Bad Guy Off the ark exotic pets

[SSmith]

Are you a rep for prevent a mite becouse you sure seem to be taken this personal pardon someone for speaking.

 

[jglass38]

Read your article see your point but it does match chemical for chemical and works just as good as PAM so to each their own everyone i know has used it for the last couple years and no problems.

No, it doesn't work the same as PAM. It offers NO residual protection so unless you continually retreat, new eggs will hatch and reinfestation will take place. You can lead a horse to water...

 

[yoyokrs]

I bought an adult pair of Dumeril boas from Vinny about a month ago and I have absolutely no complaints.The animals were better than described,packaged well and shipped fast.I was lucky and didn't get any mites but I wouldn't have been surprised or real upset.A few mites are bound to get through now and then.Nobody wants them but it is part of the hobby.It can be hard to completely eliminate them especially for dealers with untold numbers of animals coming and going.I was quite happy and would definitely buy from Off the Ark again.Just throwing out my experience.

 

[TailsWithScales]

Send a snake with mites whether it's known by the seller or not is extremely unprofessional and to me requires more then just a "Oh sorry".

PAM does not kill the eggs!!!!! It's written right on their website:

* Provent-a-mite™ is the only patented, EPA & USDA approved product specifically labeled for use with all reptiles that has undergone more than 25 years of research, clinical testing and use to insure that it will effectively eradicate mites and ticks that feed on your reptiles. Unlike many other treatments, Provent-a-mite™ poses no potential harm to the host being treated when used as directed. No other product can make these claims! . Provent-a-mite™ is the only product that is proven to provide long-term residual protection, so it will kill any larval mites or ticks when they hatch and try to infest your reptiles. All other products quickly break down, becoming ineffective soon after drying.

* Provent-a-mite™ is the only product backed by EPA approved studies, confirming it can be used preventatively to protect your reptiles in addition to eradicating an existing outbreak. Simply treat substrate, racks, enclosure openings, etc. once a month as directed to kill any potentially disease carrying mites or ticks before they can infect your reptiles.

Nix however DOES kill the eggs:
By choosing the Nix® Lice Treatment, you are making the best decision for a proactive plan to eliminate lice. Nix is so often the first choice at the onset of a lice infestation because it is both proven effective and proven safe. Nix Lice Treatment is the #1 professionally recommended brand* for the treatment of lice, and the only prescription strength product available without a prescription. Nix offers a proven formula that quickly and effectively eliminates lice and their eggs.

I have used both and personally I feel the Nix is a more effective product purely for the fact that it kills the eggs and is cheaper and easier to get in a hurry or in a pinch (late at night and such). Mites lay their eggs (for those who do not know) in the substrate or on the enclosure surface, even on logs, plants and the side of the water bowl. So the sooner the eggs are killed the better. I use Reptile Relief As my whole animal treatment as it kills mites and ticks on contact and is safe to put right on the animal without worry. So I am all for using Nix until PAM could be used on the enclosure or in place of. I hope that makes sense.

Just my two cents.

 

[jglass38]

Send a snake with mites whether it's known by the seller or not is extremely unprofessional and to me requires more then just a "Oh sorry".

PAM does not kill the eggs!!!!! It's written right on their website:

* Provent-a-mite™ is the only patented, EPA & USDA approved product specifically labeled for use with all reptiles that has undergone more than 25 years of research, clinical testing and use to insure that it will effectively eradicate mites and ticks that feed on your reptiles. Unlike many other treatments, Provent-a-mite™ poses no potential harm to the host being treated when used as directed. No other product can make these claims! . Provent-a-mite™ is the only product that is proven to provide long-term residual protection, so it will kill any larval mites or ticks when they hatch and try to infest your reptiles. All other products quickly break down, becoming ineffective soon after drying.

* Provent-a-mite™ is the only product backed by EPA approved studies, confirming it can be used preventatively to protect your reptiles in addition to eradicating an existing outbreak. Simply treat substrate, racks, enclosure openings, etc. once a month as directed to kill any potentially disease carrying mites or ticks before they can infect your reptiles.

Nix however DOES kill the eggs:
By choosing the Nix® Lice Treatment, you are making the best decision for a proactive plan to eliminate lice. Nix is so often the first choice at the onset of a lice infestation because it is both proven effective and proven safe. Nix Lice Treatment is the #1 professionally recommended brand* for the treatment of lice, and the only prescription strength product available without a prescription. Nix offers a proven formula that quickly and effectively eliminates lice and their eggs.

I have used both and personally I feel the Nix is a more effective product purely for the fact that it kills the eggs and is cheaper and easier to get in a hurry or in a pinch (late at night and such). Mites lay their eggs (for those who do not know) in the substrate or on the enclosure surface, even on logs, plants and the side of the water bowl. So the sooner the eggs are killed the better. I use Reptile Relief As my whole animal treatment as it kills mites and ticks on contact and is safe to put right on the animal without worry. So I am all for using Nix until PAM could be used on the enclosure or in place of. I hope that makes sense.

Just my two cents.

You sure about that? Nix kills lice eggs. I am not aware that it kills mite eggs. I don't know how similar lice and mites are. Do you? Nix is made to kill lice on humans. PAM is the only product tested and approved for use with reptiles. I think I'll trust and recommend PAM, thanks!

By the way, I never said PAM kills mite eggs. I said it has residual effects that kill new mites after they hatch to avoid reinfestation.

 

[hhmoore]

Please take the mite eradication discussion to another section - the "how to" and product comparisons don't belong in this thread....which, by the way, is about Off The Ark.

 

[jglass38]

Additionally, I have heard plenty of horror stories about neurological problems and death occurring from the misuse of home brew mite remedies. I think everyone should use what they are comfortable with. I just feel a certain responsibility when asked for a recommendation on how to deal with mites to recommend something that I KNOW is safe for use around reptiles. I don't need the death of someone's animal on my conscience.

 

[Heather82]

Well, from what I've understood you shouldn't use such things on your snake, with all the chemicals and all. I use reptile relief, something specially made for reptiles. And I don't spray them in the face, I spray it on my hand then rub their face. My bad.

 

[evilcowboy420]

Jesus for those too stuck up to read I didn't all out spray the animal in the face. I misted over the entire quarantine tank. and it falls in a MIST over the entire snake. The snake isn't seizing or showing any adverse effect as a result of doing this. The only thing the snake is doing now is not soaking in the freakin water dish and seems more comfortable than it has been since I got it. Also IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT. I am glad pet stores stay open 24, 7 in the area of some people but they don't in my area and close at 5:30. This is not a debate about what mite meds I use and if they work. Bottom line on the mite meds is Nix kills eggs, protects for 14 days to prevent re-infestation, and is EPA approved for use on a freakin 2 month old CHILD. Now let me explain how children work. They are born with a very low immune system and are susceptible to just about any know disease because they haven't received inoculations for 99% of what killed people years ago. So for a company to make a claim such as this is waaaaaaay more admirable and I trust it more than some idiot marketing guru slapping a label on water and Permethrine and saying 100% safe for use on reptiles. And yes the same amount of Permethrine is in nix as is PAM and yes if its safe for a baby I am sure a reptile could use it. That inactive ingredients that everyone on the other thread was saying that the company would never release. Yeah that ingredient is water and safe detergents to make it smell pretty. Some people hear about 1 company killing cats (Hartz and no Sergents don't count SAME COMPANY) and then all of a sudden all products are unsafe and will kill everything. BTW Hartz was using a completely different insecticide than they currently use at the time and has since revised the formula they use for fleas. They corrected their mistake something not a lot of companies can say.

Now I could go on all day long about the adverse reactions of certain drugs and yes some would say blah blah your wrong blah blah but the fact is it don't matter. The snake should have NEVER been sent with a parasite on it period. And to do so shows poor business skills. I mean why do people expect the Health inspector to shut down a crappy restaurant but not expect someone to be shut down sending out sick animals. Incidentally PetSmart was sued for the same thing. So essentially its ok if a small store sends sick animals but as soon as a large corporation does it whoa watch out. Does anyone even realize how hypocritical that actually sounds?

It may be me but would it have killed them to break open a bottle of the PAM that some of you are so hell bent on using and spray the snake before putting it in the box? Also is it too much to ask to clearly label a perishable item and for it to be handled properly by UPS after all UPS' terms of service clearly states you are to clearly mark a reptile as such and put air holes in it. Ship your reptiles even sells a kit for idiots who can't read and figure out how to ship a snake.

Also if mites were something that JUST HAPPENS I figured out how to stop it from just happening. stop taking your snakes outside and placing them in the unclean grass. You know this is how cats and dogs get fleas too.

Oh yeah mites ARE a form of Lice and are quite close relatives. Wikipedia works wonders.

 

[evilcowboy420]

oh yeah


Proventamite

http://www.pesticideinfo.org/Detail_Product.jsp?REG_NR=05040400007&DIST_NR=073617

Nix

http://www.pesticideinfo.org/Detail_Product.jsp?REG_NR=06432100001&DIST_NR=071794

READ the toxicity summary at the bottom on both products. What????? Its the same?????? why ???? Cause its the same ingredients???? wow

yeah this is what is know in internet lingo as PWNED.

Incidentally not all tree huggin naturalistic methods work. Some parisites evolve and become immune to natural pesticides.

 

[jglass38]

oh yeah


Proventamite

http://www.pesticideinfo.org/Detail_Product.jsp?REG_NR=05040400007&DIST_NR=073617

Nix

http://www.pesticideinfo.org/Detail_Product.jsp?REG_NR=06432100001&DIST_NR=071794

READ the toxicity summary at the bottom on both products. What????? Its the same?????? why ???? Cause its the same ingredients???? wow

yeah this is what is know in internet lingo as PWNED.

Incidentally not all tree huggin naturalistic methods work. Some parisites evolve and become immune to natural pesticides.

Are you kidding?

 

[hhmoore]

Apparently, some people had a tough time interpretting my last post:

Please take the mite eradication discussion to another section - the "how to" and product comparisons don't belong in this thread....which, by the way, is about Off The Ark.

I'm not sure where the confusion lies, though...it seemed simple enough to me. Guess people just aren't satisfied until they

 

[evilcowboy420]

Wow way to fail at moderating.

Apparently, some people had a tough time interpretting my last post:

I'm not sure where the confusion lies, though...it seemed simple enough to me. Guess people just aren't satisfied until they

So basically what happened is I posted a review of MY personal experience with this company. Others come on and start going off about how I keep MY animals. Saying I am wrong and veering the topic completely off coarse. you then come on after everyone else starts with this kind of crap and then give me the infraction because I defended how I keep my animals. Now this might just be me but shouldn't everyone else receive an infraction since more than just me posted after you posted?

I mean Heather there posted about 1 hour after you did. Is an hour not enough time to reflect on what you said. Or is 2 hours after the limit. I want to know cause I don't want to get any more of those infractions.

Where the hell is this Mite board too??? I don't see anything on the front that says anything about medical or mites.

I am wondering and I mean this as a serious question and not to be taken as me being smart but is discussing mites on a thread I started bothering you and did you give out infractions to everyone on the other posts in the past that veered off topic or was it just the ones you didn't know and weren't familiar with? Also did you take into consideration maybe I was writing my post in response to these people while you were posting your quick message about not to veer off topic? I mean unless you can provide people with a DELETE button then you really shouldn't be such a forum nazi about it.

And yes I already know this post is gonna receive an infraction because I apparently have no first or second amendment rights.

Oh and P.S. If ya ever want to discuss how much of an idiot I am then I live in Rome on Griffiss base and you can take it up with me there instead of posting a slight on everyone's intelligence who posted after you. And yes saying something like "Apparently, some people had a tough time interpretting my last post:" is a slight on someone's intellect.

interpretting = interpreting

 

[matt b]

i actually just got a burmese python from off the ark a couple of days ago.
i will admit that the shipping packaging was a little different, the box was well insulated but the snake was in a paper zoomed bag that was stapled shut.
i would not personally ship an animal this way but at the same time the animal arrived safe and on time, he also seems to be healthy and is feeding great. so i have nothing to complain about.
and i have not seen a mite on him, needless to say he is still being quarantined just to make sure, (which is what should be done with every new specimen brought into the collection)

i personally was/am happy with my transaction with them.

you cant please everyone

 

[evilcowboy420]

::

Yeah I quarantined mine but just after seeing them I treated the whole collection just to be sure. And its cool you had a good experience with them but I would probably not buy from them again. The one good point about my purchase was at least it was fast. in my opinion yo should make sure all aspects of any trasaction is up to par. It seems like they try to cut cost with packaging and that is not in my opinion where to cut costs at. The tube sock thing is still messed up to me.

I would just not buy a dog or cat with fleas so I expect my snake no to have any health issues. But do keep an eye out on your burm and I hope everything turns out good for it.

i actually just got a burmese python from off the ark a couple of days ago.
i will admit that the shipping packaging was a little different, the box was well insulated but the snake was in a paper zoomed bag that was stapled shut.
i would not personally ship an animal this way but at the same time the animal arrived safe and on time, he also seems to be healthy and is feeding great. so i have nothing to complain about.
and i have not seen a mite on him, needless to say he is still being quarantined just to make sure, (which is what should be done with every new specimen brought into the collection)

i personally was/am happy with my transaction with them.

you cant please everyone

 

[reticguy76]

you never know if you buy an animal you havent seen before, in person, without any health issues. of course you expect it, but that is where "buyer beware", especially over the internet, where you cant view the animal in person, comes into play. with the amount of dishonesty on unethical sellers that are there these days, you never know, what you are truly going to get. that is part of the risk buying off the internet or over the phone these days. just the way it is

 

[Junkyard]

Having been involved with discussions with Vinny in the past and reading that he ships out snakes with mites, it gives me one more reason to stay away from his business.

 

[bigtiger]

I bought a small sub 2 ft female green anaconda from Vinny.It was exactly as described.It is now almost 8ft and thriving.I buy my feeders from him when I need them.Vinny has ALWAYS done good by me.I would not hesitate to buy from him again.

My .02

 

[mattie92479]

James,

For your mites use prevent a mite, I promise it is the best on the market. It kills mites and the eggs. I have been working with reptiles for over 12 years and I have found this is the only thing that works 100 percent. I tried all the lice shampoos you can throw a stick at but they are not very effective. It will kill them no doubt but they always return after that 14 day cycle. If you use this product there is no need to throw out anything in your cage, bowls,hides,etc. Just spray your substrate and let dry for about 20 minutes. Make sure you take waterbowls out before you spray. 1 second per sqaure inch of floor space. When it is dry return the reptile and waterbowl. Use paper for a few months to detect them easy and this is the most sterile anyway.The spray lasts for like 25 days or so but keep it treated for a couple of months to rid your problem. Just follow the directions on the bottle. With mites you have to be persistent! As for off the ark, I have known Vinny for years and he is a great guy and I am sure he did not intentionally give you mites. I own many animals from him and they have thrived. I buy from the best breeders in the world and I have had mites from them and many others. Its part of the repile world, like fleas on a dog. I have had mites hundreds of times and I am sure many more to come. Use provent a mite and you will see it is not that big of an issue. Good luck, Matthew Miller Reptiles

 

[viandy]

1 second per sqaure inch of floor space.

Whoa there Matt, you're getting carried away with your spraying. It is a second per square foot. I'm sure you meant to say that, just didn't want anyone to spray a square foot of area for 2min 24 seconds !
I apologize for adding to the off topic drift of this thread. To put it back on track, consider the husbandry knowledge displayed in the "Biosphere" thread started by Vinny Ferraiolo in which he proposes two 4'x2' cages, one containing "1 Tarantula, size corresponding to other animals in its "world", leopard geckos, with a heat pad in their section of the "world", collared lizards that should climb and bask, baby sulcatas and a pair of mice (adam and Eve)", the other with "a pair of frilleds, pair of Jackson chameleons, pair of crested geckos up high and a stripe knee tarantula. I would also like to put a box turtle in here if possible". What store does Vinny, a high school teacher who serves as an ethical example to students suggest? Fortunately he "found a local pet store (Off The Ark Exotic Pets)" without making mention that he owns the store. Check the thread at http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=74494&highlight=biosphere , you get to see him reject all the advice he solicited, have his students make posts about how mean everyone is, and more. A pillar of the community this fellow !

Andrew Via