maybe mites?

Freebody · 09-11-10, 03:15 PM

i just went upstairs and cleaned out all my snake just now, but in my adult jags cage i seen what looked like 20 dead mites in him water tub, i took him out inspected him, pet him for a good 15 min and didnt feel any mite or see anything on my hands, checked his cage whiped it all down like i did all the others didnt see anything ?? should i rub some oil on him or get some mite treatment or just keep checking him a couple time a day to make sure i dont see anything? i didnt see anything in any cage or even his cage for that matter, just what looked like mite in his water tub, could have even been fleas they were rather large for mites, actually to be honest they were rather small flea size vrs a tiny mite, but no fleas in my house either, all hard wood and never seen a flea here before and nothing on my dogs or the ferret. anyone had somthing strange like this happen?

infernalis · 09-11-10, 03:30 PM

Little bugs of any kind tend to flip us out...... They do me anyways.

Freebody · 09-11-10, 03:48 PM

ya same, as soon as i seen little black things in the water my heart almost skipped a beat, and i went into panic search mode.

Lankyrob · 09-11-10, 05:13 PM

I had similar situation not long after switching to repti bark - turned out to be wood mites - what substrate you using?

Freebody · 09-11-10, 05:18 PM

i just use old news paper, i had problems with respiritory with the aspen i used up until about 8 months back, i just went and watched him chilling in his cage for like another 15-20 min and didnt see anything crawling on him and hes coiled up, so some of his scales are stretched in places so i got a real good view and didnt see anything. im really thinking its nothing but ill keep watching Very closely.

Lankyrob · 09-11-10, 05:18 PM

will keep fingers and toes crossed for you!!

Freebody · 09-11-10, 05:19 PM

thanks bro

marvelfreak · 09-11-10, 07:00 PM

I give it a treatment just to be safe. One way to tell if it's mites is smash one between your fingers. If you see blood it's most likely mites.

Freebody · 09-11-10, 07:08 PM

i think it might have been a fruit fly or somthing i noticed a couple upstairs trying to eat my gecko's food, just went back up stair and checked him again and didnt see anything in the water he just came out of and checked him and nothing, i might just be jumping to conclusions. if i see anything i will rip off to the store and grab some treatment on him to be safe. last thing i want is him to spread the mites to the other 18 snakes in my room lol that would be a real situation.

marvelfreak · 09-11-10, 07:48 PM

Here's hoping it's nothing.

infernalis · 09-11-10, 10:59 PM

Try having mites when you have nearly 100 snakes all in close proximity.

I get yelled at for having tanks in the hallway, but when I spot bugs the tank leaves the room. Period.....

I have found that with my repti bark / coconut mix, I can get it good and wet then put it in my oven at 400 degrees for about half an hour. It comes out steaming hot, but I can guarantee any living organism that was in that substrate it very dead and baked.

Freebody · 09-12-10, 02:08 AM

I was going to take them out as well, or would have i mean if i seen any other signs of bug in his cage not just a few dead in his water or any on him or in the room or anything other than what i seen.I dont understand how they were in his water but now i cant find nothing ...not that im complaining tho im very pleased with finding nothing else but puzzled to say the least. I checked a few more time since i last posted and re checked all the other cages and it seems clean and clear. im going to check again before i turn in for the night but im sure all is well. i really should have taken a picture of the bugs that were in the water, if i see them again ill snap off a few pics but so far so good

knock on wood.

Jennet · 09-12-10, 02:20 AM

Here's hoping whatever else it turns out to be, its not mites - or at least not the bad sort that affect your snake!

gonesnakee · 09-12-10, 01:18 PM

Hopefully just fruit flies as they tend to be attracted to the water & usually drown in it.
I have noticed there seems to be a lot of fruit flies towards the end of summer here as well. If you have fruit eaters you likely have FFs.
Inspect the snake in question really close around its head, nose & pits as thats where mites like it best.
See if it starts soaking or any other signs.
If it has mites you will find some on the snake & they will squish red (blood) as has been suggested.
DO NOT I repeat do not use any type oil on your snake.
If you decide it is mites & a treatment is required go with the NIX treatment of Provent A Mite if it is available to you.
NIX of course is readily available everywhere & if you need the proper "care sheet" for use I can send you a link to the TARAS forums if it is not already posted here on site somewhere.
Not likely they are wood mites if you do not use shavings, sometimes there will be little gnats in the summer around that are attracted to the feces & water dishes as well & & also "springtails" which are all harmless of course but anoying & paranoia causing as well LOL Mark

Freebody · 09-12-10, 01:41 PM

im sure they were fruit flies in his water tub, everything in my room and his cage is spotless. i just checked his water bowl just now and its clear, they cage is malemine so nothing for a wood mite to get at and anything wil stand out on the easy and their is nothing. i had snake mite on some boas like 10 years ago and it was a nightmare. I heard oil work good for mites? but i would just go and buy the might treatment stuff at the pet store anyways, but why do you say No oil?