Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,
Ok here is the issue. I recently bought (rescued) a 1000 gram plus female from a local store. She was brought in from an individual who raised her from a baby. She is a rather nice looking ball. The issue arose when the "store" housed her with two WC balls. She had a few ticks on her from the other "enclosure" mates that we completely and safely removed that day. She is seperated her from my other Ball Pythons. I checked her the next day and found one more, removed completely and safely. I check her over extremely thoroughly each day. It's been a few days now since I've found anything. Should she be clear now or is it possible they're still "lingering" around her.

She really is a nice Ball, it's just the dang store housed her inappropriately. We talked them down to $60 for her, 1000 gram female. I was happy!

Thanks for any advice.

Greg Haugen

You need to keep her seperate from your other snakes, ck her water bowl for mites. If I was you I would treat her anyway. It will not harm her.

Yes, she is seperate from the rest. No signs of mites whatsoever just the ticks. We looked over her and the others she was with and found a few ticks but no signs of mites. She has had one treatment already, just in case. I just didn't know if "ticks" would show up sooner than later if there is still an issue. Water Bowl has been miteless and tickless, and I currently have her on Newspaper which gets changed out daily-eliminating anything that could be on it.

Greg Haugen

Just keep checking for the ticks then, sounds like you know what you are doing.

From what I remember when everyone was importing babies earlier this season, there was a huge discussion about ticks vs. mites on imported balls. The thing is, WC balls don't usually have mites, just ticks. Balls don't live in an area with naturally occurring mites (someone please correct me if I'm wrong!). So as long as you keep things clean, you shouldn't have an issue with mites at all. I'd keep an eye out for possible ticks, but since you've gone over her thoroughly and it's been a few days, they're probably all gone. Thankfully, ticks aren't as good at hiding and returning like mites are.
Just keep her seperated for the usual quarantine time, and by the time that's over, any lingering ticks you might have missed will have been discovered.

Post pics when you can!

~jenny
-----
"The python has, and I fib no fibs,
318 pairs of ribs.
In stating this I place reliance
On a seance with one who died for science
This figure is sworn to and attested,
He counted them while being digested."
~Ogden Nash

jenny.thegreenes.org

"If you're happy and you know it,
Bomb Iraq!
If you cannot find Osama,
Bomb Iraq!
If the terrorists are frisky,
Pakistan is looking shifty,
North Korea is too risky,
Bomb Iraq!

You are 100% right. Our so - called mites "the little black ones" that are a pain in our collections in the US are NOT native to Africa. Only ticks come in on wild animals.

S.America on the other hand does have mites native and can come in on imported animals and do frequently, If you are buying an animal from a supplier that imports more then 1 or 2 countries then it is a chance that you may end up with mites on an imported Ball only b.c of its contact with another shipment.

Also the store could of had mites on another species of snake and the mites could of traveled, it is amazing how far they can get. Ticks do not spread as easily as mites so as long as you remove then when they pop up you shouldnt have an infestation. Mites actually lay their eggs off of the animal and when they hatch they find their way back, that is why it can look like you have everything under controll for a week or so and all of a sudden they are back, just make sure to keep everything clean and you should be fine
Kim
N.A.R.C

Thank you so much for the responses. It's been a little while for me, just getting back into it again.

Thanks again.
Greg