| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| TonyTaxman |
Posted - 23/05/2014 : 13:13:37
I have only had my Royal for about 6 weeks and have a quick question.
For the last 6 weeks, she has been in her hide on the warm side (c.30 - 31 degrees) nearly all the time apart from the odd excursion out and about.
She shed 2 weeks ago for the first time with me and it was a pretty messy shed that needed help to get all the old skin off but we got there.
I have noticed that this week, she has been in her water bowl nearly every time I go and see her.
Just wondered if this was normal as I had never seen her in the bowl until now. Nothing else has changed and she seems fine in herself.
Do Royals just do this from time to time? Is it linked with the warming up of the temperature outside?
All thoughts and comments welcome |
| 3 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Baobab |
Posted - 23/05/2014 : 20:06:37
If it does turn out to be mites there are a few different methods people use on here.
Treat the snake. Some Bath in water with olive oil added which suffocates any mites currently on the snake. I spray some Frontline on a sheet of kitchen roll and have the snake run through it, but as with all pesticides you must not put it on their head. Another pesticide used the same way is callingtons.
Treat the enclosure. Strip everything out. Throw away the substrate. Bake any hides/furniture that can withstand the Heat or put it in a bag and spray with çallingtons or ardap. (Ardap is very strong so must not be used on the snake). Wash out the enclosure and treat with any of the pesticides mentioned paying close attention to the joins. Allow a couple of hours for the pesticide to dry and the fumes to disperse (when I use ardap I leave the viv empty for 24 hours before putting the snake back in but I know some people re introduce after a couple of hours). Don't put any water in with the snake for 24 hours after treatment due to poisoning risk.
For the next two weeks only use paper as a substrate in the enclosure so it's easier to spot a re occurrence. Occasionally you may need to treat again after a fortnight.
An alternative "Green" method is to introduce hypoaspis mites which prey on the snake mites but do not bother the snake. Using this method requires keeping good humid conditions for the hypoaspis to survive throughout the life cycle of the snake mites so they are still around when the mites eggs hatch.
If you do a search on mites on the forum you'll find more detailed methodology.
With a bit of luck it won't be mites. |
| TonyTaxman |
Posted - 23/05/2014 : 17:19:07
Eek - mites!
Never had to deal with them before - what do I do??
Apologies, I am being lazy asking. I should have a look somewhere on this forum as there must be the answer on here.
Thanks |
| Baobab |
Posted - 23/05/2014 : 13:44:13
Usually three things spring to mind when they spend a lot of time in the water. An impending shed which sounds like isn't due, mites, which you can check for by looking for little black dots in the water bowl or trying to cool down due to the temperature being too high, which at 31 doesn't sound like the issue. So given that, mites sounds like the most likely. Unless of course she is just enjoying a soak. |
