My understanding is you won't be able to actually see mites until you have a REALLY awful infestation, OR by fluke chance, unless they are dead at the bottom of the water bowl. It's been MANY years since I have had to deal with mites (THANKFULLY!).

I think Provent-A-Mite and the generic knock-offs are more pesticides than cleaners, but I don't really know, as the last time I had to deal with mites, the best treatment was to use pieces of "No-Pest" strip... which could harm your snake if used improperly.

If you have a decent internet connection (which I don't) you should probably be able to google some images of mites, if not snake mites specifically to see what they look like.

One of the common signs of a snake infested with mites (aside from incessant soaking) is a raised look to the scales that surround the eye - which almost give the snake an expression of "wincing" if you can imagine that. That doesn't happen 100% of the time though.

I think, if you are still worried about it, keep looking at the debris in the water bowl with a microscope, since you have one available, and look up some reference pictures, so you know what to worry about. I'm still inclined to believe that Kaa is going into a shed cycle (from half a continent away, and without any pics at all).

Good luck!

~Rebecca
-----
0.1 Dumeril's Boa '04 (Courtney)
1.2 Ball Pythons



0.2 American Pit Bull Terriers (40lb darling lap dogs:Brandy&Mara)

[ Hide Replies ]

• so if they are mites? - slapnutz, Wed Feb 21 09:45:26 2007
• P-A-M - jdillow, Wed Feb 21 09:56:30 2007
• RE: P-A-M - nboles1215, Wed Feb 21 10:15:21 2007
• RE: P-A-M - jdillow, Wed Feb 21 10:36:25 2007
• RE: P-A-M - nboles1215, Wed Feb 21 10:55:43 2007
• RE: P-A-M - jdillow, Wed Feb 21 13:17:58 2007
• B.P. go after WalMart? - zefdin, Wed Feb 21 11:09:38 2007
• RE: B.P. go after WalMart? - melindaste, Wed Feb 21 11:23:48 2007
• RE: so if they are mites? - amarilrose, Wed Feb 21 13:08:29 2007
• what i looked at was not mites but.... - slapnutz, Thu Feb 22 10:49:24 2007
• RE: what i looked at was not mites but.. - amarilrose, Thu Feb 22 12:27:04 2007
• RE: what i looked at was not mites but.. - slapnutz, Thu Feb 22 12:53:04 2007
• RE: what i looked at was not mites but.. - toshamc, Thu Feb 22 13:06:18 2007