mites? ticks? HELP!!!

hi i just acquired my first snake this past weekend, it is a 2 1/2 yr old female (i think) ball python. i adopted it from someone who no longer had the time to care for it as much as they would have liked.

she is well tempered and i don't really have any problems w/her at all so far. however, i noticed something disturbing last nite as i was watching her.

currently the substrate used in her tank is a forest fir or something to that nature and when i looked closely last nite, i noticed these small insects jumping around down in the substrate (there's currently about 2 in or so of substrate).

these insects appeared white/greyish and was an oval shape almost the size of 2 periods.

i believe these are too small (and too many of them) to be ticks, yet they appear to also be too big to be mites.

i also inspected the python closely and did not see any swarming on her (checked mostly her head).

any idea what this could be and what i should do?? any input would be greatly appreciated, thank you in advance.

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Originally Posted by wayner516

hi i just acquired my first snake this past weekend, it is a 2 1/2 yr old female (i think) ball python. i adopted it from someone who no longer had the time to care for it as much as they would have liked.

she is well tempered and i don't really have any problems w/her at all so far. however, i noticed something disturbing last nite as i was watching her.

currently the substrate used in her tank is a forest fir or something to that nature and when i looked closely last nite, i noticed these small insects jumping around down in the substrate (there's currently about 2 in or so of substrate).

these insects appeared white/greyish and was an oval shape almost the size of 2 periods.

i believe these are too small (and too many of them) to be ticks, yet they appear to also be too big to be mites.

i also inspected the python closely and did not see any swarming on her (checked mostly her head).

any idea what this could be and what i should do?? any input would be greatly appreciated, thank you in advance.

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Those are most likely Aphids which come with any bark type bedding. They will cause no harm to the snake. You can get rid of them by baking the substrate. Snake mites are black (sometimes red) and the size of a period. They will most likely be on and all over the snake.

Welcome to the site and the wonderful world of Ball Pythons!

Well... I'd first change her to paper towles..... did you look under her chin? Mites will show best under her jaw I believe???? As for whiteish critters I have no clue? But there is a great caresheet av. here for proper temps etc.....


Hi and Welcome! :sunny:

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Originally Posted by jglass38

Those are most likely Aphids which come with any bark type bedding. They will cause no harm to the snake. You can get rid of them by baking the substrate. Snake mites are black (sometimes red) and the size of a period. They will most likely be on and all over the snake.

Welcome to the site and the wonderful world of Ball Pythons!

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Ahh! There you go! :D Aphids!!!

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Originally Posted by Laooda

Ahh! There you go! :D Aphids!!!

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Yup! Very common. I used to get them in Cypress Mulch all the time and in Reptibark. Its a nice moist environment and they thrive. But they cause no harm. Baking the substrate (as much of a pain as it is) at 250 degrees for a half hour or so (and then letting cool down of course) will take care of the little buggers.

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Originally Posted by jglass38

Those are most likely Aphids which come with any bark type bedding. They will cause no harm to the snake. You can get rid of them by baking the substrate. Snake mites are black (sometimes red) and the size of a period. They will most likely be on and all over the snake.

Welcome to the site and the wonderful world of Ball Pythons!

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whew, thanks for that info! i was wondering why there were so many of them but none were bothering the snake at all.

i will soon be moving her to a new and larger tank and i will either bake the substrate or use something different.

thanks for the welcome as well :D

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Originally Posted by wayner516

whew, thanks for that info! i was wondering why there were so many of them but none were bothering the snake at all.

i will soon be moving her to a new and larger tank and i will either bake the substrate or use something different.

thanks for the welcome as well :D

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You got it! Glad I could be of some assistance. Reptile mites are pretty easy to spot. They tend to stay on the host and can be easily found in the water bowl (where the snake will soak to try to get them off) or by running a piece of papertowel down the body of the snake. Also examining around the eyes and in that little slit on the underside of the head.

I use to use reptibark and had the same critters. I switched to Nature's Best which is already heat treated but basically the same as reptibark and I never saw them again.

a few years ago i adopted a red tail with mites, and a friend of mine gave me this awesome thing for killing insects. i cant remember who makes it or what its called, but its basically a yellow rectangle a little bigger than a stick of gum made of rubber with some sort of pesticide stuff built in. i sat it on top of the screen top of his cage and all the mites were dead within a week. darn i wish i could remember what it was called

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Originally Posted by speepdaedeesi

a few years ago i adopted a red tail with mites, and a friend of mine gave me this awesome thing for killing insects. i cant remember who makes it or what its called, but its basically a yellow rectangle a little bigger than a stick of gum made of rubber with some sort of pesticide stuff built in. i sat it on top of the screen top of his cage and all the mites were dead within a week. darn i wish i could remember what it was called

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Very unsafe and has been proven so after years of people using them. Pest strips are not the way to go. Prevent a mite it!