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monst
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
9 Posts |
 Posted - 24/05/2012 : 22:13:06
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Hi
I bought a king snake 3 weeks ago, I haven't touched any other snakes and all the stuff was new but it has mites where could they have come from.
I haven't been at home due to unexpected op, for a week and had some one checking the temp for me and doing the water but never noticed they were there and there seems to be a few in there now and he was laying in the water bowl when I got there.
What do the mites do to the snake, could it be ill and the eyes seem quite dry, really worryed about him. |
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deadmansfinger
Moderator
United Kingdom
597 Posts |
Posted - 24/05/2012 : 23:31:17
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The snake might have been infected when you got it, or they could have been transferred in on someones clothes from someone who has been in touch with an infected animal. It could be impossible to find out. I believe I picked up mites from a local petshop. I only know this as someone I met said they got mites from this shop too around the same time so it kinda added up.
If you google 'treating snake mites' there are loads of ways to treat it. Here's what worked for me:-
Firstly ditch all your substrate and clean everything with boiling water (not the snake)
Then use kitchen roll as your substrate as you can see the mites easily. This will need changed everytime you bath your snake. I gave the snake twice daily baths in shallow lukewarm water with cooking oil/olive oil/vegetable oil in it. I think the theory is that the cooking oil smothers the mites. Leave the snake in there for 15mins. When you take it out run it through your hands whilst holding some kitchen roll and you'll see mites coming off of it. You need to repeat this for at least 7-10 days. It's a long process.
Keep cage decor to a minimum so just a hot and cold hide and water bowl as these will need sterilised each day along with the RUB or viv.
Any more problems come back and let us know. Hope it goes well.
I am sure others on here will have additional comments to add with what's worked for them. |
1.0 Milksnake
3.3 Kingsnakes
1.1 Royal Python
1.2 Cornsnakes
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Edited by - deadmansfinger on 24/05/2012 23:49:00 |
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monst
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
9 Posts |
Posted - 24/05/2012 : 23:48:18
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| Thank you for your reply will get onto it straight away. Do you think this has caused him to have the dry eyes, he has just shed his skin but didn't look like a full one. Had corn snakes before but never had mites think it must be the shop cos have no other animals and nor does the person who was doing the water. |
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deadmansfinger
Moderator
United Kingdom
597 Posts |
Posted - 24/05/2012 : 23:52:04
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| The mites do tend to be noticed around the eyes but if he's just shed the dry eyes could be retained eyecaps which is basically skin that hasn't come off. The baths should solve this issue too. You asked above what mites do. They drink the snakes blood and basically irritate them which is why the snakes sit in water to try and drown them and ease the itching. |
1.0 Milksnake
3.3 Kingsnakes
1.1 Royal Python
1.2 Cornsnakes
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monst
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
9 Posts |
Posted - 24/05/2012 : 23:57:04
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| Thank you so much you have been very helpful will get onto it straight away |
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deadmansfinger
Moderator
United Kingdom
597 Posts |
Posted - 26/05/2012 : 12:06:43
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| How you getting on with this? |
1.0 Milksnake
3.3 Kingsnakes
1.1 Royal Python
1.2 Cornsnakes
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monst
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
9 Posts |
Posted - 27/05/2012 : 09:57:22
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Hi
I have done what you said. When I am bathing her now there seems to be no more coming off of her, and none in the tank could that mean it was only a small infesatation or could more eggs hatch soon. But thank you again your advice has helped, eyes are still dry one worse than the other but will keep bathing.
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deadmansfinger
Moderator
United Kingdom
597 Posts |
Posted - 27/05/2012 : 21:09:19
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| I found a huge improvement on my snake within a couple of days but their were still some persist mites around the eyes. More eggs could hatch soon if you missed them during cleaning. Continue with the baths and daily sterilisation of the enclosure and all decor for 7-10 days and hopefully you'll get them all. |
1.0 Milksnake
3.3 Kingsnakes
1.1 Royal Python
1.2 Cornsnakes
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monst
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
9 Posts |
Posted - 29/05/2012 : 10:13:22
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Hi
Thank you so much for you help now havig another problem. when I hold him he keeps going towards my fingers and opening his mouth a little worried he might bite never had a snake do this before is this normal, he also struck at his food for the first time the other day and has now done it towards me twice since. Should I be worried as have a child, Is this normal , does it stop, can I stop it.
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deadmansfinger
Moderator
United Kingdom
597 Posts |
Posted - 29/05/2012 : 15:09:55
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| It's a kingsnake and alot of them bite. They are not as placid as cornsnakes for example. I have 5 kingsnakes just now and 4 are docile but one is a bit of a bugger and does bite. All you can do is handle him daily for about 15mins and hope he grows out of it but he may not. Make sure you wash your hands thoroughly before you handle him so you don't have any food scents on them that would make him strike at you. You may also find he's quite uncomfortable just now with the mites so might just be alittle grumpy. |
1.0 Milksnake
3.3 Kingsnakes
1.1 Royal Python
1.2 Cornsnakes
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germanguy45
Egg
USA
60 Posts |
Posted - 30/05/2012 : 00:34:01
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| I got a fair ammount of kings, most of them are tame, but my 7 year old female is very mean even as a babie she was mean. I dont think she never going to stop biting. Just wash your hands and maybe put a pair of gloves on and maybe he will be nicer. |
1.1.0 lavaender cali king
1.1.1 normal banded cali king
1.0.0 albino banded cali king
1.2.0 albino nelson milk
3.3.0 corns snakes
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Mites on my king snake
