Ball pythons and out door activities???

Question: is it ok to let a ball python crawl on grass or trees?? Can this cause mites? I feel like I haven’t seen a solid answer yet. Any advice? I do not want to expose this little guy to parasites asking for help?? Lol

Yes to both. It may let your snake pick up hitchhikers. Just wipe her down after an keep an eye on her.

Your snake will enjoy the time out.

Snake mites aren't native to the US so your snake isn't likely to pick them up. Ticks would be a bigger problem.

I live in NC where we have chiggers everywhere. I know what those little b*stards do to me. I will not take my snakes out and possibly expose them to chiggers. Just awful little bugs.

I can't speak to pests in other locales.

My snakes go outside all the time. Well, when New England weather allows. Check out my page for plenty of pics.

It's very important to assess the area first. Make sure no pesticides are used on grass or plants. Make sure no other animals are around. We have tons of Hawks here, so I check the sky frequently.

Next, make sure there's no escape routes. Trees can be tricky, but BPs don't tend to climb, but still be very careful.

I'm also never more than arms reach away. If they wander I follow close behind.

As mentioned above, snake mites shouldn't be an issue since they're not native. But always give a good look over the snake before putting him/her back in the enclosure.

As long as you're smart and careful you can bring your snakes outside without worry.

Just as WE can pick up some types of intestinal parasites (worms) by walking outside barefoot, so too can our snakes, with a little bad luck.

My snakes are never on the ground outside here...not with ticks & chiggers & all the other potential issues .

Ok, I don't know what chiggers are, but apparently if you live where chiggers live my advice is no good.

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Originally Posted by Craiga 01453

Ok, I don't know what chiggers are, but apparently if you live where chiggers live my advice is no good.

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They're a type of mite, the larvae of which has 6 legs but is near-microscopically tiny, that likes to munch on the skin cells of animals (including us) & leave tiny but maddeningly itchy bumps (papules), hives or rashes. You're far enough north not to have any, but they're widespread in forest & grassland areas of the warm-damp southeast & midwest, also Mexico. The U.K. has a "relative" that is found from western Europe to eastern Asia. You learn quickly not to sit in the grass in areas where there are chiggers, but usually they bite ankles, generously leaving your upper body to the mosquitoes. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

They're a type of mite, the larvae of which has 6 legs but is near-microscopically tiny, that likes to munch on the skin cells of animals (including us) & leave tiny but maddeningly itchy bumps (papules), hives or rashes. You're far enough north not to have any, but they're widespread in forest & grassland areas of the warm-damp southeast & midwest, also Mexico. The U.K. has a "relative" that is found from western Europe to eastern Asia. You learn quickly not to sit in the grass in areas where there are chiggers, but usually they bite ankles, generously leaving your upper body to the mosquitoes. :rolleyes:

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Thank you for the insight!!!

I can't believe I've never at least heard of them in my 41 years!!

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Originally Posted by Craiga 01453

Thank you for the insight!!!

I can't believe I've never at least heard of them in my 41 years!!

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Well they're hard to see & that sure doesn't help. Do you have "no-see-ums" up there? Those are also pretty small but mightily irritating, or so I hear. I don't think we have any of them here, but when I heard the name, I thought they meant chiggers. (chiggers have a few other nicknames)

Not to go too far down the chigger rabbit hole... Here in NC, they're awful. They get into the warmest, closest, tightest fitting areas they can find on a human (use your imagination). The itch is the worst, and then they scar/scab for weeks/month before the ill effects are done.

I never new about them until I moved to this area of NC a few years back now.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Well they're hard to see & that sure doesn't help. Do you have "no-see-ums" up there? Those are also pretty small but mightily irritating, or so I hear. I don't think we have any of them here, but when I heard the name, I thought they meant chiggers. (chiggers have a few other nicknames)

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Dang, those things seem like no fun at all.

I don't think we have "no-see-ums" either. Not that I'm aware of at least. I can't think of any little tiny buggers that are too bad.

The mosquitoes are the biggest PITA around here, at least in my opinion.

I let me niece play with my snakes in the grass, they seem to enjoy it. Ana Gwyn, especially, loooooves to poop on my mom's lawn, lol. Tonks will just sit in place and periscope, but Ana Gwyn will wander around and check things out. I think, if the snake seems to enjoy it and you keep a close eye out for "hitchhikers," it can be really good enrichment for them.

I think where you live is the biggest factor. I live in Las Vegas, where we don't really have fleas, mites, ticks, mosquitoes, etc. We do have ants, spiders, and scorpions, though, so I'm careful where I let Jeffrey explore.

The weather is a bigger concern for me. I mean, right now, as I type this, it's 109 degrees outside, at 5:30 in the evening. She's not going outside at all. I don't even take snakes to the vet in the summer unless it's an emergency.

But as long as the weather is alright and I'm mindful of protecting her from bitey crawly things, I like taking her out and letting her get some fresh air and exercise.

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