Mites and Scale deformation

[peterm_26]

I have had a baby male Malaysian Red Blood Python since late spring, and have now noticed 3 small, dark mites on his head. He had a cover over most of the screening of his cage, to control humidity, but one of my other pets had knocked it off while I was away. I was gone for 3 days, and when I returned, his water bowl was entirely empty, and all but the smalles amount of his bedding (coconut hull) was dry. I noticed the scales around his eyes appear to close into the eye itself, and his once perfectly round contact lenses are now obscured by the surrounding scales. He had a quick bath in warm, clean water, and has been placed in a rubbermaid bin with only paper towel as a substrate, as well as a bowl of water, and a plastic hide. Any information as to the scale deformation would help, including specifically known causes (dehydration or mite infestation). Any advice will really help!

Peterm_26

[CHRISANDBOIDS14]

.....well......both are probably to blame. Mites can burrow in under the eyes and make ridges, and also the dehydration can affect the eyes. When you soak.......soak for 10-15 minutes in slightly warm water. Check for any black spots in the water after soaking. Keep the snake as you are doing.....make sure its moist in there. I would say keep it in rubbermaids all the time from now on......they are much better IMO, unless you have a really nice custom built cage that you made specifically for a blood python. Is the snake soaking alot? Give it........3-4 more days to re-hydrate itself. Check on the paper towel for mites. You say you have seen them....after those few days, go to the store, get a small bottle of Nix shampoo, for headlice. Dilute it(I dilute about one quarter of a small bottle into 1200ml of water) with water. Spray the whole cage down with the stuff, then spray the hide. Take the water dish out. Dont directly spray the snake. It is ok for mist and water dropplets from the bottle to land on the snake though. Keep it like that for......5 days-1wk. Then clean the whole cage out, rinse it well, soak the snake to clean it off, replace the water dish for 1-2 days, then repeat. I would say do this at least 3 times, even if the mites are gone after the first time....the eggs can still be there. Doing it for a month would be best. Good luck and hope this helps.

C.