Tons of black granules appearing in snakes cage?? Help

Hi there, I’m new to these forums so forgive me if I’m posting this incorrectly but I desperately need help. There’s been these weird black specks appearing in my snakes cage and I’m a little freaked out because I can’t find anyone else with this problem yet. Ive been using paper towels for my snakes bedding temporarily. The first time I saw them I thought it might have been left over substrate that I forgot to clean out and didn’t think much of it and replaced the paper towels. This time I found them in her water dish where she defecated. I threw it out and figured it was just feces because once the water shifted, it disintegrated into a bunch of them, but now it’s the next day and they’ve appeared again on the paper towel and in her water but this time no feces?? It’s dry and they’re all slightly misshaped so I don’t think it’s mites. Anyone know what this might be? https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/o7ZpUoK.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/mR8JoXa.jpg

It looks like the bugs came out of the wooden branches in your cage

It sounded like mites. Have you squished em to see if blood would come out? Also check your snake and see if you see any mites around their face or body. They’re hard to notice so be thorough. Any noticeable changes in your snakes behaviour?

It might be bugs from the wood as well like FollowTheSun has said. Otherwise possible droppings from other animals? Do you have any known bug infestations? Maybe they got inside the enclosure?

To be safe I would sterilize everything. What are you using to clean? A mixture of vinegar and water is okay to maintain but it won’t sterilize everything. If you have a diluted bleach solution that should work. Otherwise diluted chlorhexidine solution works as well. I’d soak everything in hot soapy water for a few hours, longer with your wooden pieces. If you wanted to be extra safe, you could scrub down what you can.

I’d then sterilize everything with the suggested solutions except your wood. Bake the wood in the oven between 375-420 degrees. The time it should be left in the oven depends on the temperature you set it to. Make sure to keep an eye on it at all times while it’s baking to avoid fire hazards. This is also why it’s important to soak your wood in soapy water for as long as possible.

If you wanted to be extra cautious, you could also freeze some of your decors like the hides and water dishes if the material it’s made of is safe to do so. (Some materials can crack or break) Once frozen for 12 hours you can then allow it to get to room temperature, clean it with solution and then set it up again.

I would thoroughly rinse out the enclosure as well, and clean it inside and out with the solution. Also clean all equipment around the elcosure. Thermostats, humidity probes, heat pad, heat lamp, temp controller, ect. And check floors and walls to make sure these black things aren’t lingering anywhere else.

Keep your snake on paper towel and try to keep things inside the enclosure to a minimum for now if you can. I’d check daily for these black granules and see if any more appear. If so, take a look over all your decor inside the enclosure. Maybe it’s coming off of one of the hides or something? And then give the enclosure a look over again, and then check your snake again.

Let us know if they keep coming back.

If that is a dried piece of driftwood you bought as it appears to be it should not be coming from there.

If it's mites it is the worst case I've ever seen and you would be easily seeing them on the snake. So I don't think that's it.

What else is in the tank?

Have a picture of the full enclosure?

Weird, my first thought would be bugs, bug poop, bug eggs or maybe one of your decorations was previously in a fish tank or enclosure with black sand and it's falling out now that it's dry. Got a microscope? If they are mites you'd be able to tell, some of them would be moving around and they would be full of blood, squishable.

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Originally Posted by GoingPostal

Weird, my first thought would be bugs, bug poop, bug eggs or maybe one of your decorations was previously in a fish tank or enclosure with black sand and it's falling out now that it's dry. Got a microscope? If they are mites you'd be able to tell, some of them would be moving around and they would be full of blood, squishable.

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This ^ ^ ^ is my thought too...since you didn't mention them moving, I'd say bug eggs or bug feces.
FYI, I use natural local branches in some of my snake homes & sometimes one of the branches will have a wood-boring beetle in it; I only know when I start seeing tiny piles of fine sawdust in the cage- the beetle stays in the wood & is harmless. In THIS case though, I'd say either eggs or feces, either way that's a LOT & I'd lose the offending decor if I were you. If you aren't convinced, take it out & double seal it in a clear plastic bag & wait. You might also put those "black specks" in a sealed jar for "observation"...I think you'll know pretty soon. What else is in the cage? Any other natural hiding places? Magnification really helps too...GoingPostal nailed it IMO.

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Originally Posted by Faith.luu

. Bake the wood in the oven between 375-420 degrees. The time it should be left in the oven depends on the temperature you set it to. Make sure to keep an eye on it at all times while it’s baking to avoid fire hazards. This is also why it’s important to soak your wood in soapy water for as long as possible...

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I'd urge great caution when "baking" wood decor to kill bugs or pathogens. I've done this before, & I agree with soaking the wood first in water (only), I'd never go higher than 250* on the oven...actually 200* was just fine. Please don't start a fire in your kitchen! It's very easy to get side-tracked, so don't: set a timer, stick around & use a "slow oven" for baking wood. About an hour or so should be adequate. Freezing does not usually kill stuff in wood, don't waste your time or food space.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

I'd urge great caution when "baking" wood decor to kill bugs or pathogens. I've done this before, & I agree with soaking the wood first in water (only), I'd never go higher than 250* on the oven...actually 200* was just fine. Please don't start a fire in your kitchen! It's very easy to get side-tracked, so don't: set a timer, stick around & use a "slow oven" for baking wood. About an hour or so should be adequate. Freezing does not usually kill stuff in wood, don't waste your time or food space.

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Agree 1000000000%

Do NOT bake branches in your oven at temps over 250°. I've always gone 200° for 2 hours or so depending on size of the branch. Never any issues.

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Originally Posted by KMG

If that is a dried piece of driftwood you bought as it appears to be it should not be coming from there.

If it's mites it is the worst case I've ever seen and you would be easily seeing them on the snake. So I don't think that's it.

What else is in the tank?

Have a picture of the full enclosure?

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They're not moving and I don't see any on my snake. I've had mites a few years back but these don't seem like it at all? It's so odd, theyre too hard to squish unless they're wet, then you can sort of smear it but it's a little crumbly.

Here's the enclosure:
https://i.imgur.com/sQdlS9m.jpg

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Originally Posted by GoingPostal

Weird, my first thought would be bugs, bug poop, bug eggs or maybe one of your decorations was previously in a fish tank or enclosure with black sand and it's falling out now that it's dry. Got a microscope? If they are mites you'd be able to tell, some of them would be moving around and they would be full of blood, squishable.

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I got my decor at a reptarium shop, but that was almost 3 years ago. They've been sanitized and baked since then so it seems odd that something would be coming out now all of a sudden :(

Likely bug eggs from something living in your decor. Wood or cork bark have lots of tiny crevices & some insects bore into them & set up house-keeping. ;) Could also
be fecal droppings from a few such bugs.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

This ^ ^ ^ is my thought too...since you didn't mention them moving, I'd say bug eggs or bug feces.
FYI, I use natural local branches in some of my snake homes & sometimes one of the branches will have a wood-boring beetle in it; I only know when I start seeing tiny piles of fine sawdust in the cage- the beetle stays in the wood & is harmless. In THIS case though, I'd say either eggs or feces, either way that's a LOT & I'd lose the offending decor if I were you. If you aren't convinced, take it out & double seal it in a clear plastic bag & wait. You might also put those "black specks" in a sealed jar for "observation"...I think you'll know pretty soon. What else is in the cage? Any other natural hiding places? Magnification really helps too...GoingPostal nailed it IMO.

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I think i will try and seal the driftwood to see if anything comes out.. I shook some of the cork decor and the only thing that came out was some dust, not a lot, but none of the black stuff either. Other than those I just have plastic hides and leaves.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Likely bug eggs from something living in your decor. Wood or cork bark have lots of tiny crevices & some insects bore into them & set up house-keeping. ;) Could also
be fecal droppings from a few such bugs.

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Maybe I'll have to take them out for a while and see if they still appear then.. it's so odd, there's just so much of it, i found more this morning (not nearly as much, but there was some in her water again) and I haven't seen any bugs anywhere :confusd:

Well, for now it's a mystery, but keep on it...you'll figure this out, hopefully soon, & please do share what you find. Maybe a moth or something got in the cage? BTW, :welcome:

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Originally Posted by Snakkegi

I think i will try and seal the driftwood to see if anything comes out.. I shook some of the cork decor and the only thing that came out was some dust, not a lot, but none of the black stuff either. Other than those I just have plastic hides and leaves.

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If there are any beetles living in the decor, they tunnel into it & hang on tightly...I doubt you could shake them loose. Clearly your snake has "room-mates". ;)

You could probably bake it at the temp Bogert suggested just to be safe. I've never heard of this before and I am very intrigued to see who's making such a mess.

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Originally Posted by Reptile$ 4 Life

You could probably bake it at the temp Bogert suggested just to be safe. I've never heard of this before and I am very intrigued to see who's making such a mess.

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I've seen some beetle droppings before & they can look like this, but there's so much of it, it has to be a family effort, lol. They could be deeply burrowed into one or more branches, & it's very hard to spot their entry & exit holes. But it's odd that some ended up in the water bowl...that suggests whatever it is can also fly (which some beetles can, but not all).

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Well, for now it's a mystery, but keep on it...you'll figure this out, hopefully soon, & please do share what you find. Maybe a moth or something got in the cage? BTW, :welcome:

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Whatever it is I'm hoping it's just harmless and easy to get rid of!! My snake has been acting normal so I don't think she's bothered much by it but I'm gonna try to deal with it ASAP. I'll keep you all updated, thanks!

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Originally Posted by Snakkegi

Whatever it is I'm hoping it's just harmless and easy to get rid of!! My snake has been acting normal so I don't think she's bothered much by it but I'm gonna try to deal with it ASAP. I'll keep you all updated, thanks!

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Assuming it's beetles &/or their larvae eating your decor, they have no interest or ability to harm your snake, so that's the good news. It's more of an annoyance, but you don't want such things inhabiting your home either. If the beetles can fly (as evidenced by droppings in the water bowl-?) then they could potentially escape the cage if you're not careful (like when you clean the cage & have the decor sitting out) & might colonize more valuable "real estate". Anyway, good luck! :gj:

I would take each piece out and separate them. Maybe even in a Tupperware like container if they'll fit, or just a box. Something to help keep control. That should show where the problem is so you can address it.

I have an update! I was taking a look at my driftwood and noticed a small crevice/hole sitting at the very top (above my water bowl!) filled with whatever this stuff is. I think you all may be right about it being bug droppings or eggs, if so then im horrified to find out how many could be in there lol

Here's a picture, Im going to quarantine each of my pieces to see what happens. If it is bugs, does anyone know how to get rid of them?? I'd hate to throw away such good pieces of wood :(
https://i.imgur.com/HWP29mi.jpg

I shook one of my pieces of wood and it rattles :O I am so mortified hahaha

Put them in the oven at 200 for about an hour and that should do it. Make sure you supervise it so nothing burns.

Damn, this is terrifying! :omg: The most recent entry to this thread was like reading a horror story...

No clue what those specks could be but if I saw that I would probably throw all the wood into a bonfire and ozone my house lol.

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Originally Posted by Snakkegi

I shook one of my pieces of wood and it rattles :O I am so mortified hahaha

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As we've said before, shake out all you can, saturate them in water (for safety so they don't catch fire!) then bake them in a "slow oven" (about 200*) for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Keep an eye on them while they bake so they don't catch fire...they shouldn't if you get them wet as directed & keep the oven temperature low (not over 250*).

The heat should kill bugs...allow to cool completely first before putting back in cage. Most beetles that eat wood actually lay eggs in the wood, then it's their larvae that tunnel thru, munching away & pooping little pellets. Live & learn, eh? :D

This thread is very interesting.

Calm down everyone...:O They're just little bugs & they only eat wood...not people, not snakes...just wood, LOL! And if you bake them, they die. ;)

Or if you have a small pet lizard, you can break apart the wood & feed all those soft little munchers to your lizard...he'll be so happy!

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Originally Posted by wnateg

This thread is very interesting.

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Yeah, this is why pet stores sell branches & grapevine decor that have been baked...the trouble is that when this stuff sits in the store, little critters can still sometimes move in. Nature is pretty amazing...there's always something that eats something else. :D

Thanks everyone for your help!! I'll definitely bake them to get rid of the bugs. I'm hoping this thread is useful to someone else who runs into this problem! I was so scared something was wrong with my snake :( I feel a lot more at ease now hahaha.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Calm down everyone...:O They're just little bugs & they only eat wood...not people, not snakes...just wood, LOL! And if you bake them, they die. ;)

Or if you have a small pet lizard, you can break apart the wood & feed all those soft little munchers to your lizard...he'll be so happy!

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Hahaha I wish! He'd probably have a feast considering how many may be in there!!

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Originally Posted by Snakkegi

Hahaha I wish! He'd probably have a feast considering how many may be in there!!

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Yeah, it sounds as if they're eating themselves out of house & home? :rofl:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Calm down everyone...:O They're just little bugs & they only eat wood...not people, not snakes...just wood, LOL! And if you bake them, they die. ;)

Or if you have a small pet lizard, you can break apart the wood & feed all those soft little munchers to your lizard...he'll be so happy!

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I'm imagining a swarm of mystery bugs swarming out of that wood. I've definitely built it up in my head.

Driftwood is cheap I'd chunk it buy some more. I'd kill it with fire in my fire pit. Maybe over some whiskey and a cigar. Lol!

Well, whatever makes ya happy...:rofl: It IS annoying when nice driftwood turns into a turd-dispenser.

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Originally Posted by wnateg

I'm imagining a swarm of mystery bugs swarming out of that wood. I've definitely built it up in my head.

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You've watched too many horror movies...:D

As an aside,

If you suspect it may be mite poop simply wet the paper and put some one it - being mostly made up of dried blood products they will end up with a dark red stain around them.


del

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Originally Posted by KMG

Driftwood is cheap I'd chunk it buy some more. I'd kill it with fire in my fire pit. Maybe over some whiskey and a cigar. Lol!

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Hilarious!!! 😂👏

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Calm down everyone...:O They're just little bugs & they only eat wood...not people, not snakes...just wood, LOL! And if you bake them, they die. ;)

Or if you have a small pet lizard, you can break apart the wood & feed all those soft little munchers to your lizard...he'll be so happy!

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^ THIS^


I had thus issue years ago ... black specks in little piles ..

They were under a branch that had loads of holes in it so it deduced that the specs were woodworm droppings or similar


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