Ball Python - I am assuming its Mites... but...

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Montessa_Python GA_Ball_Pythons Kojak SatanicIntention Traviss Montessa_Python Marg Montessa_Python Marg Montessa_Python Marg TATTOOED DEMON GOD Marg

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#1723145

Montessa_Python
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I am assuming its Mites... but...

Okay here is the deal,
I got Lucille, a large female BP in Feb, she has been fine, hiding, coming out at night... eating like a horse...
She lay in her water dish just before a molt.
no signs of mites
Molted yah..
I fed her a large rat on Monday, and that night she started to lay in her water dish..
She has been in it ever since...
So off to get PAM?!
Should I move her to a smaller tub and then boil everything, except the snake. Lay down the paper towels and then start the PAM when it gets here?
Carol

05/02/08 11:47am

#1723162

GA_Ball_Pythons
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Message To: Montessa_Python In reference to Message Id: 1723145

I am assuming its Mites... but...

Don’t bother with boiling everything just get PAM replace the substrate with paper towel for easy monitoring in the next few weeks, remove the snake and water dish, use PAM according to the direction, place the snake back and you’re done.

Having PAM handy is always a good idea to treat new additions, if you go to shows, etc.

05/02/08 12:18pm

#1723200

Kojak
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Message To: Montessa_Python In reference to Message Id: 1723145

I am assuming its Mites... but...

Just my opinion, but I think you are jumping the gun a bit. Having PAM on hand is always a good idea anyways, and treating your enclosure can’t hurt. But just because your snake is hanging out in the water dish does not automatically mean that it has mites. What are your temps like? Snakes will also soak to cool off. And not necessarily because it is "life threateningly" hot in there. This simply allows them to cool off more quickly. If you are hot and turn on the AC, do you gradually lower the temp, or put the thermostat where you are comfortable?
Other snakes just seem to have a preference for relaxing in the water. I have some snakes that will occasionally sit in their water for no apparent reason what so ever other than just to do it! I pre-treat all my tubs with PAM and use a temp gun on my heat so there is no obvious reason why they do it other than because they can.

05/02/08 01:27pm

#1723215

SatanicIntention
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Message To: Kojak In reference to Message Id: 1723200

I am assuming its Mites... but...

Why is she getting fed large rats? She may just be too bloated from the meal and is trying to disperse the pressure. Adult Ball Pythons don’t need anything bigger than a small/small rat or 3 adult mice. Just so it adds up to about 65-70g in the end, it doesn’t matter what you feed. Their metabolisms are so slow, they just don’t need that much food to thrive and grow.

05/02/08 02:08pm

#1723224

Traviss
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Message To: Montessa_Python In reference to Message Id: 1723145

I am assuming its Mites... but...

Could she be Gravid? or developing follicles?...I saw alot of big females ’swimming’ at BHB...to regulate during egg development...just a thought
...Trav

05/02/08 02:18pm

#1723703

Montessa_Python
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Message To: Traviss In reference to Message Id: 1723224

I am assuming its Mites... but...

I don’t think so.. but you never know.
I usually don’t feed her something that big, but she is a large snake and likes to eat ALOT.. LOl
i won’t let her over eat, she won’t be fed for a while after this.
I am still clueless about a snake being gravid. i am a keeper, not a breeder...
Carol

05/02/08 11:00pm

#1723828

Marg
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Message To: Montessa_Python In reference to Message Id: 1723703

I am assuming its Mites... but...

Quote:
I don’t think so.. but you never know
Have you placed her with a male?
Quote:
I am still clueless about a snake being gravid
Not that you Don’t now This, Gravid means "Having Eggs"

Quote:
gravid GRAV-id, adjective:
Being with child; heavy with young or eggs; pregnant.

05/03/08 07:39am

#1724420

Montessa_Python
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Message To: Marg In reference to Message Id: 1723828

I am assuming its Mites... but...

Marg,
No reason to be snide... I have seen the posts on here about what a female snake looks like being gravid.
I got her in Feb, the fellow I got her from only had two snakes as far as I know. He had been trying to sell them for about a year on a tarantula selling board.
She has eaten like a pig, has shed once, but has not shown any signs of ovulation, gaining weight or having the "egg" bulge.. I will take her out and check for mites, and take some pics. BUT she has shown no behavior that goes along with being pregnant...
Carol

05/03/08 09:33pm

#1725674

Marg
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Message To: Montessa_Python In reference to Message Id: 1724420

I am assuming its Mites... but...

Quote:
No reason to be snide
I wasn’t being snide!
I Said
Quote:
Not that you Don’t know This

Quote:
fellow I got her from only had two snakes as far as I know
You didn’t mention this, but, in a way, partially answer one question :o)
Could you contact the"fellow" and ask if thaey had been together,
and if so, is the Other a Male?

05/05/08 07:57am

#1725743

Montessa_Python
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Message To: Marg In reference to Message Id: 1725674

I am assuming its Mites... but...

Sorry.. I do apologize...
the other snake is a young yearling black king snake..
I don’t think they would have mated.. LOL
Unless he had one he didn’t tell me about.
I took her out to check her water and herself.. she is the typical fat, round ball python type.. no signs of lumps, eggs, or bulges. Cleaned her water dish, and refreshed it.. she went back into it.. and then when I checked today, she was in her hide as normal.
Sooo perhaps it was soaking to relieve pressure from eating too big a meal.
Carol

05/05/08 10:03am