Feenix Reptiles

I made my comments out of ignorance regarding mites but after speaking with other knowledgeable reptile people I have a better idea of what Likely happened. She did not get these mites at the show.

You came by our table both days openly carrying her. So you think the snake somehow hid the mites, from everyone at the show that reviewed her, boa experts included, and suddenly had them? If you noticed them the first night or your friend had concerns, since you were at the show the next day stopping by our table numerous times, did you not mention it then??

Well you didn't get them here

I meant the first night when I got her home. So Sunday evening. And I did NOT have her the second day. She was in the car while I picked up a few supplies I had missed. You are way over exaggerating my carelessness at the show.

She's out of focus, but pic taken at show had 0 mites

It would be impossible to tell in a pic like that between the angle, poor lighting and photo quality.

Originally Posted by BlueCrowned

It would be impossible to tell in a pic like that between the angle, poor lighting and photo quality.

Sorry you had mites, but the above isn't true. Black specks show up really well on an albino snake, even if lighting isn't great...it doesn't really seem like there's anything concrete about where these mites originated from...

Originally Posted by BlueCrowned

She was in the car while I picked up a few supplies I had missed.

Oregon is still pretty cold. To me it isn't a good idea to leave a snake in a car while you go shopping.

Originally Posted by BlueCrowned

Um.. I'm not really sure what you mean? I'm brand new to reptiles and I've had my first snake for two or three months. I didn't know what to look for in the first place because I'm new. Not coming back, literally new.

Sorry, i mis read your original post. Not that that changes anything. After seeing pictures of Feenix Reptiles snakes on his FB page, I highly doubt the mites came from him. All of his animals look well maintained, and mite free from the pics I saw. More than likely you handling other snakes with mites at the show is where you got them.

Originally Posted by Andy_G

Sorry you had mites, but the above isn't true. Black specks show up really well on an albino snake, even if lighting isn't great...it doesn't really seem like there's anything concrete about where these mites originated from...

Adult mites are quite visible but the protonymphs are barely bigger than eggs, are orange/red color, and stay under the scales for several days while they take a blood meal. They are not easily seen even on albino snakes due to their size, they can blend in with the pinkish patterning, and they're hard to remove or kill with products like Reptile Spray because they stay deep under the scales.

Also if the OP had picked up a random female mite hitchhiker at one of the other tables at the expo, which is always a risk even if you don't bring home a new critter, then a full-blown infestation wouldn't show up for 6-8 weeks. Since this snake was soaking and adult mites were found a day later it's more likely they were present when the snake was purchased.

OP I'm sorry you're going through this but dealing with mites is unfortunately something that every new keeper learns about the hard way. It seems to be a rite of passage in the hobby.

I would also suggest taking someone experienced with you if you attend another expo.