Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Right, the type of my snakes have a majority rule. "splendid Desert Kings they are"...

But I think i have a problem which i am watching closely!

I handled my snake yesterday and I found a black crawly thing walking quite fast up my arm.
It was rounded, black (like a black ladybird) and it was about the size of 1mm.

Now ive read up on mites as im a bit worried and it says that mites are alot smaller.

I will continue to moniter but if anyone has any opinions or advice.

I think i am going shopping tomorrow for some stuff (just in case) and I am going to totally sterilise the tank and throw out stuff. Lay the snakes on some tissues (white) and clean clean clean and monitor.

It's been many years since I had mites, but I think they are very tiny and move slowly. So your probably ok. Keep in mind Wood svaings can sometimes have wood mites which are not harmfull to your snake, just an nuisance. Place the snake on white paper yowles like you said and see if you find tiny black specks moving very slowly. Or take a paper towel and run it down the lenghth of youer snake and look for them that way. Your probably ok, good luck!
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
Jorge Sierra

My Site > www.Sierrasnakes.com

If you got one mite you got more.

Start spraying.
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www.Bluerosy.com

These animals live in nature, without you. They know when to eat, when not to eat, how much to eat, etc. Why do you think they cannot do that in captivity? They do know, you are suppose to support what THEY DO, not hold back food because you keep them at temps they would not pick.
Frank Retes

Hi,

If you found one, then unfortunately you do have more. Look around their eye scales, the surrounding area will appear swollen. One of the first places a snake mite will go is in the gap between the eye and the surrounding ocular scales. I also wet my hands and grip the snake tightly and let it (with effort)crawl through my hands, mites will be squeezed from between the scales and show up in your palm.

Do not let them get a foot-hold in your collection, the result can be disasterous.

Provent-a-Mite has worked grteat for me in a pinch when newly purchased snakes arrive with baggage. Just spray the cage and furniture outside w/o the water dish and let the vapor dry out for a minute or two. Once dry, it has had no adverse affect on my kings (or other snakes in the collection).

Good luck.

Will

Thanks guys. Will sort it and keep eye out.