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Mites

C

Cornylover2

New member
I couldn't wait for the reptile show to come in a couple weeks and ended up in a Reptile store that I've had good dealings with for the last couple of months. Ended up buying an Albino Motley, gorgeous little snake. Brought him home on Friday and have left him alone since. Monday night I took him out for a couple of minutes and noticed something black on my hand, thought it was dirt until I saw it crawling on me. I've done a search on mites, however I still have questions.

People say they soak their snakes for a while in a mild detergent & water. How do you soak them, especially a hatchling? Do I put him in a tupperware container filled with water and put the lid on so he doesn't escape? He's flighty as it is, I don't think he would just sit in a cup of water. Also, what should the temperature of the water be?

My snake is due to feed today and considering I just brought him home Friday (he ate the day before I got him), I'm worried that if I clean out his whole enclosure, go for a good soak plus apply sometype of Reptile relief to get rid of the mites, he may be too stressed to eat.
How dangerous are mites? Can I feed him and then start the cleaning process in 2 days once he's digested his food?

Also read that it's good to use paper towels as bedding until all mites have disappeared, would newspaper be okay instead?

I have another snake that sits right next to this one in a separate viv. If the new snake has been home for 4 days already, is it possible that the mites have already traveled and I need to treat my other snake too? I took him out last night and didn't notice anything however his belly is checkered with black, not sure how visible mites would be. Didn't see anything in the eye or mouth area. My new snake I noticed some mites underneath near the neck area in his scales.

Also, this reptile store is the one I buy my live mice from (I feed stunned mice so don't get too worked up!!) Can mites live on people/ mice, should I take precautions with my own household?

I'm sure more questions will come up, but thank you for any and all replies!!
 
Cornylover2 said:
People say they soak their snakes for a while in a mild detergent & water. How do you soak them, especially a hatchling? Do I put him in a tupperware container filled with water and put the lid on so he doesn't escape? He's flighty as it is, I don't think he would just sit in a cup of water. Also, what should the temperature of the water be?
Click to expand...
I wouldn't necessarily try this step as a first with a small snake. You can try to soak him if you'd like but I would keep an eye on him at all times IMO.

Cornylover2 said:
My snake is due to feed today and considering I just brought him home Friday (he ate the day before I got him), I'm worried that if I clean out his whole enclosure, go for a good soak plus apply sometype of Reptile relief to get rid of the mites, he may be too stressed to eat.
How dangerous are mites? Can I feed him and then start the cleaning process in 2 days once he's digested his food?

Also read that it's good to use paper towels as bedding until all mites have disappeared, would newspaper be okay instead?
Click to expand...
I would treat for mites and then feed in two days. To me it would be more important to get the mites off of the snake. Newspaper would be ok but it's easier to see mites on paper towels than newspaper.

Cornylover2 said:
I have another snake that sits right next to this one in a separate viv. If the new snake has been home for 4 days already, is it possible that the mites have already traveled and I need to treat my other snake too? I took him out last night and didn't notice anything however his belly is checkered with black, not sure how visible mites would be. Didn't see anything in the eye or mouth area. My new snake I noticed some mites underneath near the neck area in his scales.
Click to expand...
I would treat the other snake just as a preventative measure. They travel through a collection like wildfire and are hard to eradicate - best to get to them now. Won't hurt your other snake anyway.

~Katie
 
I use a product called Natural Chemistry De Flea Pet & Area Spray on my adults (I wouldn't recommend this to be sprayed directly on hatchlings). I spray a light coat on my adult snakes and spray down the cleaned cage and accessories (clean with a 15% bleach solution). Also the entire area around the cage should be sprayed, mites can move pretty fast compared to their size.

For hatchlings, simply soak them in warm water every other day (I have used small deli cups), you will notice black dots floating in the water (the dead mites). It is also helpful to take a paper towel and rub down the body (dorsal and ventral) of the snake to help detach mites. Watch around the eyes; mites like to get under the skin under the eyes. Also, make sure your little guy/girl stays hydrated. Bad infestations can cause severe dehydration.

I have had little success with the marketed reptile mite killers.
 
i've had great success with ZooMed's mite-off, and bonus that it can be applied directly to the animal (had to use it on our 4mo old corn rescue).

Do treat the whole room as well... mites can move 14 feet per hour... they'd be able to take several laps around a herp room overnight...
 
I had a problem with mites on my ball python baby a few months back. I treated my entire collection to be safe using a Nix Solution as recommended by another member. It worked after the first application and have not had a problem since. I used it on Adults and hatchlings as well as the enclosure and items inside the enclosure.

To create the Nix Solution - I purchased a bottle of NIX Head Lice Removal from Walmart and a Gallon of Distilled Water, just mixed the bottle of Nix which is like a conditioner consistency into the jug of distilled water (Takes some time to get them mixed well) But then you just easily Spray it on using a spray bottle (make sure it never contained a chemical). Spray it on the snake all over so that its wet with solution. Then remove the bedding and Spray the enclosure the houses, climbing things and other stuff that may be inside the enclosure. Remove the water dish so the snake doesnt try soaking in it and leave sit. When it drys the powder residue is also suppose to kill mites as well. Make Sure to give the water dish back after about 24hrs and repeat the steps about a week later to ensure you got all the mites. As recommended by others its best to treat all ur snakes to insure none of them have mites!!

This method worked for me and is a suggestion Only!
 
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