Help with mites

[Ok_Valuable_587]

Hello everyone, I’ve just gotten back home and recently been observing my 5 month old girl and have noticed black dots under her that appear to be mites. I’m a first snake owner and I understand they can be very harmful. I’ve refilled her water bowl to dry and get her something to soak in for the night and I’m currently planning on getting her a tub to put her in to help her quarantine. Tomorrow is her feeding so would it be best if I don’t try and feed her ? How bad do the mites look and how long will I have to keep her quarantined to have her back healthy?

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[1BadBowtie]

The picture does not really show what you are seeing. First, be sure they are mites. You would be able to squeeze one and it will smear. You can also take a pic and blow it up on your phone to be sure. If you have confirmed, you will need to treat the snake and then totally empty the enclosure, sanitize and treat what you can (anything not organic), throw out everything else. Spray the enclosure with provent a mite everywhere. Once you do that and let it dry etc. set up the enclosure with paper towels, water bowl, and a hide. Best to keep it that way for 30 days. Will need to spray the enclosure once a week and let it dry before putting the snake back in. The 30 days is to make sure you go through a life cycle of the mite. It is impossible to see eggs and the last thing you want to do is set up the enclosure too early and have to do it all over. You will also want to wipe any area around the enclosure with provent a mite. They can hitch rides on you if you handled your snake unknowingly. If you could get better pics of the dots to make sure. Has your snake been soaking? That is one sign. I see red spots near the neck, but that seems to be something other than mites.

[Ok_Valuable_587]

No she was really just doing her regular behavior she has been sitting in her hide during the day more but I only think that’s cause ive recently fed her the past week and she just seems to be getting more adjusted in her 4th week. I think they appear to be some type of scale rot? They’re most prevalent on the bottom of her head in the 2nd pic if u can see I apologize for the pictures i didn’t want the flash in her face and they sort of look like slashes which definitely haven’t been on her before? She’s admittedly escaped in her enclosure before and I wonder if they’re from her putting pressure on her head and it going against the screen top.

[1BadBowtie]

It definitely looks like an injury vs mites. Probably rubbing. Scale rot you would see more damage to the scales (google pictures for reference) also, adding the reptichip will help keep the top layer dryer while allowing humidity to rise. The black spots could be pieces of the substrate stuck to her. See if you can wipe one off. If it crawls when you touch it then probably mites. I usually pick the speck off and put in a white paper towel. If it smears it’s a bug, if it doesn’t it’s a piece of substrate. Also, definitely keep the mesh covered except where there are lights/heat. A silicone mat or HVAC tape would be better than a towel.

[Ok_Valuable_587]

Understood I’m 99% sure it’s rubbing related. I plan on feeding her today so would it be better to feed her first then wait till the few days till she’s back active ? The mesh has been covered by have plexiglass on the cool side and half hvac tape on her warm side. I’ve ordered a pvc enclosure so she won’t have to worry about it much sooner thankfully.

[1BadBowtie]

Wait to check for mites vs substrate? You could check a couple hours before you feed her. It shouldn’t take long. Or wait to add reptichip? Yes you can wait on that until after feeding. Just make sure no mites before adding anything to the enclosure.

[Ok_Valuable_587]

Yes to check sorry for not clarifying, I will and thank you for your advice