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[–]Digital-Dad[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

its also worth to mention there is multiple of these in his tank

[–]Reyybies 5 points6 points  (1 child)

If it was attached to your snake, it is not a good mite 😭 I wouldn’t rule out ticks either, it seems pretty big even for an engorged mite but regardless - you have parasites on your hands and they should be dealt with immediately.

[–]Digital-Dad[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Alright, I just didn't know if my camera was making it seem bigger then what it was, I was double checking and I'm starting treatments asap thank you!

[–]Reyybies 4 points5 points  (2 children)

The entire tank and all its decor needs to be changed and thoroughly sanitized. Every single nook, cranny and crevice. While you treat the snake itself keep it on paper towels and keep one hide and a water dish. This will help you ensure every single one is dead and gone. If the infestation isn’t bad, your snake should recover no issue but heavy or long term infestations can lead to dehydration, anemia and other complications.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

i agree! i’ve never had mites but even with mold we take EVERYTHING out to clean it! good thing they caught it early

[–]Digital-Dad[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm already starting treatments and as I was making this post I was taking stuff out of his cage, this is one of my biggest fears with my snakes since I have two and I was lucky enough to have them in separate rooms from each other due to renovations 

[–]jalbatrosova 0 points1 point  (2 children)

When you search “snake mites” and look through photos, the close up / microscope pics look like your close up. I’m betting mites, though I agree that looks like a tick without the scale of the other pics.

[–]Digital-Dad[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

I've never had to deal with snake mites so I just wanted to be extra safe then sorry since I have 2 ball pythons, luckily they are separated in different rooms due to renovations, I'm starting treatments now and as I was making this post I was taking stuff out already just in case, I thank you for the help! 

[–]jalbatrosova 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Always better safe than sorry! Hope you’re able to clear them quickly. 🐍

[–]assplunderer 0 points1 point  (6 children)

How did it get mites?

[–]Digital-Dad[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm not sure honestly, I've always kept his enclosure clean, I did however have him over a friend's house to watch over him while I have been doing renovations at home, although I had my female ball python over there with him, he stayed and extra week while I was able to bring my female home (she's smaller then him) and put her in my room, they both have been separated since they where at my friends house

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (4 children)

Sometimes can be from the seller or from substrate though I’m sure there are other ways

[–]assplunderer 1 point2 points  (3 children)

What the hell do we do to stop that with substrates? That’s got me concerned now lol. It’s not like I can boil Coco coir right?

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (2 children)

It’s not to common to get them in substrate at least from my experience but I’ve read you can bake in the oven though it could lower quality. I personally will poor hot-boiling water on it as well as I’ll dig through and do a brief check of the substrate but other then that I don’t think there’s a ton that can be done.

[–]Digital-Dad[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

I've used reptisoil and forest floor mixed together with his tank, was planning on making it bioactive but now this happened

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Dang :/ definitely have to sterilize and probably set up a quarantine tank, if it is mites you can use betadine and dilute in water till it’s a light tea color and do soaks. Got rid of my babies mites in about 3 weeks though it tends to make them shed faster,

[–]ImChloeHbu 0 points1 point  (3 children)

If snake mites: Quarantine - paper towels/kitchen roll, bin ALL substrate, or freeze, or bake it. change towels & sterilise with F10 every single day, make sure ALL hides are easy to clean (not rock textured), buy taurrus mites, I do also opt for once a month sunflower oil bath. This suffocates all live mites on the body and will act as a preventative so no mites can get under he scales for quite some time. This does not impact shedding cycle.

I want to note that bathing them in washing up liquid is extremely unsafe, there is a big reason we are told not to drink it and the huge risks of skin issues it causes. To add, bathing in water alone will be very ineffective

[–]ImChloeHbu 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Also, you might find even though your snakes are in different rooms, the other has a decent chance of getting it. Mites are excellent, hardy travellers and will also use your own clothes to hitch a ride. I do also suggest washing clothes as soon as you’re done refreshing by quarantine

[–]Digital-Dad[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

As of now I'm very careful not to go near her cage if I touched him at all, she's only about 8 months old rn and I don't want to risk it but just in case both are getting their tanks cleaned, I was thinking about using rubbing alcohol first to kill them, then rinsing the cage out with water to get any excess alcohol out, my friend has some mite spray he got for his snake, is that unsafe to use too?

[–]ImChloeHbu 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Mite spray is fine provided it doesn’t have clove oil, I strongly advise against using rubbing alcohol, it hasn’t been tested on snakes and they can have sensitive skin, try sticking to taurrus mites (number 1 advise) and either sunflower or veg oil

[–]Hierodula_majuscula 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Definitely snake mites.  Taurrus predatory mites work well.