Mite help

[Carabeen]

Arrived home from work to find the stimsons in the water bowl, I thought possibly a shed coming up. Checked again, it was out but there were a number of black dots, squashed one, blood.

So we have mites. Top of decent is the go from other threads.

I pride myself on house keeping when it comes to the snake. Where did they come from? Weaner rats are frozen, Marine carpet is out in the sun and cleaned with bleach solution.

Is it wise to use only newspaper from now on? Do I throw away the foam background from the exo terra tank and plastic leaves and branch?

I have placed the snake in a click clack until I can get hold of Top of decent tomorrow.

Any other tips would be appreciated.

Thanks

[junglepython2]

How long have you had the snake for? If it's a reasonably new acquisition they likely have been there all along and have just been in low numbers and unnoticed. Otherwise they would have come from another snake and may have been passed to yours from handling. They wont have come from rodents or substrate unless it has been in contact with other snakes.

No need to throw all the background and leaves away just hit them with a few high doses of TOD without the snake in there and repeat. You can treat the snake separately in the tub with smaller doses.

[Carabeen]

Thanks JP2.

We have had the snake nearly three months. He is handled virtually every day except for a couple days after feeding. Never noticed any spots or micro dots before. He is the only snake we have no other contact with other reptiles.

The hide is a wooden box type, would you recommended ditching that or just treating with TOD?

[junglepython2]

I'd say they have been there all along then, just in small numbers, they can be hard to find when there isn't a large infestation.

With the box it's up to you, a few doses of TOD should do the job though, just give it at least 3 days before repeating.

[Carabeen]

Yep, seems that way, sneaky little suckers.

Is there anything to watch for ie poisoning etc, when using the TOD, apart from the instructions?

[junglepython2]

Just keep an eye on them it's pretty safe and remember to remove the water bowl for the day when spraying.

[Carabeen]

Thanks JP2. Appreciate your time and helpful advice. Cheers Phil

[mandie]

Hi Carabeen,
I agree with junglepython2
I recently had the exactly the same happen to me with one of my snakes. (recently aquired)
After he had soaked in his water bowl, we noticed a few mites had migrated to his eyes, I used some vegetable oil around his eyes. Thoroughly washed out his enclosure, placed all his hides etc in boiling water, then sprayed with TOD, I am now using white paper in the enclosure for a while anyway. Now his eyes have gone milky, so I am assuming he is going into shed now, even though he only shed a couple of weeks ago, I guess he has his own idea about getting rid of the little buggers. I'm pretty sure we have it under control very quickly. (Thankgoodness)
Goodluck
Mandie

[Carabeen]

Thanks Mandie, just about to go to the pet shop right now. Ours hasnt shed yet but presume it will though. Appreciate your reply. Take care Phil

[Carabeen]

Just one more thing if someone would be kind enought to answer.

Do the mites stay on humans after the kids handle the snake ie nits etc? Wifey in panic mode