Spider Mites problem

[SnakeThumper]

Hi all

ive got mites in some of my pythons. Pretty sure theyre spider mites, they have a little white area at the end of their body.

I've tried several remedies including careful use of pesticides, and hypoastis predatory mites, and I'm just not getting anywhere, they keep showing up again. Hoping for some advice that will cure this problem.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated, especially from those who have found effective ways to solve the problem.

Thanks in advance

 

[Bluetongue1]

Only recently saw this thread, hence why this response is late…
Spider mite species are a pest of plants, not reptiles or any animals. They are also very tiny and not particularly visible to the naked eye. What does tend to be visible is the protective webbing they can spin. This looks like spiderweb, which is where they get their name from. I don’t know what pest your snake has but it would not be spider mite. If you can actually describe it, or better still photograph it, there is a chance it can be correctly identified. If it is a small but visible dark mite species, then google Ophionyssus natricis and see if it is snake mite.

 

[animalsbeach360]

Hi all

ive got mites in some of my pythons. Pretty sure theyre spider mites, they have a little white area at the end of their body.

I've tried several remedies including careful use of pesticides, and hypoastis predatory mites, and I'm just not getting anywhere, they keep showing up again. Hoping for some advice that will cure this problem.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated, especially from those who have found effective ways to solve the problem.

Thanks in advance

Managing mites in reptiles might be difficult, but taking quick action to stop the problem from harming your pythons' health is essential. Here are some steps you can take to manage and eliminate mites effectively:
Separate the Affected Snakes:
To stop the mites from spreading, separate the infected snakes from the healthy ones.
Clean and Sanitize:
The enclosure, including substrate, hiding places, and water bowls, should be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. Take out any trash, discarded food, or skin that has shed.
Isolation:
To facilitate cleaning, house the infected snakes in an isolation area with as little furnishings as possible.
Application of Pesticides:
If you haven't already, consider applying mite-specific pesticides safe for snakes. Please seek advice from a veterinarian regarding appropriate products and how to use them.
Repeat Procedures:
Because mites have a life cycle, it's critical to treat freshly hatched mites again. As for how often to apply the pesticide, follow the manufacturer's advice.
Threatening mites:
Predatory mites such as Hypoaspis (Stratiolaelaps scimitus) should still be used. By feeding on pest mites, these predatory mites can aid in population control. Ensure that the environment's circumstances favour the predatory mites to flourish.
Conditions of the Environment:
Continue to provide your pythons with ideal environmental circumstances. Make sure the temperature, ventilation, and humidity are all appropriate. This may contribute to reducing the mite-friendly conditions in the area.
Frequent Observation:
Observe your snakes and their enclosures. Inspect the snake's scales for mite indications, such as tiny moving particles.
Speak with a Veterinarian:
Speak with a reptile veterinarian if the problem doesn't go away despite your best efforts. They might advise on more focused therapies or suggest certain drugs to deal with the issue.
Preventative actions:
Once the mites have been successfully eradicated, take precautions to lessen the likelihood of re-infestation. This entails upholding proper cleaning and hygiene procedures regularly.
For more, You can check this guide (https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Mites-on-Snakes)about your issue.

 

[Bluetongue1]

Please Note: It is important to correctly identify the offending organism before launching into any treatment.

Clearly it is not spider mite. There are only a few species of mite that are found on reptiles. However, only one species is of real concern and requires total eradication - Ophionyssus natricis, commonly known as snake mite but should probably be called reptile mite as it can also infest various other species of different reptiles.

Mites of the Geckobia genus, which are bright orange or red, can, on occasions, be found on a snake, although much more common on lizards. These are not really a problem and can be readily removed by smearing with Vaseline or vegetable oil (which suffocates them) and then wiping them off with a soft cloth several minutes later. Following are some images of Ophionyssus natricis to assist you in determining if they are the problem. The eggs and initial stages are not visible to the unaided eye. It is not until they start feeding on blood, grow and turn darker that they become visible. They are most commonly seen on the face, either moving around or attached around the eyes and mouth, under the chin, and under the larger belly and side scales of the snake, although they can occur anywhere else on the body. Snakes are quite irritated by this pest species and as a result will usually immerse their bodies in water to try and alleviate this irritation. As a result, some of the mites will drown, leaving their dead bodies visible in the water bowl as small dark flecks (see photo).

Infestations of snake /reptile mite are not a husbandry issue but rather a quarantine issue. These mite are not free living and can only be introduced from an existing infestation on other reptiles. The are most commonly introducing via a new, infested reptile being put directly within an existing collection. The other potential source is from the hands or clothing of someone recently handling infested reptiles, or from furnishing or equipment directly transferred from an infested enclosure. As the female mite can begin breeding without a male, only one individual is required to start a new infestation. So quarantine all new reptiles before putting them in with the rest of your collection, including breeding loans. No matter where you have been where there are other reptiles, be it a friend’ s collection, a pet shop, an expo, an educational display, or wild herping/photography, change your clothes and wash before accessing your own animals again.

Figure 1 Ventral view - before feeding Figure 2 Dorsal view - after feeding Figure 3 Drowned snake /reptile mite in water bowl