Weird "scale" on Jonny T.'s head?

Hey fellas. My ball python has this large, translucent "scale" growing out of her head. I'm making the assumption that it's a scale since when she shed it changed color, but I'd like to know if it's something I should be worried about or not.

Here's a picture to see if you guys can help me with this one.

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h1...d/IMG_0564.jpg

Hi,

That actually looks like a tick. :weirdface


dr del

That thought came to me, but it's been there for a couple of weeks now. If it is a tick, what would be a good way to remove it without the head getting stuck in?

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Originally Posted by Raunchyfad

That thought came to me, but it's been there for a couple of weeks now. If it is a tick, what would be a good way to remove it without the head getting stuck in?

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With dogs, i would dab nail polish on it so it couldn't breath or you can light a match and blow it out then touch it to the tick immediately after extinguishing.

Ticks leaving their head behind is actually quite uncommon--grasp the tick firmly with tweezers and pull it out gently but steadily. There may be some cementum left behind, a substance the ticks secrete that is often mistaken for the tick's mouthparts being left in. Dab it with betadine afterward. Other methods of removal such as burning can increase the risk of infection.

I don't have any betadine in my medicine cabinet, but I do have hydrogen peroxide.

Would this be appropriate to use, or should I make a trip to the drugstore?

i dont think its a tick.
why would a tick want cold blood? or lock on where theres skull not juicy meaat? thats my reasoning.
is the scale hard like the rest of the head scales?
color changes could possibly happen if your ball is young. ive seen white spots but never gray like that. it could be something else im just saying make sure its a tick for sure before you try to pluck it off it could be something else. maybe use a magnifying glass?

Hi,

You get ticks which feed on lots of different species - they are mostly found on wild caught or imported snakes however.

They don't eat meat either - they suck blood.

Here is a page with some info.

It's not just the colour that makes me think it is a tick - it is also the fact it is about 5 times the size of all the surrounding scales but has its head buried up under one.

I agree a better pic might help answer it definitively though.


dr del

Quote:

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Originally Posted by eclipsesmommy

i dont think its a tick.
why would a tick want cold blood? or lock on where theres skull not juicy meaat? thats my reasoning.
is the scale hard like the rest of the head scales?

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Whatever it is, it's definitely not squishy. It's not exactly bulbous, either, but kind of flat. Though anchored in one place, it moves around easily, and it can be lifted and stuff. I've seen no evidence of legs, but I think I'll just have to look harder if that's the case.

Also dr del, thanks for the page. I'm sure there's some rubbing alcohol in here, somewhere.

I'll try and get a better picture tomorrow, and hopefully a better diagnosis.

It sure is frustrating when you can find lots of pictures of the tick itself on the internet, but no picture of the tick inside the snake. :(

Hi,

Trying to find some pics for you;

Ticks in eye socket.
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil.../8/eyeShot.jpg

Tick that left mum to wait for the hatchlings to come out.
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...dy1eggs024.jpg

Sadly all the other threads have had the pics removed. :(

They do however mention various ways of getting it off and recommend Provent-a-mite to kill any eggs it may have laid.


dr del

Like grandma always tells us, Olive oil can fix anything! Break out the olive oil, a q-tip and a pair of tweezers.. Dip the q-tip in a bit of olive and rub it gently around the base of the tick.. Once the tick is loosened up a bit, gently pull it off with the tweezers... This is how my neighbors took a tick off of their dog, so i dont see why it wouldnt work for the snake....

Yes, that is a tick - I'd check the rest of him to see if you find any others. Provent-A-Mite kills ticks and mites. However, I would definitely manually remove that one.

man that snake with ticks on its eye is just gross! that one turned my stomach!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by eclipsesmommy

why would a tick want cold blood? or lock on where theres skull not juicy meaat? thats my reasoning.

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I've seen ticks on pet store snakes before, it's not pretty. As with any animal, ticks will burrow in anywhere they can get a good blood supply, and it just so happens it chose this snakes's head. Plus the blood wouldn't cold since the snake is being warmed in the tank. :gj:

To the OP I hope you were able the remove it without much fuss. The picture of the ticks on that snake's eye was indeed creepy, eww. I despise ticks, my boyfriend is a land surveyor so he's outside all day collecting the little pests. I'm always having to help him pull them off, he'd be so lost without me :rofl:

Tick removed! I was hoping to put the little fella in a jar with a long-dead junebug and bumblebee, but now it's lost in my bathmat.

I hope I can find it before it contaminates this house with ticks, or something.

My snake seems fine, though. She's so patient. I love her.

Eeeewwww!!! :P


Find it find it. :taz:

Provent-a-mite is the stuff you want to prevent any re-infestation from all I have read.


dr del

Burn the bathmat!
:P

Hey, guess what fellas, I found the tick!

It is currently residing in the bee-beetle jar. It's my new pet. Can anyone suggest a name?

Thanks for your help, you guys. :)

[QUOTE=Raunchyfad;1133949] Can anyone suggest a name?

How bout "tigger"?

Call him Dead, since his food source just ran out. :P

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Raunchyfad

Hey, guess what fellas, I found the tick!

It is currently residing in the bee-beetle jar. It's my new pet. Can anyone suggest a name?

Thanks for your help, you guys. :)

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Can we see some pics of the little devil?

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Originally Posted by abuja

Can we see some pics of the little devil?

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Next to him is the bee, for a size comparison.

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h1...d/IMG_0573.jpg

OMG i totally would NOT have guessed that was a tick!! its gross

Hi,

Can I save the pics to use in the future in threads like this?


dr del

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dr del

Hi,

Can I save the pics to use in the future in threads like this?


dr del

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Go right ahead, pal. C:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dr del

Hi,

Trying to find some pics for you;

Ticks in eye socket.
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil.../8/eyeShot.jpg

Tick that left mum to wait for the hatchlings to come out.
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...dy1eggs024.jpg

Sadly all the other threads have had the pics removed. :(

They do however mention various ways of getting it off and recommend Provent-a-mite to kill any eggs it may have laid.


dr del

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Man would I be :taz::rage: if those things were stuck in my eye . Could you imagine :please: get it out . Poor fella I did not know they looked like that .I bet when they were removed he was like:banana: good luck on whatever that is . Wish I could help .:)

Ew, ew, ew, ew! That thing is gross. Hey, to people with experience, which do you hate more; ticks, chiggers, or mosquitoes? I've only had chiggers and mosquitoes, and, out of those two, mosquitoes are way way worse.

OMG I did not know that P.A.M. killed those things too . I am so happy I use it . Worth every penny if I never have to see one of those nasty's :O :spid0r::bolt: Those things creep me out.

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Originally Posted by Mike Cavanaugh

man that snake with ticks on its eye is just gross! that one turned my stomach!

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I was thinking the same thing, poor snakes!:(

Hope your snake gets better!

haha the tick was like "num num bwains"