Swimming in water dish?

[Traceur]

No, it's not from a dirty cage they get mites, although dirty cages help the mites reproduce. He likely CAME with some mites, IF he has them now...it's nothing
that you did or didn't do. Breeders & sellers of snakes are not all reliable when it comes to keeping their collections free of mites...but the GOOD ones do! It's
important because mites can also spread diseases among snakes.

Routine humidity at 55-60% is fine, but increase it (to about 70% or so) when snake is for sure in "shed" cycle.

I was sure to get him from a good breeder online (xyz reptiles). I was sure to look through reviews and unboxings and to see how long they bred and sold snakes. I'm kind of doubtful he came with them because I had him on a towel for hours before I even got home and I didn't notice any black specs on it. So I'm still lost on how he even got mites (if he has them)

He went back into hiding about half an hour ago. How do I know if he's going into shed?

[Traceur]

Tiny moving specs...about the size of the head of a pin, usually dark (black/brown/or reddish) in color.
They can get rinsed off into the water bowl, but you also want to look all over the snake...around eyes/face/chin etc. They can
hide under scales & blend in.

Best to keep all new snakes on white paper towels for substrate until you're sure there's no mites; they show up better this way.

Also, wipe the snake's body with a damp white smooth cloth & check the cloth carefully for "specks".

And by the way, while we suggest NOT handling a new snake until he/she has fed several times easily & at normal intervals (so as
not to stress them while they're settling in) THIS is the one time to ignore that advice: if you see mites on your snake or in the
cage (on substrate or cloth etc), you need to deal with them right away, not wait.

Should I check him now? He went back into hiding and I don't want to stress him out by pulling him out. I only noticed him being active during the day since yesterday. But commonly, he's in his greenery. Earlier today, he was under his log for quite some time as well

[Coluber42]

By all means, keep an eye out for mites, as new ones could have hatched from eggs that could have hitched a ride. But unless you find some, I wouldn't worry too much about your snake being in the water dish. He's still really new to you, and still getting used to a new environment with new hides where everything is different. That takes awhile; mine won't sleep in a new hide until it has been in there for weeks and he's good and sure it won't bite. So he could just be in the water dish because it feels snug and safe and he's not sure about his hides yet. Or it's possible that your temperatures are actually higher than you think they are, and he's trying to cool off. Or that he's going to go into shed soon. Or that he just likes it there for the time being for no reason you'll ever know because he's unlikely to explain it to you.

Soaking in the water dish isn't in itself a bad thing, especially if your snake is new and still learning the ropes. Getting shipped to a new home is stressful on a baby snake and it doesn't just stop being stressful immediately because your husbandry numbers are good.

Do keep an eye out for mites, but probably the best way to make things easier on your snake is to leave him alone and let him settle down.

[Traceur]

I heard of mites coming from substrate or hides, but all of his terrarium stuff sat in the box for nearly a month before I even put it in the terrium (I read that they can't survive without a reptile host). And even before I put everything in there, I disinfected the terrarium itself and its items with dawn and water. I don't know if that helped, but I still don't how he could've possibly gotten mites (if he has them)

[Bogertophis]

First, check in the water bowl...a snake with mites will usually leave a few in the water.

ONLY IF you find any, you need to empty that nice cage you set up, because mites hide EVERY where & get on & off the snake...it is pointless to treat a snake for
mites without thoroughly cleaning & treating the cage. You'll have to do both, IF he has them. FYI, snake mites are commonly shared where snakes are bred and
sold...they aren't native insects, they are parasites that prey on specific creatures (snakes).

When you first get a snake, keep it simple while you evaluate them: no plants etc- only 2 hides & a water bowl, & white paper towels for substrate. Not only do
mites (or ticks) show up on paper towels, but if your snake has abnormal stool (like w/ mucus or blood) you want to know right away. Using most other substrates
makes it impossible to see & know what's going on...meanwhile, a sick snake gets sicker & could die without treatment. And...I'm NOT kidding...a mite outbreak
can kill your snake...don't underestimate them. So find out if that's why your snake is soaking...& go from there with treatment if it's warranted.

To answer your question, yes...if he was MY snake, I'd check now, first the water, then him, gently. Look closely. If he has them, we'll go from there...

[Traceur]

By all means, keep an eye out for mites, as new ones could have hatched from eggs that could have hitched a ride. But unless you find some, I wouldn't worry too much about your snake being in the water dish. He's still really new to you, and still getting used to a new environment with new hides where everything is different. That takes awhile; mine won't sleep in a new hide until it has been in there for weeks and he's good and sure it won't bite. So he could just be in the water dish because it feels snug and safe and he's not sure about his hides yet. Or it's possible that your temperatures are actually higher than you think they are, and he's trying to cool off. Or that he's going to go into shed soon. Or that he just likes it there for the time being for no reason you'll ever know because he's unlikely to explain it to you.

Soaking in the water dish isn't in itself a bad thing, especially if your snake is new and still learning the ropes. Getting shipped to a new home is stressful on a baby snake and it doesn't just stop being stressful immediately because your husbandry numbers are good.

Do keep an eye out for mites, but probably the best way to make things easier on your snake is to leave him alone and let him settle down.

He's always in his greenery. Only a few times have I seen him in his log hide. But thank you for the info! These last couple of days have also been the first time the temps have stayed below 93 degrees. But he seems smart though. He was on top of his greenery near the suction cup and I noticed he lowered it. But now since he's back in there I can barely even see him, unless I stand near the side I'll see part of his body visible XD
If he notices me, he'll keep staring at me as if I'm a large predator (which seems likely to him) until I either get out of his sight or leave the room. That's when he'll start exploring

[Traceur]

First, check in the water bowl...a snake with mites will usually leave a few in the water.

ONLY IF you find any, you need to empty that nice cage you set up, because mites hide EVERY where & get on & off the snake...it is pointless to treat a snake for
mites without thoroughly cleaning & treating the cage. You'll have to do both, IF he has them. FYI, snake mites are commonly shared where snakes are bred and
sold...they aren't native insects, they are parasites that prey on specific creatures (snakes).

When you first get a snake, keep it simple while you evaluate them: no plants etc- only 2 hides & a water bowl, & white paper towels for substrate. Not only do
mites (or ticks) show up on paper towels, but if your snake has abnormal stool (like w/ mucus or blood) you want to know right away. Using most other substrates
makes it impossible to see & know what's going on...meanwhile, a sick snake gets sicker & could die without treatment. And...I'm NOT kidding...a mite outbreak
can kill your snake...don't underestimate them. So find out if that's why your snake is soaking...& go from there with treatment if it's warranted.

To answer your question, yes...if he was MY snake, I'd check now, first the water, then him, gently. Look closely. If he has them, we'll go from there...

I carefully inspected his water bowl, and I didn't see anything but a tiny fuzzy and some red tiny tiny oval thing. I don't know what that was because I don't have a magnifying glass, but should I wait till he's out to inspect him or do you think he'll be okay with being pulled out?

[Traceur]

Well, I checked him for mites and I didn't see any. He was in his water dish again right before I checked him. And nope, there was none

[Zincubus]

I'd also check all your surface temps at some time with a ten dollar digital temp gun ...




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[Traceur]

I'd also check all your surface temps at some time with a ten dollar digital temp gun ...




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Will do, thank you