Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I posted this on the general health forum but I thought I'd try here too.

I was just cleaning up my snake enclosures and I noticed a few tiny tiny bugs in the substrate and on one of the hides.

My wife and I have been studying both of my snakes and we don't see any evidence of the bugs on the snakes. We've never seen them soaking and there are no bugs in the water.

We're going to clean the enclosures thoroughly but should we assume we're dealing with mites even though we haven't found a single one on the animals? Should we treat the animals? Or just start with the cage and see what happens.

The bugs seem a little larger and less round than I expected mites to look but I have no experience with them.

They were found in the cages of 2 sub-yearling cb boas.

Any advice is appreciated...

Go to Walmart and get you a couple of NO PEST STRIPS. That will take care of any little bugs.
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Greg Holland
GM HERPS
www.imageevent.com/gmherps
gmherps@sbcglobal.net

Mites are tiny little black round things. You should be concerned no matter what the bugs are. I assume Provent-a-mite would solve the issue. I think the website is www.proventamite.com.

The consequences of lost animals are greater than a lttle extra precaution.

Personally, I would recommend you use this technique http://www.allboas.com/mites.php
Chemicals are not necessary, always toxic, and oftentimes harmful.
There are much better options.
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sounddjinn@yahoo.com

Things always get cloudy just before transformation.

This is what I have done in the past when a couple of my snakes had mites . I started off by cleaning the enclosure and accessories with a diluted bleach solution . Then I used paper towel as a substrate so any bugs would clearly stand out and only put the essentails back in the enclosure . If the bugs/mites are still present then treat the animals . I use NIX lice treatment and it has worked well for me but there are many other mite treatments available . There are many websites that give advice on what to do when your snakes have mites . Good Luck .

if you're using cypress mulch or using older newspaper you could be seeing wood lice or papermites. They are very small and clearish looking. They do not feed on your snake. I see them from time to time in my ball python substrate (cypress mulch). The eggs are in the mulch and/or on the paper and as soon as it gets warm and wet, they hatch. I spray a little provent a mite in the mulch when I change it out. If you think its mites that you have, check the skin fold directly under the snakes chin. If you have them. there will always be a mite or two in that soft spot. Also check the eye sockets. If there are bloodsucking mites on your snakes, they probably will be found most easily in those locations. Best of luck. Mike Panichi

I was using Aspen bedding. I dumped it all. Cleaned everything thoroughly and replaced it with white paper towels.

As for the snakes, I've studied the eyes.

Studied under the chin.

I even soaked the boas in water for like a half hour to see if anything came off.

Nothing.

I guess for now I'm just going to keep a real close eye on them.