Where do mites come from & how do I get rid of them?

Question

We have 2 ball pythons. Ever since we got the 1st one we'd find tiny black mites on him, 3 or so each time. We got our 2nd one & by the time we realized she was severely infested it was too late....the entire tank is this mite breeding ground. Even our almost mite-less snake is infested now. We have NO CLUE where they even come from...anyone know??? Also, how do we get rid of these irritating pests?!

Answer 1

Mites are one of the few external parasites that can kill snakes all by themselves, so you need to go all out to treat this. Fist of all, get a can of Provent-a-mite, any good pet store that carries reptiles and reptile supplies should have some. Take the snakews out of their cage and spray the entire cage with the spray, and soak everything in the cage in a bleach water solution. If you use cage carpeting, spray it with the Provent-a-mite; if you use bark or something, throw it out; either way, use newspaper until you are sure you've gotten rid of all the mites. Second, fill the sink or a tub or anything that the snake can fully submerge in with warm water and pour enough baby oil on to form a good sized slick, then dip the snakes through the slick so they are coated, this will suffocate most of them. Go to a veterinarian that will treat reptiles and get ivomectin, this will kill mites from the inside out. Treat all your snakes, not just the ones that you know are infested. My snakes got infested with mites years ago and I did this, I've never had a problem with parasites since.

Answer 2

Where Do Mites Come From

Answer 3

First of all carri s is wrong. Do NOT rub your snake down with alcohol. This is a snake and not an iguana. Just because it is safe for iguanas does not make it safe for snakes.

"Provent-A-Mite.

It is a spray that treat the enclosure you just need to remove the BP and the water bowl spray the enclosure and put the BP back 25 minutes later.

Nothing else works like it all the products you see for around 5 dollars do not work.

Also do not try a homemade brew as they are usually using product designed for human because if you don’t know what you are doing it could really hurt your snake or even kill him."

Also here is the site to buy this product if you can't find it in your local pet store http://entirelypets.stores.yahoo.net/proventamite.html

Answer 4

If your pet store sells snakes & supplies, they should have something to clear up the infestation of mites. 7 years ago, I purchased a Common Boa from a private owner & the snake already had mites but after ridding him of them with what ever it was I got from the pet store, I just kept newspaper down in his cage & he never got mites again. The ink in newspaper prevents mites from returning after the infestation is cleared up.

Answer 5

ivomectrin from the vet is a highly effective mite treatment because mites can also live on the inside of your pets. Effective mite treatment will treat the environment, the skin, and the internal parts of your snake.

Answer 6

hi there
most mites in reptile bark they can lye dormant till some heat get to it and bang ur reptiles are infested...
clean ur cage with hot water and bleach rinse very well and let dry for 2 hours at lease or till no smell
change the substrate to paper towel till the mite are gone .. give the snake a bowl to soak in.. or buy ur self some nix bed lice spray a very lightly not the head tho...or go to the pet store and buy proventamite ppl also use black knight roach killer i don't know much about that ...
http://redtailboa.net/forums/help-me/1872-question-you-guys-about-mites-kind-long.html

Answer 7

havent tried this but have read that you can use front line from a vet and RUB it on the snake then put him in a clean tank yes they can eventually kill your snake also after treating sock in a bath of water to rehydrate the snake anything you put on him will dry his skin except for vasiline which i have heard will also get rid of mites but it will be very uncofortable for your snake to have vasiline all over him sand and dirt will stick to him etc...

Answer 8

the mites are probably coming from other pets or branches you have put into the tank itself, take to the mites with tweezers if you can, you have probably noticed your snake curling up in its water bowl to try and drown them aswell, but to get rid of the little bastards either dispose of your terrarium or give it one hell of a clean branches and plants etc. included

Answer 9

Get mite proof covers for your matress and pillow cases from WalMart for about $20. They eventually die of starvation.

Answer 10

rub your snake down with rubbing alcohol. find a clean tank to put him in. the clean the tank with alcohol. seal the tank with a garbage bag, but leave alcohol in the tank. maketo clean the tank thoroughly(try not to use soaps or chemicals that will be harmful to the snake). everyday put alcohol on the snake until the mites are gone. a local pet store should be able to help u more in depth. u r not the only one with the problem.