Mites??

[Lankyrob]

Just spotted some creepy crawlies floating in our aldult corns' water bowl but not totally convinced they are mites.

Will be impossible to get pictures as they are so small and our camera is not good enough to zoom in on them.

The pictures i have seen on the 'net show mites as being a definite round shape almost like a cat flea but with a flatter slightly more rounded body??

The things we have are long and skinny body almost like a tiny sausage with legs??

the snake is currently on aspen, in a wooden viv.

Any help greatly appreciated!!

[infernalis]

Dark coloured?? little black specks in the water dish is usually a bad sign.

Can you see any specks moving on the snake?

I just hate bugs of any kind crawling on my herps.

If they are crawling on your snake, I would recommend just doing the routine for piece of mind.

Empty out the enclosure, (I also vacuum out the enclosures at this time) then spray it down in there.

wash all the hides and water bowls with scalding hot water, treat the snake, and put some fresh aspen in there, put everything back and rest peaceful that no bugs are crawling on your snake.

[Lankyrob]

They are black but having looked again they do look more like little crawlies that we have had around the house before we ever had snakes - maybe attracted to the viv for the water and heat??

Can you post a description of a snake mite?

I haven't seen any actually on her just around her water bowl (now changed for clean water) - but she has been kinda neglected this week as the whole household have been down with a sickness bug so it could be that they were on her and she bathed to get tehm off.

Am planning on getting some Provent a Mite asap anyways - was only last weekend i said to the missus that it would be a good idea to have some in the house ready to use should mites appear - if it wasnt for being ill we would have some already!

[Lankyrob]

Been constantly searching online and finally found a decent picture of a mite (before internet crashed!!) if i can find the picture again i will try to post it here.

What we have is NOT what it is showing as a mite so i think "normal" insects have just taken a liking to the viv.

Am planning to empty it and clean it all out this week sometime as i feel better (less panic now i know it isn't mites) and she will be switched onto repti-bark at the same time.

[infernalis]

good job Rob. Hey I'm a poet.

[Lankyrob]

but you dont know it!! lmao

[gonesnakee]

As you have already discovered mites are definitely roundish & crab like in appearence.
They tend to concentrate around the facial areas of snakes, specially nostrils & heat pits etc. When squished they squish red (blood) if they have been feeding, one can pick one that is attached to prove this very easily.
There are all types of other creatures attracted to your enclosures specially with wood type substrates that are harmless to your snakes & yourself.
Wood mites & Springtails etc. have caused much panic in their days LOL Cheers Mark

[Lankyrob]

They seem to be purely around the water bowl now that i have had a good look around the viv - i reckon something has laid larvae in the water in the last week and they are hatching into the water rather than the snake bathing and leaving them there - there are none on her at all.

I have been REALLY ill this last week so had become really lazy in my care (smacks own hand) - instead of removing the waterbowl, rinsing it and refilling it as usual i have literally opened the viv door and topped the bowl up - checked snake was alive - shut door. So the water hasnt been overly disturbed for a few days, more than long enough for most insects to lay eggs and larvae to develop in the water.

Anyways, she has a nice sparkly clean water bowl again now and it will go back to being completely changed every other day as before.

[gonesnakee]

I get these lil gnat like things almost every summer in a few of my enclosures as well, usally around the water dishes & fresh feces, wherever there is moisture anyhow.
They freak me out everytime still LOL but a close look & they prove to be the same harmless creatures every year which should likely appear here soon again? Cheers Mark
P.S. get the ____ better already! ;)

[Lankyrob]

Thanks mate - back to solid food today so think i am pretty much better now! Lost 21lb in weight in 6 days tho!!

[gonesnakee]

Hopefully things are solid on the other end as well :p LOL Mark