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Info BHB

LGray23

LGray23

New member
Joined
Feb 24, 2011
Messages
15
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Location
Attleboro, MA, US
I am very neutral with this company. My boyfriend bought 1.1 yellowbellies and 0.1 fire ball pythons from BHB for me for Christmas. I love how the animals look, and all have a very nice demeanor...however...they came with mites.

All look healthy besides that, but I am not too happy about having mites appear on my newest additions. I contacted Brian to let him know. I had asked if maybe he'd send a can of PAM my way for the hassle (I already have a can enroute) and I was told he'd send me a few bucks to get RID from Walmart. I declined. I'm just not personally comfortable using human lice treatment on my expensive (expensive to me...) collection, regardless of how many other people use it.

I'm not mad, I know it happens, and I don't think they knowingly sent them out with mites since I thoroughly checked them over when I got them. They were just noticeable two days ago (1/1/12), so I'm guessing they were carrying eggs. Just would have been nice to have been offered a free can of PAM since I'm going to have to treat, then REtreat in a few weeks. Just be sure to have a can or two of PAM handy when ordering from them.
 
I sent the original message telling him about the mites via their website "contact us" form and stupidly didn't copy and paste it, but the rest were through email. Here is his response.
[email protected]
Jan 2 (1 day ago)

to me
Hi,
I am so sorry, we had been mite free for a long time and just recently we had an explosion and thought we had taken care of it. I'm not sure where they came from, but I am so sorry that you got them with our animals. We are making sure to get this under control. Please let me know if I can do anything to make it up to you. Thanks for your understanding.. Happy New Years! Brian

Leah Gray
Jan 2 (1 day ago)

to bhb
I totally understand, I know it must be tough with so many new animals coming in also. Would it suck for me to ask if maybe you could get a can of PAM to me? I have other racks I'm going to have to spray down? Like I said I totally understand, but PAM would never hurt haha.

Thanks
Leah

[email protected]
Jan 2 (1 day ago)

to me
I use a product called RID. You can get it from Walmart for about 25% of what PAM cost. From what I can see it's that exact ingredients. Don't tell the PAM guys I told you this because he would get pissed. That being said I am happy to send you a few bucks to buy that. It's normally about $5 a can... Let me know if you want me to. Thanks, Brian

Leah Gray
5:16 PM (23 hours ago)

to bhb
Eh, not really comfortable using anything other than PAM, especially since I know it works so quickly. I'll pass on the RID but thanks for the offer...

No responses after that, that's the extent of the conversations. If you'd like I can take a picture of my poor little female fire soaking in her water dish, where she's been the past 2 days....
 
Hopefully you took some pics when first receiving them. Do you have a seperate quarintine room? Its very possible they were carrying eggs but like you said you checked em over real well and just now saw them. Without any proof its kinda your assumption and probably wont go far from here. Just a bummer I guess. I personally don't keep BP's and have NOT purchased from BHB.
 
They were perfectly fine when I first got them, like I said I didn't see any issues up until the 1st. Yes, they are quarantined so it's not possible to have come from anywhere else. The two yellow bellies have it worse than the fire too.
 
Mooing Tricycle said:
Maybe he should be buying PAM, instead of RID and start using it with EVERY enclosure cleaning. Jeeze.
Click to expand...

Yes, you buy cheap you get crap results as RID does NOT contain the same ingredients as PAM. thats a sorry excuse if i ever heard one.

PAM has a patent on thei formula which is not 100% disclosed to public nor on the can. RID dont do squat for mites but cause problems with the snakes health.
 
I don't want to seem like I'm bashing, because I'm not. Honestly the yellowbellies and my fire are both BEAUTIFUL examples of the morph, and all even took their first meals with me (before the mites). My only complaint would be the MITES, that's all (which sucks, but I think I'd rather have mites than have sick animals! If I had to choose between the two of course). As far as I know the transaction and shipping of the animals went perfectly for my boyfriend....

I've heard horror stories with them as well as positive, like I said, I'm neutral.
 
LGray23 said:
I don't want to seem like I'm bashing, because I'm not. Honestly the yellowbellies and my fire are both BEAUTIFUL examples of the morph, and all even took their first meals with me (before the mites). My only complaint would be the MITES, that's all (which sucks, but I think I'd rather have mites than have sick animals! If I had to choose between the two of course). As far as I know the transaction and shipping of the animals went perfectly for my boyfriend....

I've heard horror stories with them as well as positive, like I said, I'm neutral.
Click to expand...

Mites happen, but they are also dangerous in any collection. They carry diseases that can make your snakes extremely Ill and or kill them.
 
LGray23 said:
I am very neutral with this company. My boyfriend bought 1.1 yellowbellies and 0.1 fire ball pythons from BHB for me for Christmas. I love how the animals look, and all have a very nice demeanor...however...they came with mites.

All look healthy besides that, but I am not too happy about having mites appear on my newest additions. I contacted Brian to let him know. I had asked if maybe he'd send a can of PAM my way for the hassle (I already have a can enroute) and I was told he'd send me a few bucks to get RID from Walmart. I declined. I'm just not personally comfortable using human lice treatment on my expensive (expensive to me...) collection, regardless of how many other people use it.

I'm not mad, I know it happens, and I don't think they knowingly sent them out with mites since I thoroughly checked them over when I got them. They were just noticeable two days ago (1/1/12), so I'm guessing they were carrying eggs. Just would have been nice to have been offered a free can of PAM since I'm going to have to treat, then REtreat in a few weeks. Just be sure to have a can or two of PAM handy when ordering from them.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the heads' up Leah! Good luck getting rid of the mites...sucks that you're out the $15 for the PAM. Should I ever decide to buy from them, I'll pre-order the stuff.

Mooing Tricycle said:
Maybe he should be buying PAM, instead of RID and start using it with EVERY enclosure cleaning. Jeeze.
Click to expand...

:iagree:
 
Thanks for the info Leah, I think you are being extremely pleasant regarding the situation.

Mites do suck and they can spread like weeds (even to seperate rooms of your house). Fortunatly, I have not seen a mite in over 3 years, I would never want to see one again. (Took me 3 weeks and about 30 hours of excess labor cleaning and changing out tubs daily).

I can't see how anyone including BHB could NOT take mites as a very serious issue.

1. This is not the first BOI Post about BHB sending out snakes with Mites recently.

2. Brian admitted to having an explosion of mites at his facility recently.

3. Brian also admitted to using a sub-par treatment for mites from Walmart in order to save some money.

4. You apparently recieved your animals that were carring eggs or the mites were in their early stages, obviously his (Walmart) treatment most not have worked.

Bottom line- If you know you have a problem, you don't send out additional animals until you are 110% positive you have corrected the problem. (I don't care if that means not sending out animals for weeks or months) you just don't do it.

Did he really only offer you $5 for a can of Walmart crap to help resolve your situation? :shrug01:

I do feel for you and hope you get the mites eliminated in quick order.

I sure hope BHB gets their act cleaned up soon. I know they are large scale breeders but a few more situations like this made public may cause some long-term damage.

Good reps can take years to obtain and only minutes to destroy!:thumbsup:
 
Yeah, I remember reading about this with BHB a couple of times recently. I almost bought a couple snakes from them last week, glad I didn't! The reason I didn't was after reading about the mite problem in the other BOI. Not sure if I would do any business with those guys until they prove they have gone mite free. Thanks for the info Leah, hope they don't spread to your other snakes.
 
Provent-A-Mite

I can't believe Brian Barzcak is using Rid! Brian has been breeding and selling for a long time. As a breeder I consider the best defense against mites to be Provent-A-Mite. When you have a large collection of snakes in large buildings, it is very difficult to get on top of a mite infestation. But with due dilligence (which you must have to conquer this problem) you can get it under control. But you can't do that with Rid or Pam...... You need something that works in seconds like the product I mention. You also must treat all cages and animals again in exactly 14 days or those eggs will hatch and blossom into brand new little mites. When you are a professional breeder, producing all of your own animals....you usually don't have a mite problem. It will come when you buy outside animals and bring them into your facility.:shrug01:'

Susan Sentman
SSNAKES Reptiles
 
I can't believe Brian Barzcak is using Rid! Brian has been breeding and selling for a long time. As a breeder I consider the best defense against mites to be Provent-A-Mite. When you have a large collection of snakes in large buildings, it is very difficult to get on top of a mite infestation. But with due dilligence (which you must have to conquer this problem) you can get it under control. But you can't do that with Rid or Pam...... You need something that works in seconds like the product I mention. You also must treat all cages and animals again in exactly 14 days or those eggs will hatch and blossom into brand new little mites. When you are a professional breeder, producing all of your own animals....you usually don't have a mite problem. It will come when you buy outside animals and bring them into your facility.'

Susan Sentman
SSNAKES Reptiles




am I missing something? isnt PAM and Provent-a-mite the same thing?
 
RobNJ said:
Thanks for the heads' up Leah! Good luck getting rid of the mites...sucks that you're out the $15 for the PAM. Should I ever decide to buy from them, I'll pre-order the stuff.
Click to expand...

Honestly, I've now learned Provent-a-mite should probably always be on hand when buying from someone you don't personally know. This thread really isn't meant to damage BHB and Brian's name, I just wanted to throw it out there. In the times I've interacted with him and my boyfriend said he was great to work with he was a pleasure, I just think the mites issue should be resolved. I'll be treating all my enclosures in every room with the PAM, the same should probably be done there as well. I'm sure it's hard to keep track of that many snakes, but if PAM was used as a preventative then this problem may have never happened...
 
Get Sum said:
Thanks for the info Leah, I think you are being extremely pleasant regarding the situation.
Click to expand...


Yep. Way too pleasant.

He asked if he could do anything, you responded.

He declined.

If PAM and an extra $10 or $15 is all that it will take to make you a satisfied customer - and to alleviate the headaches and hassles associated with dealing with mites that he inflicted on you, then shame on him for not manning up and doing the right thing.
 
Well if you own reptiles and buy and sell them. Your bound to get mites. Plain and simple. I can see someone who has 1-2 animals never getting mites. But it happens. It is treatable sometimes with work or sometimes with chemicals. In all honesty P.A.M sucks for killing mites. Its awesome for PREVENTING them from hatching. With P.A.M you have to soak the animal get all the live mites off. Then spray P.A.M down let it air out and when the mites hatch they will die as they can't take the chemicals like an adult mite. I personally use my own mixture of Permitherin*sp? whenever I have a mite problem. RID won't hurt your animal as long as you use it like P.A.M it all does the same thing. I don't believe it is the exact same ingredients. But its close. The chemical permitherin won't actually harm anything unless ingested. Its the aerosal in the can that is dangerous. So I buy liquid permitherin at TSC and I actually clean my cages with it after I spray it down with Nolvasan/Chlorexidine. Sorry you got mites OP. But hearing a big breeder has them is no news really. But I can see Brian's point for wanting to send you money for RID or any other mite treatment instead of P.A.M as well it is more money. And with Brian he has a whole lot of overhead as it is. But again I feel for you as I believe in never selling an animal till it 100% Clean and Healthy. So guess I just wanted to put my 2c in about the chemical debate
 
Sorry, but mites DO NOT just happen in situations like this. If your stock, that's for sale, is infected, you are not practicing proper quarantine. The reason there were no mites present upon arrival is because he most likely noticed the mites, treated it and sent it on it's way without following up and making sure the problem is solved. Saying "mites happen" is no different than saying "oh well, my partner gave me crabs ... it happens."

Directing someone to use RID over PAM is also no good. I am almost positive that the seller does not know the experience level of every customer and directing someone to a product that is not labeled or directed for use on an animal while steering away from a product that is, is a very poor move.

PAM is a great product. I have seen others use it once and it has killed all existing mites and prevented the return. All though I recommend a follow up, it has been proven to work with one treatment. Most of the nay-sayers about PAM, usually mention a cheaper product or something that costs less. This really seems like it boils down to $$$. Large scale breeders probably wouldn't like spending that kind of money, but why buy from a large scale breeder that has mites? I can think of many large scale breeders that don't have a single incident of sending a customer mites.

This isn't a bash on BHB, although, they were notified of a mite problem weeks ago and it appears sales did not cease and the problem wasn't addressed properly. This seems like a lack of concern for the customer and personally, I want a seller that earned their money.
 
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