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It looks like my first Mexican Black Kingsnake is preparing to shed. His eyes have gone cloudy/gray, and his skin is beginning to dull slightly. I have read online that he should be immersed in water for ten minutes to facilitate shedding. At what point should I do this? His eyes have been cloudy for at least two days(as of Thursday the 24th).

I also have a Ball Python, kept in a separate cage. He had mites(no idea how he got them!), so I bleached down his environment and cooked his furniture in the oven. I'm "baptizing" him every hour or so, to get any extra mites hiding in him.

I was admiring my Kingsnake earlier(we exchanged yawns several times; apparently yawns are also contagious to and from snakes), and I saw a mite crawl across his face.

Now, I understand I'm not supposed to handle him while he's preparing to shed, but I would need to handle him to scrub down his enclosure, and submerge him in water to remove any mites.

SO, I am wondering how you folks might suggest that I coordinate this de-miting and shedding process. ie. do I de-mite and submerge him before or after the full shed?

Also, what does mite damage to the skin look like? Or is there even such a thing?

Thank you for taking the time to read this---I'm anxious to figure out what to do.

dont worry about handling a snake during shed cycle go ahead and soak the snake,ive even soak em with a small splash of lice shampoo AFTER i soak them in clean water because their instinct to drink immediatly when immersed.
you know mites seem to infest during the shed cycle or the snake desides to shed during an infestation???

(( I have read online that he should be immersed in water for ten minutes to facilitate shedding.))

I would always let them shed on their own. Sometimes they soak them selves and sometimes they don't. If you keep the humidity up during the shed cycle he should shed (on his own) in one piece about 3-5 days after his eyes have cleared. The amount of time it takes the snake to shed usually depends on it's age. The older the longer it will take. You never want to shed the snake your self unless its way over due to shed. Shedding a snake to early could kill it in the most extreme cases. When I was younger I shed a Gopher snake before it was time to shed, the scales were still moist and soft. They then dried up and the entire snake felt crusty with shriveled scales. The nostrils became clogged and the snake had to breath through its mouth. Now, I let them do it all on their own. Just letting you know incase you weren't aware.

((His eyes have been cloudy for at least two days(as of Thursday the 24th). ))

Depending how old he is he might have another 4 or 5 days before he sheds. Maybe more. It won't hurt to soak him but you don't want to ever handle a snake (getting ready to shed) to roughly. If any of that skin breaks loose, all the scales on that spot will shrivel and dry up. It might take 2 or more sheds to get back to normal again. Its happened to me many times. I don't handle them or soak them during that time. In the wild, most snakes don't have access to water to soak in before they shed.

((SO, I am wondering how you folks might suggest that I coordinate this de-miting and shedding process. ie. do I de-mite and submerge him before or after the full shed? ))

You don't want to use any kind of chemicals on him during the shedding proses. Their skin can absorb anything at this time and the chemicals will get into the snakes system. They say not to treat a snake until several hours after they have shed. I would wait a day or two after he sheds.

((Also, what does mite damage to the skin look like? Or is there even such a thing? ))

It looks like individual shriveled up scales in different areas. Usually one scale at a time. Hope this helped.

Thank you VERY much for the helpful information!! I quite appreciate it.