Bugs in/on boa poop!??

jossh27 · 01-17-17, 05:03 PM

I went in to change my sunglows water and noticed some poop hiding in a out of sight spot in her tub. When i cleaned it up with paper towel i immediately noticed a bunch of tiny tiny bugs in it. I panicked and tossed it in the toilet before taking pictures or identifying the colour of insects. I'm 99% confident its not mites though.... This was Her first bowel movement with me. Any idea what it could be? Could it be parasites?

Cricket1234 · 01-17-17, 08:51 PM

I wish I had more detail, but it could be some some type of worms, or bugs that came in on improper bedding. It even could be springtails, they are harmless and just feed on the poop and other organic matter. If this happens again send pictures. Do you remember anything about the bugs? Tell us so some more experienced members can assist you. Also, keep note of any strange or unusual things that your snake do, a snakes behavior is one of the best tools in finding its illness. Make sure to go to a vet if the problem persists.

jossh27 · 01-18-17, 04:58 PM

How would Springtails get in there? I keep this boa on aspen shavings... It's a new bale from a store I've never bought from before so hopefully its just some insect hitchhikers. I keep another snake o the snake bedding ill be more observant and catch pictures on their nect bowel movements if there's anything odd happening

PsychoSnake · 01-18-17, 05:41 PM

I would take a fresh sample to a herp vet and they can vet it for parasites.

akane · 01-18-17, 06:36 PM

You left poop sit, you get bugs. Farm background here. They find a way in. That's not to say it can't be parasites. A fecal check is usually not very expensive at the vet.

jossh27 · 01-18-17, 08:29 PM

What are the chances of it being parasites? The babies are captive bred and born as were the parents.
Akane, i'm leaning more towards what you had said first... Ill wait till next week and if there's bugs ill get a fecal check done

SWDK · 01-20-17, 09:27 AM

I had an issue with little flies in my enclosures on the poop. The prefer to run around rather than fly, but will fly when they need to. I've researched them and I'm 99% sure they are Phorid Flies commonly called sewer flies. Not saying that's what you have experienced, but look them up.

akane · 01-20-17, 06:35 PM

You can also get soil gnats as little flying things. People end up with those even using sterilized soil in their enclosure. We get some trying to live in the sink drain every year. Winter is a bit better for the little insects that sneak in all the time. During the summer you can't leave anything out without cap no matter what or where it is. It better be dry or air tight.

sirtalis · 01-20-17, 07:03 PM

I've had issues with flies and spiders believe it or not, I mean the cage is warm and probably more comfortable than the room for most insects lol

akane · 01-20-17, 10:37 PM

Flies are constant all summer. That and about 100 other insects in the midwest lol I have fly strips up half the year in my house and I'm in the middle of town now. We have gotten big orb weaver spiders actually take up a corner of our kitchen until we can get them in their web at the right moment and take them outside. They can remake a 4' wide web overnight so you are just kind of stuck with it until they happen not to be hiding when you walk in the room. There's some in the basement we are ignoring. I did go through paranoia of brown recluse for awhile but we kept IDing things as not really poisonous like grass spiders. I still break out from spiders that aren't considered capable of poisoning people but it's just irritating. I break out from anything that bites me.

jossh27 · 01-23-17, 05:54 PM

Akane,i can't do spiders... I could not deal with a 4 foot web in my kitchen and not find the spider right away. Im that guy who would light his house on fire if a spider got away