Mites? How do I know?

[FaulerHund]

Today I handled the BP I got two weeks ago, and I noticed a single, very tiny black bug crawling on its head. I picked it off, and inspected the snake for more, but did not see any. I inspected the water bowl and the substrate (paper towel) and didn't see any there either. Should I be worried, or could this be something other than mites? This is my only BP, so if it has mites, I'd imagine it was purchased with mites.

[pixiepup]

I....actually have this exact same question? A single tiny black bug on the head, not near the eyes. I looked everywhere and saw no more on her or anywhere else :/

[Meerna]

Yep, sounds like a mite. My pastel had them when I first got her, but I think I've gotten rid of them. It's hard to tell sometimes since they're so small and can hide under the scales, especially on bigger snakes. Keep them on paper towel and get something to treat them and the enclosure with, people usually use prevent-a-mite (PAM).

[cchardwick]

Yes, you have mites LOL. I would get some 'Natural Chemistry Reptile Spray' and wet a paper towel, then wipe down the snake, then come back in about 30 minutes. More than likely they are buried in the scales of your snake and after a wipe down they will come crawling out, sometimes by the hundreds and you may be shocked. I would wipe them down every 3-4 days, no more than that or it could be bad for the snake. I had mites and it took me about 4 weeks to get rid of them, you will want to spray down your enclosure too every 3-4 days and maybe soak your snake in water once a week to hydrate, and make sure you keep the humidity up during treatment since it dries them out. I use it instead of disinfectant on my tubs even after my mite infections because it kills the mite eggs.

[Meerna]

Natural Chemistry, that's what I was thinking of. I used that on Circe.

[cchardwick]

Provent-a-mite kind of scares me since it's been known to kill snakes. I have some but never used it. The best way to use PAM is to spray it on substrate very lightly and then wait for about five minutes before you put your snake back in, just make sure it's aired out very well. The Natural Chemistry spray it totally harmless when used every 3-4 days, although I did have one snake with a major infection and used it every day for 3-4 days, my snake looked like he was going to die after that, but pulled through, just so you know! Scared the heck out of me too since it was a $2,000 snake!

[AriSilvermoon]

If you use provent a mite, remove the water bowl and spray the substrate and then I wait 20 minutes before I put my snakes back in their enclosures to be on the safe side that it has aired out completely. I also wait two days before putting the water bowl back in.

[FaulerHund]

I'll be going back to the store I bought my snake at to buy feeder rats, do you think I should inform them that the snake I bought from them has mites?

[FaulerHund]

i just ordered the natural chemistry mite spray and it should be here by Monday. I hope my snake isn't in too much pain in the meantime