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Possible Mites! Please Help!

stormwulf133 Jun 14, 2008 08:21 PM

I have seen mites before on other snakes. I handled our snow corn snake today, and my hands came away with bits of black flecks on them. Now these aren't as big as the mites I have seen in the past. In fact most of the specs were smaller than the period on this page of type. I dont really see anything black on him. They are literally varying sizes like specs of dirt, they don't move on my hands, and don't move around on towel. Are these mites? His skin is VERY dry and I was going to put a shed box in with him to help. He is in a 75 gallon tank with the warm end around 88. I have several other snakes and don't want this to spread. What is going on? It just doesn't look like the mites I have seen I am confused. The mites I have seen before are small beads on the snake. Most of these specs are no bigger than the head of a pin, maybe some are bigger. NONE of them move from what I can see. I have not noticed him soaking in his water at all. He has gone off frozen food and only is eating live right right now but I figured he is just a normal male more interested in breeding than eating especially with a few females near by. He has been kept on only newspaper for many months. The only natural thing in his encloser is a piece of cork. Could it be embedded dirt from the cork bark?

He will be going to the vet but our reptile vet won't be in til monday or tuesday

Replies (2)

Nicodemus Jun 16, 2008 04:04 PM

Well if they aren't moving, I can't imagine they'd be mites. Why not invest is a really good magifying glass or something? Maybe get a cheap microscope or something?

markg Jun 16, 2008 06:16 PM

Yes, cork. Fools you, doesn't it? Little black particles of cellulose.

Keep checking from time to time, but I think your snake is OK. Get that snake some humidity/moisture until the skin is nice and supple.
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Mark

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