 years. After all I didn't put a post up saying I wanted a lecture. You had to start somewhere with your snakes right??

[daddio207]

Thank you so much. Since Tuesday he's been in a Smaller container, at a lower temperature of 24degrees with his heat mat and kitchen roll paper for the substrate and his water bowl. I think this is the best way because the mites will be reluctant to lay their eggs. Plus I change the paper and water daily, I am spraying him every 3 days and already there is a result in mite reduction. His viv has been thoroughly disinfected. On a plus side he's eating very very well and is not bathing or rubbing on things so the mites are obviously not irritating him. But I'll give him a lukewarm bath tomorrow just before I spray him. I don't know how he'll like it because he is never ever been in his water bowl to soak haha. Also, can I still spray him if he's about to shed? He's not dull yet but I know hatchlings can shed every month sometimes. Thanks

Your welcome.
Sounds like you got it under control. Don't worry about a shed coming up. Keep treating as you are. A shed will actually be a good thing because it will dislodge any pesky mites that are under scales and not effected by the treatment. Just a reminder, lukewarm to you might be hot to him. :)

[electrostorm33]

I've got a water thermometer just in case what temperature will be good? Thank you

[smigon]

You had to start somewhere with your snakes right??

Absolutely I did, and before I bought my first corn I read no less than four books and everything I could online, I made sure I had her viv set up and running and that I had enough meals in the freezer to last months. I also had the money ready to pay for anything else that came up that she would need that I hadn't thought of.

With all that reading I knew exactly how to deal with mites, but I have also posted many questions here and got excellent advice. I was so grateful to everyone who made suggestions that I sent them a PM or posted a thank you online so they knew I taking their advise. If I didn't believe in the advice or thought it might not the best situation for my snakes I politely said thank you and moved on. Sometimes I was doing something that could be done in a better way, such as never using heat lamps. But as soon as someone mentioned UTHs I went and bought one that day. I used the money in our pet fund to buy it.

All we are suggesting is that you have money set aside for your snake and other pets you know your parents won't help you with financially so you wouldn't be in the position you are in now.

If I needed that particular mite spray I would not hesitate to buy the treatment and pay extra shipping to get it sooner. This is the kind of fund we are talking about, before you bought the snake you should have the money ready for any treatments he may need.

I am sorry you felt like it was a lecture, but you couldn't keep your facts straight about your financial situation (which you have now changed to being a long wait for shipping excuse) while it is the snake that is suffering from whatever your excuse is. I will gladly lecture anyone who is allowing their pet to suffer because they can't afford treatment/parents won't help/shipping takes too long, that is just cruel to the animal.

Best of luck to you and your snake, and I really hope you don't make him suffer any more than he has already.

[electrostorm33]

I appreciate every bit of advice you've given me. But if you read my other replies you'll find my snake is doing great. I wish I knew how to upload pictures on here because he is beautiful. I've been fascinated by snakes for just over a year now, I find them so interesting and the Internet is an amazing place for information. In all the research I have found out about I still want to ask questions because they get in touch with experiences and you can ask about your personal snake. This is why this forum is amazing. I too have food in the freezer. Like you I don't believe heat lamps are good, only because I'd hate to see my snake potentially burning themselves. His treatment is going very well and he is very happy. He is one of the most curious snakes I've ever seen. But thank you for the advice, I know you have more experience then me. I know in the year to come I will become much more experienced as I've only had a year's research in snakes. Thank you:)

[TyeW]

I have used to Zoo med spray before and the mites got worse.

[electrostorm33]

Oh right, I'm going to give it a go for a little bit and see how it goes. Thank you, what else have you used for your snakes? There's two treatments available from the stores I go to. I can't remember what the second was but it said I can't use it until they are 80grams or over. And mine no where near that haha. Thanks

[smigon]

I appreciate every bit of advice you've given me. But if you read my other replies you'll find my snake is doing great. I wish I knew how to upload pictures on here because he is beautiful. I've been fascinated by snakes for just over a year now, I find them so interesting and the Internet is an amazing place for information. In all the research I have found out about I still want to ask questions because they get in touch with experiences and you can ask about your personal snake. This is why this forum is amazing. I too have food in the freezer. Like you I don't believe heat lamps are good, only because I'd hate to see my snake potentially burning themselves. His treatment is going very well and he is very happy. He is one of the most curious snakes I've ever seen. But thank you for the advice, I know you have more experience then me. I know in the year to come I will become much more experienced as I've only had a year's research in snakes. Thank you:)

You are so welcome, and I hope we are over this conversation. I am really passionate about my animals and try to give the best advice. You sound like you are a really reasonable person, and I sorry if I pushed. My only goal here is the educate and be educated. I love to teach, and you caring enough to ask a questions is great.

I am so glad the mites are under control and wish you and your snake nothing but the best.

Thank you for the apology, I gladly accept it, and I think we both learned a lot from this conversation.

Cheers to our scale babies! :cheers:

[TyeW]

Oh right, I'm going to give it a go for a little bit and see how it goes. Thank you, what else have you used for your snakes? There's two treatments available from the stores I go to. I can't remember what the second was but it said I can't use it until they are 80grams or over. And mine no where near that haha. Thanks
I listed nix and provent a mite. While you are treating with Zoo med, you should have one of these two shipped to you because you will need it.

[electrostorm33]

Okay, I definitely want to look into provent-a-mite heard great things. I don't know if you've heard of headrin, or if it's a UK thing but it's another head lice treatment, but it works by suffocating the lice, does nix do this? Or is it a chemical in nix? I was wondering if I could use that because headrin is available whenever I'll need it
Just being cautious because he so young you know? Thanks for replying! :)

[electrostorm33]

Quick update by the way. I'm going to take him to local vets sometime during the week for a little check up, hoping they know something about Reptiles because they are not supposed to be specialists in Reptiles. However they treat tortoises so fingers crossed :) I just want to check that he's healthy despite the mite, and hopefully they can also recommend some treatments. Just want to thank you all again for replying. I really do appreciate it!