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Mites.... What do they look like?

SVT Snake

SVT Snake

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One of my little girls shed last night and when I removed the shed skin from her cage I noticed two little round black bugs on me. After closer inspection, I found another under one of her scales. I always thought mites were red but these are black.

I don't have any provent a mite on hand, so what can I use or purchase locally to treat these parasites?

Thanks in advance!
 
Eesch, sounds like mites to me. They look like little specks of black pepper, only they move. :ack2:

I've seen "recipes" for using Rid (the lice treament for people) on here before, but have never tried it myself.
 
These look like little shiny round black beetles. They have what seems like a hard crunchy shell. The one I found under her scale just came right out after I pressed against the scale.
 
Yes, it sounds like mites. Bob Aka Griz said he is now using Nix, you can pick it up at Wal-mart. Does anyone remember the ratio on the mixture for this stuff? Bob said it is real cheap and has the same ingredients as provent a mite.
 
Well, the pepper reference was more for size, they are indeed itty bitty beetle shaped things, lol. Regardless, especially if there was one hiding under a scale, I would treat preventatively if nothing else.

Have you recently brought in some new animals?
 
Yep Bobby, Nix, Rid..all the same thing. I know someone had said they buy the Walgreens generic stufff, and it works just as well, however I can't remember the mix ratio. I think it was posted just recently, I'll see if I can find it......though you usually beat me to it, Bobby. LOL.
 
Ok, I got the 1% Permethrine and a Gallon of Distilled Water. I am going to remove the substrate and spray the entire cage with the solution. I am also going to soak the girl in some water and spray her with the solution before she goes back into the cage.

My question is, do I need to spray the new substrate with the solution or do I just spray the cage and add fresh substrate?

Thank for all your help!
 
I would thoroughly clean the enclosure, spray it down inside and out, and then add fresh substrate. I'd also make sure you do any cages anywhere around where this one is as well, just to be on the safe side.
 
Mites sometimes take more than one application to eradicate. I would not place fresh substrate in just yet. I would use paper towels as a temporary substrate. That way there are less places for the buggers to hide....AND you can check for them on the paper towel.
I have used Reptile Relief in the past with success (it works quite well if used properly and is non-toxic to reptiles).
I would also quarrantine the animal during treatment.
 
Question......

With the permethrine residue in the cage and on the snake, what if the snake crawls through its water and then goes back for a drink. Is the permethrine safe for it to ingest?
 
SVT Snake said:
Question......

With the permethrine residue in the cage and on the snake, what if the snake crawls through its water and then goes back for a drink. Is the permethrine safe for it to ingest?
Click to expand...


In a word: No.

The Reptile Relief or Provent-A-Mite suggested earlier are both better alternatives for mite eradication.

If you do use the Permethrine, (which will work) be sure to rinse completely so there is no residue on either the enclosure or the animal. Remember, your dealing with a chemical.
 
The first thing to do prior to treatment is to try and get as many of the mites off of the animal as possible. The easiest way to do this is to soak the snake for about 30 minutes in tepid water. Add a small amount of a mild dish soap to the water. The soap helps to break down the exoskeleton of the mite which causes them to drown. This procedure will remove a good number of the mites right off the bat.

At this point you can treat the enclosure and the animal. After the animal has been treated, leave him in a temporary enclosure (without water) overnight. The next day, repeat the soaking procedure and then return the animal to his regular enclosure.

Use a bedding of paper towels for the next 45 days. Even though you may succeed in killing all of the live mites on the animal and in the enclosure, it's likely that some of the eggs will survive.

Retreating in 30 days is good insurance to get the newly hatched mites.
 
Refer to my previous post.

This will get most, if not all of them off.
When you remove the snake from the water, you can gently wipe around the face and eyes, but it is usually not necessary.
 
Thanks. Sorry for all the questions. She doesn't like to submerge her head so I ddin't know if the soaking method would work around the eyes.

Thanks again!
 
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