Slivers from Bark Substrate???

[Singularity28]

Hi All,

I'm generally new to Ball python keeping. But I am learning more and more thanks to the help of the fine people on this forum.

My question today is due to the fact that my ball python has little brown things inbetween the crevices of her scales. I use the reptibark substrate and it looks like it might be the culperate. However these "Slivers" are only on her sides and not on her belly. So if it was from the bark wouldnt she have some on her tummy?

Some of you may suspect mites as I origionally did. But after inspecting her very closely for "Tiny black bugs" (Which would be very obvious on an all white leucistic Ball) I threw that idea out the window.

So the question is, "What are they?".

[KingPythons]

Pics would help. I don't know what Your taking about but if it's not bothering the ball python or effecting it's eating pattern I would think it's nothing to really worry about. But pictures please.

[Singularity28]

I'd need a high res camera for that unfortuneately.
They are very small, and dont seem to be bothering her.
I'm sure she will lose whatever it is in her next shed.

However, I just want to be certain that it isnt a health hazard of any sort, or if its something that may make her uncomftorable.

She has been going into her water alot the last couple days.
Not soaking, just casually crawling through it.

Does that mean anything?

[KingPythons]

I'd need a high res camera for that unfortuneately.
They are very small, and dont seem to be bothering her.
I'm sure she will lose whatever it is in her next shed.

However, I just want to be certain that it isnt a health hazard of any sort, or if its something that may make her uncomftorable.

She has been going into her water alot the last couple days.
Not soaking, just casually crawling through it.

Does that mean anything?

She could strive for more humidity. If she lays in it it's mites or a shed coming in the future. Are you sure it might not be part of her scales or pattern. Ivorys have a slight pattern you know, so are you sure? If it was uncomfortable she most def wouldn't eat.

[Singularity28]

Well Its not Mites because they would be more noticeable against her all white body. And I made sure to inspect her head very closely for little crawling black bugs.

Its not her color pattern. She has always been pure white. Ive just noticed them inbetween her scales recently. They are very small brownish things that have no texture when you rub your finger over them.

As for the humidity Ive been kind of questionable on.
I have one of those "Accurite" thermo/hydrometers
The humidity always reads that it is 40%ish, thats when I kick on the fogger, or give her a decent misting. Then within an hour the humidity drops down to 40% again.

I have her in a aquarium with screen lid. Is that drying it our too much?
Or is the "Accurite" actually "Accuwrong"

[KingPythons]

Well Its not Mites because they would be more noticeable against her all white body. And I made sure to inspect her head very closely for little crawling black bugs.

Its not her color pattern. She has always been pure white. Ive just noticed them inbetween her scales recently. They are very small brownish things that have no texture when you rub your finger over them.

As for the humidity Ive been kind of questionable on.
I have one of those "Accurite" thermo/hydrometers
The humidity always reads that it is 40%ish, thats when I kick on the fogger, or give her a decent misting. Then within an hour the humidity drops down to 40% again.

I have her in a aquarium with screen lid. Is that drying it our too much?
Or is the "Accurite" actually "Accuwrong"

No it could be right. I know some folk have some good tips on keeping humidity in tanks, unfortunately it's late lol. Like I said you could be over thinking this like I do with everything. pics would help. You don't have to zoom in I just want to see her. If she looks good to me or anybody else then there's nothing to worry about.

[Twist]

I know exactly what OP is talking about, my snake has them too as she's also on reptibark substrate. It's pretty hard to get a picture of something so mall but I'll try to get one up this morning as I'm also curious. They're probably about .5 a cm and do indeed look like splinters.

edit: however mine are on my snakes stomach.

[Singularity28]

Pictures would be great. Then I could confirm if that is what my snake has.
And if we both use reptibark, our snakes both have splinters, and people who use a smooth substrate like newspaper dont have it. Then it would be a safe bet that it may be the bark.