Mites?

[RobertsKitty]

While holding Loki today I notice two bugs on him. One was small, it looked like a rounded flea, and the other larger, it looked like a black gnat, does he have mites or were these just random bugs that could have come over in the new bedding or should I be worried?

I read a little online but there are about 10,000 different methods for curing mites, if that is what he has, and I'd like some direction!

Thanks!

Edit: From what I've read online I'm not sure they were mites. I could clearly see the legs of both bugs. They did not look like 'pepper' which is how I have seen them described. I have also checked the water bowl after Loki soaked in it yesterday (hes going through a shed) and I saw no signs of bugs or specks in the water.

[satomi325]

Mites look like black poppy seeds.

If they are mites:
1) Take out all cage accessories, hides, water dish
2) Sanitize everything with hot water and dish soap.
3) Use paper towel substrate to ID the mites better. Use a very minimalistic set up so just a water dish and hide at the most.
4) Get Provent-a-Mite or Nix Lice Spray. (both are good to treat mites. You spray down the enclosure, not the snake)
5) In the mean time, soak your snake daily with a few spots of dish soap.

[SlitherinSisters]

PAM (provent-a-mite) and Reptile Spray are two sprays that I use and recommend. I have not had a mite issue with my BPs yet, but I do treat the racks when I bring in new snakes, and treat the animal if it comes from somewhere sketchy (rescue snakes).

[Naom9Anne]

A way I was told to discover if my pastel had mites was to pop the black speck itself. She had been soaking in her water bowl (usually a tell tale sign) so I picked the speck up with tweezers and popped it on a paper towel. If it is a mite you will see some blood using this method. This is a little harder if they're on the snake as I think it would be easier to find them in the enclosure for this method.

I used Callington mite spray both in the enclosure and on my BP and after two treatments a week apart there were no signs of mites. Being from where I am from I would have had a lengthier wait from P-A-M but I have heard from these guys that it is the go to solution for mites. Everything in the enclosure such as hides/water bowls wants to be completely submerged and steeped in boiling water, all substrate removed (and hoovered), the tank scrubbed to remove the eggs and treated with whatever mite solution you have. You may wish to switch to paper towels if you haven't already for ease of vision.

Also you can bake substrate at 100 degrees (C) before use if the mites have come in with the bedding.

I hope you don't have mites but as irritating as they are they are dealable. Good luck!