Question!!what small bugs in empty water dish

Question!! what kind of small bugs in empty water dish(wood bark is floor is it termites?) thanks

Sounds like it could be mites. Can you get us a good picture of them, and the snake?

If you have no mites on the snake (when you pick it up, they should be on your hand (depending on severity of infestation)...they could be wood mites.

These are not reputed to be dangerous to the snake. They usually die in the waterdish, but don't live on the snake.

This is why i recomend that people dont use bark for a substrate, you most likely have wood mites. i would ditch the bark, treat the tank and snake for mites and change your substrate over to aspen.

More than likely mites. Time to order sam PAM. Prevent-A-Mite. You'll probably only need to useit once, but it's totally worth the money.

I hear the shelf life is outstanding.

On a side note, why is the water bowl empty? Got a REALLY thirsty snake? LOL

if they are not black or really dark brown they are not snake mites
wood mites are aspen colored

I am more inclined to believe they are spring tails. Rather common in organic/wood mulches and they have a prediliction for congregating around water. Totally harmless.

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Originally Posted by hawaiianice99

This is why i recomend that people dont use bark for a substrate, you most likely have wood mites. i would ditch the bark, treat the tank and snake for mites and change your substrate over to aspen.

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wood mites dont only come in bark.

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Originally Posted by asplundii

I am more inclined to believe they are spring tails. Rather common in organic/wood mulches and they have a prediliction for congregating around water. Totally harmless.

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You're going to say this and you don't know what he's talking about? I don't see a picture here,maybe because i'm at work. But saying "it's totally harmless" is the wrong way to go.

At least get a can of PAM, it can't hurt. (unless you use it wrong) And will probably kill whatever it is.

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Originally Posted by asplundii

I am more inclined to believe they are spring tails. Rather common in organic/wood mulches and they have a prediliction for congregating around water. Totally harmless.

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i have them in my chondro cage. nothing to worry about.....but a picture is a must for us to be able to tell the difference. what color are they??

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Originally Posted by Texas Dan

You're going to say this and you don't know what he's talking about? I don't see a picture here,maybe because i'm at work. But saying "it's totally harmless" is the wrong way to go.

At least get a can of PAM, it can't hurt. (unless you use it wrong) And will probably kill whatever it is.

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I hate to sound like an twit but you do not know what he is talking about either so kindly do not get all high and mighty on me.

With no picture, no I can not say for certain that it is spring tails but neither can you say it is mites. You said it was likely mites and that he should get the PAM. Fine, you are entitled to your opinion (and it is just that cause there is no pic so you really do not know what it is he is talking about.) I said it was likely spring tails which are harmless and if it is indeed spring tails then yes, I bloody well can say they are harmless. They are not parasitic, they do not carry animal borne pathogens... So, plain and simple spring tails are totally harmless. And, as you are entitled to your opinion so too am I entitled to mine (and it is just that cause there is no pic so I really do not know what it is he is talking about either.)

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Originally Posted by Lucas339

i have them in my chondro cage. nothing to worry about

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Ditto. And my GBK cage and all my ball cages and my egg eater cages and my carpet cage and my Dendro tank and my Phyllomedusa tank. Springs eat detritus, nothing to worry about at all.

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.....but a picture is a must for us to be able to tell the difference. what color are they??

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Yes, I agree. A pic would help significantly. Behavior is a good indicator too cause springs and mites behave very different. Namely, springs will "spring" away if you bring your finger near them.

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Originally Posted by asplundii

I hate to sound like an twit but you do not know what he is talking about either so kindly do not get all high and mighty on me.

With no picture, no I can not say for certain that it is spring tails but neither can you say it is mites. You said it was likely mites and that he should get the PAM. Fine, you are entitled to your opinion (and it is just that cause there is no pic so you really do not know what it is he is talking about.) I said it was likely spring tails which are harmless and if it is indeed spring tails then yes, I bloody well can say they are harmless. They are not parasitic, they do not carry animal borne pathogens... So, plain and simple spring tails are totally harmless. And, as you are entitled to your opinion so too am I entitled to mine (and it is just that cause there is no pic so I really do not know what it is he is talking about either.)

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I'm not trying to argue here with you, not what I wanted to do at all. I'm just saying, prepare for the worst, and if they are harmless, oh well. At least if they get PAM they are doing something active.

Sorry if I sounded high and mighty, not was I was going for.

i let her roam around my room for couple days and in that time i decided to clean out the tank..and i was looking at the caliclum build up in the water dish and that when i noticed about 5 little(pix soon) bugs runnin around in it. i cleaned the dish out with CLR. but now imma leave it empty to c if they come back in there to get a pic of them.

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Originally Posted by Texas Dan

I'm not trying to argue here with you, not what I wanted to do at all. I'm just saying, prepare for the worst, and if they are harmless, oh well. At least if they get PAM they are doing something active.

Sorry if I sounded high and mighty, not was I was going for.

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My apologies as well. I am in a bit of a tift with someone on another forum and I let it boil over to here. I did perceive your intent to be somewhat of a challenge to me but even then my response was over the top. Sorry.

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Originally Posted by asplundii

My apologies as well. I am in a bit of a tift with someone on another forum and I let it boil over to here. I did perceive your intent to be somewhat of a challenge to me but even then my response was over the top. Sorry.

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NP. I just didn't want them to give up there and not get treatment if it's needed. Everyone has bad days, then it sounds like everyone is against you. :)

I am a bit queasy about the thought that even if springs are "harmless" they are allowed to roam at will.

Here's my reasoning (bear with me) I wouldn't want bugs crawling over me (ohhhh the visual!! yeech). They (snakes) can't swat them away, can't get away from them and have them "springing" off their eyes, etc.. also getting in the snakes waterdish and drowning..

I treat all the substrate that comes in with PAM before putting the substrate in the tubs. By this I mean I divide the bags (use trash bags) and spray each group of substrate..shake and close the bag and use the next day or week. By then it is dried and anything living in it should be dead.

I am NOT saying that anyone must do it my way. I am stating an opinion only.

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Originally Posted by echo0587

i let her roam around my room for couple days and in that time i decided to clean out the tank..and i was looking at the caliclum build up in the water dish and that when i noticed about 5 little(pix soon) bugs runnin around in it. i cleaned the dish out with CLR. but now imma leave it empty to c if they come back in there to get a pic of them.

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just push around some of the substrate and if they are spring tails, you should see them running about. the ones in my substrate are whiteish.