Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey everyone,
About to get my ball python and wondering the following before I bring her home.

Ticks:
How visible are ticks on a snake? (ball python)
How big are they, and are they immediately noticeable?
Are they barely visible when young?

Mites:
Are there usualy a lot of mites present on a snake or can there be very few?

I know some of these are newbie questions,
Thanks for the help.

Ticks on a snake are like ticks on a human. Visible to the human eye, and gross. They are comparable in size as well. In snakes, they are under the scales, so if you see raised scales, make sure there aren't any bugs under them...

Mites can be a few on a snake, but soon enough if they are ignored, they will become an infestation. You have to look for little crawling specks that can be black, white or red.
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www.HeathersHerps.com
READ MY BLOG!!!
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Balls for Life, Baby!

With a new snake, I like to give the animal a short soak to rehydrate after a stressful shipment.

Soaking for a half hour gives the animal a chance to fully hydrate, but it will also float off mites, if present. It won't float of ALL the mites, in itself it is not a mite treatment, but it will float off some if they are there. They will look like specks of pepper in the water.

Once the soak is done, I will closely inspect the animal for any signs of concern, and I will check the water carefully as well, specifically looking for any mites.

If I find any, I first curse the sender, then immediately get started with a mite treatment : )
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

Play close attention to the eyes and under the mouth areas as these are some of mites favorite places to hang out.

matt