Chondropython
08-14-2014, 03:30 PM
My name is Marcial Mendez, and this is my first post here. I've been keeping and breeding snakes for close to 35 years. I am now primarily an arboreal python / boa breeder, but my first snake was a western red-sided garter when I was 6 years old, and I thought it would be cool to add a few nice garters to my collection.
I wish that my first post would be something better, but here goes...
Several months ago, I contract Jeff Benfer about a yearling neon blue phase cali red sided garter... I've always loved these, and I couldn't resist the opportunity to snag a beautiful older-than-hatchling female. Jeff and I ended up making a deal on her and a 2014 male. The male was feeding on worms, and Jeff agreed to get him on pink parts for me before sending.
Fast forward a few months to this week. Jeff let me know that the male was ready to go, and he shipped to me on Monday.
They arrived in perfect condition, and I was blown away with their colors and how nice they were.
As a typical course of action for new arrivals, I quarantine in a separate part of the house, and, as a precaution, I treat tubs with Provent-a-mite spray. I've never had mites, and it is something that I am extremely paranoid about, so I treat for them regardless of where a new animal might come from. I have used this product for 15+ years on everything from baby green tree pythons and emerald tree boas to kingsnakes and tortoises, and I have never once had any problems. Once dry, the product is supposed to be harmless to vertebrates. Well, I learned the hard way that that is not the case.
As soon as I brought the animals in, I put them in their new tubs and left them alone. The following morning (yesterday), I checked on them on my way to work and noticed the male exhibiting some pretty weird behavior.. rolling, mouth gaping, twitching, and jerky movements. I immediately knew these were neurological issues that were attributed to the mite treatment. I removed both animals and placed them in untreated tubs, but it was unfortunately too late. When I got home from work, I had lost the little male. The female was now also exhibiting the same symptoms. When I checked on her this morning, she was still alive but very limp and lethargic, and I'm afraid that I'm going to lose her as well.
As you can imagine, I am totally sick about this. The anticipation of getting them, and having them arrive well exceeding my expectations changed to total dismay when I realized what was happening... I literally almost puked. After corresponding with Jeff, he let me know that he had experienced the same result using this product in the past.
Anyway, I wanted to make this post so that others might learn from it as well and not have the same thing happen to them.
Apparently, garters are very sensitive to this product... DO NOT USE IT ON THEM!
I wish that my first post would be something better, but here goes...
Several months ago, I contract Jeff Benfer about a yearling neon blue phase cali red sided garter... I've always loved these, and I couldn't resist the opportunity to snag a beautiful older-than-hatchling female. Jeff and I ended up making a deal on her and a 2014 male. The male was feeding on worms, and Jeff agreed to get him on pink parts for me before sending.
Fast forward a few months to this week. Jeff let me know that the male was ready to go, and he shipped to me on Monday.
They arrived in perfect condition, and I was blown away with their colors and how nice they were.
As a typical course of action for new arrivals, I quarantine in a separate part of the house, and, as a precaution, I treat tubs with Provent-a-mite spray. I've never had mites, and it is something that I am extremely paranoid about, so I treat for them regardless of where a new animal might come from. I have used this product for 15+ years on everything from baby green tree pythons and emerald tree boas to kingsnakes and tortoises, and I have never once had any problems. Once dry, the product is supposed to be harmless to vertebrates. Well, I learned the hard way that that is not the case.
As soon as I brought the animals in, I put them in their new tubs and left them alone. The following morning (yesterday), I checked on them on my way to work and noticed the male exhibiting some pretty weird behavior.. rolling, mouth gaping, twitching, and jerky movements. I immediately knew these were neurological issues that were attributed to the mite treatment. I removed both animals and placed them in untreated tubs, but it was unfortunately too late. When I got home from work, I had lost the little male. The female was now also exhibiting the same symptoms. When I checked on her this morning, she was still alive but very limp and lethargic, and I'm afraid that I'm going to lose her as well.
As you can imagine, I am totally sick about this. The anticipation of getting them, and having them arrive well exceeding my expectations changed to total dismay when I realized what was happening... I literally almost puked. After corresponding with Jeff, he let me know that he had experienced the same result using this product in the past.
Anyway, I wanted to make this post so that others might learn from it as well and not have the same thing happen to them.
Apparently, garters are very sensitive to this product... DO NOT USE IT ON THEM!