Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So, I had my python out the other day and i noticed a small black bug crawling on him and it looked like he has some white specs on him as well.

What steps should I do to rectify this, I have about 15 snakes near each other, but I do not see any of these bugs in the other cages or on the other snakes.

Thanks in advance.

Get some Sawyer Permathrin Tick Repellant, or, if you're brand loyal and like paying more for the same products, a can of Provent-A-Mite. Take the water bowl out of the enclosure and wash it with soap and water or a weak bleach solution. Remove the snake from the enclosure, spray down the entire enclosure with the permathrin, and let it dry. Once it dries, you can put the snake back in. In theory, you can put the water bowl back in right after the the spray dries, but I've always waited a day. Treat ALL of your snakes. Just because you don't see the mites on the others doesn't mean they're not there. You may have to repeat the treatment in a few weeks.

Wouldn't it be more successful to clean the cage completely out, wash all hides change bedding, bleach aquarium, then put snake back in and spray just to make sure you get remaning turdbirds.

If you like. I usually change the bedding a few days after the initial treatment to make sure that no mites survive the process of having the bedding moved around and end up in a different part of the house where they can eventually make their way back. I have done it the way you suggested as well, and both work. Of course I haven't had to treat mites in several years, so maybe I'm a little out of practice.