Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have had my new Ball Python for about 3 months without problems. Then the excessive soakings in her tub and 2 weeks later she is crawling with mites. Did she have them all along or could they have been introduced with the feeder rats or mice?

Where would the mice being getting the snake mites from? Does another in your collection have mites and they share uneaten prey? Other than that, I'd think it's unlikely to have come from the mice.

Your python probably had them all along, but for some reason, the balance is now shifting in the mites' favour. Just in case, check up on your husbandry in addition to treating the mites.

Ian

Most likely all along, it just took awhile for the mites to get the advantage. Check your other snakes--you could spread them yourself if you are not careful, and naturally start mite-treatment immediately.

Thanks for the replies. I figured the snake already had the mites, I just wanted to verify that they did NOT come from the food. I started treatment the moment I discovered the critters.