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Are you sure they’re snake mites? If they came in forest floor then it’s more than likely wood mites.
Wood mites are harmless to snakes and are commonly found in any wood based substrate. They’re pretty annoying and gross but all they do is eat wood. You don’t have to throw your substrate away. Just put it in the freezer for a week to kill mites and eggs and you’re good to go.
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While I wouldn't be thrilled to see in infestation of wood mites in my new substrate, they don't harm snakes...snake mites are different. I wouldn't risk exposing
my snakes to any mite killing products designed for snake mites UNLESS you are sure your snakes actually HAVE snake mites. Wood mites are annoying but they're
gone when you toss the substrate & any hides made of wood. New snakes should be kept on layers of white paper towels for the first couple weeks IMO, so that
you can easily see snake mites or blood/mucus in stools, etc.
I think some people bake their wood chips & branches (carefully on a low temp. in oven- 250* for 30-45 minutes or so) to reduce the risk of pests like this.
I do not think that the reason your new snake refused to eat has anything to do with wood mites...there are plenty of insects in the wild too, & snakes would
be oblivious to them unless they affect them as snake mites or ticks do.
There have been posts about people who 'suspect' that the snake mites their snake has came from a few "hitch-hikers" in products bought in a pet store where
the snakes may have mites...that's a whole different thing. Snake mites mostly stay close to their food source (snake blood) but can conceivably hitch-hike
on our clothing or in substrates, I just don't think it's all that common. What's MORE likely is that new snakes come home with a few mites that went un-
noticed until they reproduced (exponentially as they do) & became so numerous on the snake that they could no longer be missed.
If all you have are wood mites, be HAPPY!
Last edited by Bogertophis; 10-08-2018 at 12:02 AM.
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The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Bogertophis For This Useful Post:
distaff (10-13-2018),MissterDog (10-08-2018)
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Registered User
Re: Substrate infested with mites alert!
Originally Posted by silverbill
Are you sure they’re snake mites? If they came in forest floor then it’s more than likely wood mites.
Wood mites are harmless to snakes and are commonly found in any wood based substrate. They’re pretty annoying and gross but all they do is eat wood. You don’t have to throw your substrate away. Just put it in the freezer for a week to kill mites and eggs and you’re good to go.
I never said snake mites, as it says in my post wood mites that came in the forest floor bedding.. ITS DISGUSTING and there was so many on my new baby snakes hide its no wonder he wouldnt eat!
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Registered User
they are the white mites... and i threw away EVERYTHING wood and even removed all decor... like i said now there is only flower pots... water bowls and newspaper! the snakes are not happy... they dont have hides... im livid... when i mentioned it to the petco lady today when i went to pick up the mite stuff (natural chemistry) she just said well thats not good.. and did nothing..and i used the mite stuff to spray down the tanks and even tho i threw away the wood, I SPRAYED THAT TOO lol i just got out of the shower.. gross gross gross
Last edited by rockmissjess; 10-08-2018 at 12:01 AM.
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You can use clean boxes (like cereal boxes & other food containers) as hides for the time being...your snakes DO need hides so they aren't stressed out.
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Registered User
hmmm good idea... ill do that... cause they are kinda freaking out..
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When I've raised baby snakes that out-grow hides so quickly anyway I've often used little (clean) boxes for them & cut a little doorway; if the box is a little
too big, you can crumple a couple paper towels to put inside so the snakes feel snug. When these hides get dirty, toss 'em & make new ones...easy!
If you need to order some hides, Reptile Basics has good ones that aren't expensive & come in many sizes. http://www.reptilebasics.com/hide-boxes
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Registered User
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Registered User
Re: Substrate infested with mites alert!
Originally Posted by Bogertophis
When I've raised baby snakes that out-grow hides so quickly anyway I've often used little (clean) boxes for them & cut a little doorway; if the box is a little
too big, you can crumple a couple paper towels to put inside so the snakes feel snug. When these hides get dirty, toss 'em & make new ones...easy!
If you need to order some hides, Reptile Basics has good ones that aren't expensive & come in many sizes. http://www.reptilebasics.com/hide-boxes
yea im going to order some from reptile basics thats the only plastic one i have is the only one i got from them for my female
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