Mites? Uh oh!

A few weeks back, Hayden's eyes got all greyed over like he was going to shed and he dulled down a bit. However, his eyes cleared up within a few days and nothing shed-like happened after that.

I've just had him out and there were little white .. things crawling about on him. I'm thinking they're mites. Could they be responsible for the cloudy eyes and such?

Also, is there a way to rid him of mites without a pest strip? I really don't like the idea of using one..

His tank is going to be cleaned today or tomorrow sometime, and I'm thinking of switching substrates. [Coconut bark to newspaper] Could switching substrates help in the future "not-having" of mites?

I just had this problem...

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Originally Posted by lillyorchid

I just had this problem...

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Yeah, I read that, but I thought it might be something else. Mine are white and yours were a darker color.

White.. is it like a dust, or are the bugs themselves white? I think that mite feces create a "dust" on the snake; maybe it's that? Or maybe something from your substrate (dirt mites, plant lice, etc.)?

The bugs themselves are white.

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Originally Posted by resisted

The bugs themselves are white.

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You might have something from your substrate.If i remember right mites are a dark color there droppings are white.Its been so long since i have had the mite problems THANK GOD :D .Get some Prevent-o Mite after you remove the substrate and see how things go then.

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Originally Posted by resisted

His tank is going to be cleaned today or tomorrow sometime, and I'm thinking of switching substrates. [Coconut bark to newspaper] Could switching substrates help in the future "not-having" of mites?

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When I use coconut fiber for my frogs, the same white 'critters' appeared ! They are not snake mites! They are just bugs that appear in the soil. No need to be worried as they do not feed off of the animal. I believe that they just eat the fibers in the soil ;) .

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Originally Posted by _BoidFinatic_

When I use coconut fiber for my frogs, the same white 'critters' appeared ! They are not snake mites! They are just bugs that appear in the soil. No need to be worried as they do not feed off of the animal. I believe that they just eat the fibers in the soil ;) .

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Before I set to the scary and large task of cleaning.. are you sure? My dad's carpet python isn't on coconut anything and the same critters appeared. He's sure they're mites, but .. eh. They don't really fit the description.

http://lllreptile.com/info/library/g...h-snake-mites/

That say's they're either black or red, though..:confused: