please help - i have 2 possibly related problems going on

[vintod]

I recently adopted a 2.5ft female ball python (a few weeks ago). When I got her she was in mid-shed. I helped her along a bit with the shed by peeling the stuff that was on its way off (it was in lots of pieces - not a neat shed), and also spraying her with water over a couple of weeks. A few days after she was mostly clear of shed skin (this was 3 days ago), I noticed there were lots of little tiny white/grey/yellowish/tan bugs in the substrate (it was small gravel - looked like something between kitty litter and course sand), crawling all over the place but NOT on the snake. I'm fairly positive they are not snake mites because they arent on her body, and I'm also pretty confident that they are harmless. I am just wondering why I keep finding them after cleaning the tank thoroughly and changing the substrate to zilla brand green roll up mats. They came back after cleaning #1; within 2 days there were dozens (as opposed to probably hundreds or more prior to cleaning). Then I cleaned a 2nd time after 2 days, which was yesterday. I just saw one bug in there before i left for work today.. Now I'm pissed. Any suggestions? Or is this just something I have to deal with?

Second part that relates to above - after cleaning of the tank #1, I noticed that the next day the snakes eyes were foggy white - How could this be? She just finished shedding! I started to panic, thinking that the windex i used to clean the tank somehow damaged her eyes (yes I took her out and cleaned each and every item in there with hot water) .. I know I vented the tank for a while and even washed with plain water after using the windex... So i dont think i did it. She also seems to be a little more "tight" - meaning she is flexing her muscles more, pressing herself against me and seems a little more tensed up/clenched up/rigid than usual. Is this normal when shedding? Its been a while since I had a snake, and when I was a boy I only had garters so I dont recall. I also worried that the bugs could have brought this on, but they seem harmless. I also noticed her body is getting a little faded in color, making me think she is about to go into a shed again. Seems strange - any help on this? I'm so worried about her.

[musicalKeyes]

I'm no vet, but my guess is that the snake does have mites. That would explain why they keep coming back, the bad shed, and possibly her shedding again. I would treat her like she does have mites, better safe than sorry anyways, and see if that helps. Also, and this is an opinion, that green carpet stuff sucks. It's hard to clean, doesn't help with humidity (which also leads to bad sheds), and is overall just not great. Definitely switch to newspaper or aspen bedding. Speaking of humidity, what is yours at and how are you reading it? Good luck with your new snakes!

[vintod]

I dont have a gauge for humidity yet, but I am in NY and, in general, our humidity levels are pretty high. Add summer temps to that and I should be okay (I think). My home also gets pretty muggy and warm inside during the day since it is all shut up while my wife and I are at work. I'll be running out to get some mite stuff today after work, so I will pick up a humidity gauge as well. What level should I be at? Also - any preferred methods that you recommend for treating the mite problem? Thanks so much for your help.

[musicalKeyes]

I dont have a gauge for humidity yet, but I am in NY and, in general, our humidity levels are pretty high. Add summer temps to that and I should be okay (I think). My home also gets pretty muggy and warm inside during the day since it is all shut up while my wife and I are at work. I'll be running out to get some mite stuff today after work, so I will pick up a humidity gauge as well. What level should I be at? Also - any preferred methods that you recommend for treating the mite problem? Thanks so much for your help.

50-60% is usually good, and 60-70% when they shed. P.A.M. (Provent-a-mite, not the cooking spray ) Is generally what's used to get rid of mites, and can be bought easily online. Make sure you don't get one of those analog thermometers/hygrometers the pet store's sell, they don't work at all and can some times be off by more than 10 degrees or %. Go to Walmart or a Home Depot and look for an Acu-rite Thermometer, it's cheaper and much more reliable. And here's a link to the Caresheet if you haven't seen it yet

[Kaorte]

I would say get provent a mite but I am fairly certain it is illegal in New York. There are a few other products you could use as an equivalent, one being Nix which can be found at any drug store.

any mites "harmless" or not are not good to have in the cage. Change your substrate to paper towels so you can see them easily. This also gives them less places to hide. I suspect that the stress from the mite infestation is causing the consecutive sheds.

[stratus_020202]

Humidity should be 50% all the time. You can bump it up to around 60% during sheds. Some do, some don't and still have good sheds. I do, because I think it makes it easier for the snake to shed.

PAM (prevent a mite) for the mites. It works wonders. Depending on when her last shed was, she could just be shedding again. They all shed at their own rates. Good luck, and welcome!

[vintod]

thanks guys i really appreciate it. if my store doesnt have PAM should I use NIX from a drug store? (isnt that for human head lice?) - if not, any other suggestions? I saw "mite off" or "mite away" or something in a small bottle at petco. junk?

[Kaorte]

thanks guys i really appreciate it. if my store doesnt have PAM should I use NIX from a drug store? (isnt that for human head lice?) - if not, any other suggestions? I saw "mite off" or "mite away" or something in a small bottle at petco. junk?

PAM will not be sold in any local stores. Only online. It is illegal in new york so you won't be able to get it there.

NIX has the same active ingredient as PAM so it will do the same thing.

[Vypyrz]

Do not spray it directly on the snake. Remove the snake and the water bowl. Spray everything else in the tank. You don't need to soak it. Just an even, uniform coating. Wait for it to dry and no fumes. Replace snake and water bowl. It will also help to spray some on a paper towel and wipe it on all of the inside and outside lips and edges of the tank. This will keep them from getting out or in. Good luck...

[BPelizabeth]

Make sure that you treat the upper cracks and crevices of your enclosure. This is where they typically lay their eggs and often a part over looked. Also if you have any wood bake your wood for about an hour at 350. Also you can treat your water bowls and hides and then put them in the dishwasher on a high temp.