Ticks?

[Bhikku]

Ugh, I didn't know snakes could get ticks.

Anybody got tips for a quick n' dirty way to get rid of this little monster? It's just one tick that I've found. I was going to get tweezers and pluck it (just like with a human or dog tick) but my ball's skin is so soft I was afraid to rip it or something...

[Crawdad]

Ugh, I didn't know snakes could get ticks.

Anybody got tips for a quick n' dirty way to get rid of this little monster? It's just one tick that I've found. I was going to get tweezers and pluck it (just like with a human or dog tick) but my ball's skin is so soft I was afraid to rip it or something...

Just grab it by the head and twist and pluck it. You may try dabbing alcohol on the tick to see if it will back out, but more than likely you are just going to have to pluck it. Make sure you get the head out, and wash your hands!

[Oxylepy]

Ticks can be manually removed using small forceps or tweezers. If there are ticks near the mouth, nostrils, or any other sensitive areas, have a veterinarian remove the parasites for you.

1. Grab the tick by the mouthpart right where it is entering the skin. Do not grab the tick by the body or head since it may break off and the mouthpart may remain lodged in the skin.

2. Without jerking, pull firmly and steadily in an outward, extracting motion. Do not twist the tick while pulling.

3. After removing the tick, place it is a jar of alcohol to kill the tick. Flushing ticks down the toilet do not kill them.

4. After removing all the ticks, wash your hands thoroughly.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=814

[Crawdad]

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=814

In my (vast -- I live in Alabama ) experience removing ticks, just pulling straight without twisting generally causes the head to separate. But otherwise, there you go! It is also my experience that it is generally impossible to grab just the mouth parts -- they are usually burrowed inside the flesh, so just grab the tick as closely as you can to the skin of the snake.

[Mike Schultz]

Snake skin is stronger than you think. Pull it out!

[Bhikku]

Thanks for the input guys!!!!

In my (vast -- I live in Alabama ) experience removing ticks, just pulling straight without twisting generally causes the head to separate.

I live in Alabama too, so this is what I was worried about - leaving the head in and causing an infection. There aren't many exotics vets around here (I called my cat/dog vet yesterday and they refused to treat my snake) so I know it might be difficult to find one that isn't going to hose me, so I thought I'd head off as many health issues at the pass as possible.

[Crawdad]

Small world -- Roll Tide!

You're familiar with tick season then, haha. You shouldn't have any problem getting the head out, just get down in there as closely as you can.

Where in Alabama do you live? There's a vet on Valley Ave in Birmingham that deals with snakes, though I have never been there. Alternately, Ed's Pet World in Homewood would probably remove it, several of their guys are into reptiles and they have probably pulled a few ticks in their time.

[SNIKTTIME]

If you spray a Q-tip with any pyrethroid like OFF or Raid, the tick will die and usually drop off on its own, might need a gentle tug. You won't need all that much and you won't need to actually touch the snake with it either.

[dr del]

Heh,

Back in the old days we used to use a blob of vaseline over the top of the tick.

Absolutely no chance of anything getting into the snakes system through the ticks mouth.


dr del

[snakesRkewl]

I found one in my yellow bellies head just over a month ago. I'm not sure I got the head out, but it healed nicely after removal.
Crazy looking bug