Tiny white mites

Any idea what they could be? They aren't dark at all. Really small and move pretty quickly. Could they be hitchhikers from the Sani-chips I use? I see some on the snakes, but they're almost always moving around and are not near the snakes head or eyes at all. I've been using Sani-chips for a while but just recently received a shipment that was cut open during shipping and sealed back up with duct tap. Wish I could get a picture but they're really really small.

They are almost clear/white.

Should also add that I'm only seeing them in the tubs with the new sani-chips.

Wood mites it sounds like.

It is from the Sanichips.

I would have to agree with Pat on this one..

bake the chips in the oven at 225 for 15 min and it will kill them off.

Thanks, that's kind of what I thought too but was really surprised as the other 3 bags from a previous shipment appeared to have none. These are all harmless to the snakes though, right?

They are wood mites.....You can buy something called Reptile Relief at Reptilebasics.com....It really works killing those tiny animals...My snakes have them too...They are not bad to their health but it have too irritate them a little...:rage:

either they are wood mites or cardboard mites but either one is harmless to snakes .

My immediate thought is springtails... are they the same thing as wood mites?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TrpnBils

My immediate thought is springtails... are they the same thing as wood mites?

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Springtails are a whole different organism.

Hypoaspis.

Look them up. Very interesting, actually :)

Wood mites.
Completely, totally, 100% harmless.
Unless you're made of wood...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Johan

Springtails are a whole different organism.

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Yup completely different.

I actually use springtails in my planted snake vivs for their beneficial properties.

I've had springtails in my reptibark a couple times when it got a little to moist. They have the same description as whats being described here. I guess they can be benificial but I still don't like them on my animals