What look like mites on feces.

I just spot cleaned one of my balls tanks, took out some feces and it looked like mites were crawling all over it. I've never noticed it before. Stupid question, but is this bad? And if so what should I do?

Have you checked your animal for mites? What kind if substrate are you using?

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Originally Posted by Cyndymei

Have you checked your animal for mites? What kind if substrate are you using?

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I didn't see any on her (but then again idk what exactly to look for, they just weren't crawling on her), just on the feces. And I am using Fir Bark for substrate, All Living Things is the brand.

What color are the mites? They may possibly be springtails that got in with the substrate.

As for mites they kind of look like poppy seeds and can be embedded between the scales. Definitely look on her chin for them between the scales.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Cyndymei

What color are the mites? They may possibly be springtails that got in with the substrate.

As for mites they kind of look like poppy seeds and can be embedded between the scales. Definitely look on her chin for them between the scales.

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Okay, just fed her so I'll look in a couple of days. They were small and white-ish. What do I need to do to get rid of them if I find them between her scales?

Those definitely sound like springtails then and would be harmless to your ball python. They seem to like really damp environments and decaying wood substrate.

For real mites you'd want to get provent-a-mite and spray down your tank and completely clean and or trash all of your furniture and scrub the whole tank down. You can find provent-a-mite here or at reptile shows.

http://pro-products.com/provent-a-mite/

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Cyndymei

Those definitely sound like springtails then and would be harmless to your ball python. They seem to like really damp environments and decaying wood substrate.

For real mites you'd want to get provent-a-mite and spray down your tank and completely clean and or trash all of your furniture and scrub the whole tank down. You can find provent-a-mite here or at reptile shows.

http://pro-products.com/provent-a-mite/

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Okay, well I'll take a picture in a few days and post it on here and see what you think. Hopefully they're springtails, if anything! Really appreciate your help.

Happy to help!

Pictures would definitely help and maybe someone more seasoned could confirm it, but I would keep on the look out for mites on your snake, what are your humidity levels?

I can't say if they are aping tails or not but if they are white they aren't snake mites.

Springtails or wood mites by the sound of it. Both can often come in on that sort of substrate. Annoying but harmless to your snake