Lunar_Psycho
Active Member
I have been back in Australia for less than 48 hours and I discover that I have what appears to be mites on my snake cage, so they will be on my snake and 2 juvi lizards :evil:
Heres a pic taken of a suspected mite through a 100X microscope (on 400X I have determined this specimen to be dead) Sorry about the haziness.
http://www.aussiepythons.com/module...ame=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php
Heres my snake cage.
http://www.aussiepythons.com/module...ame=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php
http://www.aussiepythons.com/module...ame=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php
I have been away for the past 3 months and left my reptiles in my family's care. They purchased this two leveled reptile bank and a 5ft fish tank which sits on top, about 8 weeks ago, and my snake has been living in the top level ever since. Apparently her last shed several weeks ago came out in several pieces (their description was etchy at best) which they put down to the "rough" new logs. Apparently she is also passing waste frequently (something every few days, whereas around once a week prior to my departure). She is been taken out in the sun every few days for some UV, but does not have a UV light as such and her heat mat is not on a timer ( Ive been told it will not exceed 35 degrees C as if it makes a difference. :? ). I have only located the one mite suspect so far (but where theres one theres many apparently) and have not found any on my snake as such, but I only discovered the first 1 less than 2 hours ago. I have checked in her water bowl and have seen several small brown specs on the bottom, but she has a large branch above the water she likes to climb on and prior to my departure she would occasionally knock a small piece of bark off from time to time. My snake cage is in my room along with this computer and several large cupboards/drawers (which will make the eradication even more difficult). My family owns three adult "house cats" which have access to all rooms (even mine, despite my disapproval and their fear of my snake) and one of which sleeps on a mesh-lidded lizard enclosure, so I am unaware of whether cats can carry mites on them and continue to pass them around.
If anyone has any personal stories on mites, can verify my picture, or has any other information for me about eradicating them if they turn out to be mites (I am unfortunately positive they are) as any further (I have looked these up and read the previous posts) information would be much appreciated. At this point in time I am thinking of using the "mite eaters" (I am incredibly tired and cannot remember the name at this point in time) people have mentione in the past and if someone knows of any other stories about these or locations I can order them from in Australia It would also be helpful.
Can cats carry mites from different locations? Can mites live in drawers, cupboards, clothes that have not come in contact with reptiles?
As I mentioned before, I have been back in Oz for less than 48 hours and am still suffering jet lag. This is an incredibly unpleasant welcome home gift and I frankly have a million other things that I would have preferred to be doing upon my return, but I will be preoccupied with mite eradication. :cry: I have no idea how long theyve been here and I do not know if im dealing with the first generation or several generations.
Cheers, Jay
Heres a pic taken of a suspected mite through a 100X microscope (on 400X I have determined this specimen to be dead) Sorry about the haziness.
http://www.aussiepythons.com/module...ame=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php
Heres my snake cage.
http://www.aussiepythons.com/module...ame=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php
http://www.aussiepythons.com/module...ame=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php
I have been away for the past 3 months and left my reptiles in my family's care. They purchased this two leveled reptile bank and a 5ft fish tank which sits on top, about 8 weeks ago, and my snake has been living in the top level ever since. Apparently her last shed several weeks ago came out in several pieces (their description was etchy at best) which they put down to the "rough" new logs. Apparently she is also passing waste frequently (something every few days, whereas around once a week prior to my departure). She is been taken out in the sun every few days for some UV, but does not have a UV light as such and her heat mat is not on a timer ( Ive been told it will not exceed 35 degrees C as if it makes a difference. :? ). I have only located the one mite suspect so far (but where theres one theres many apparently) and have not found any on my snake as such, but I only discovered the first 1 less than 2 hours ago. I have checked in her water bowl and have seen several small brown specs on the bottom, but she has a large branch above the water she likes to climb on and prior to my departure she would occasionally knock a small piece of bark off from time to time. My snake cage is in my room along with this computer and several large cupboards/drawers (which will make the eradication even more difficult). My family owns three adult "house cats" which have access to all rooms (even mine, despite my disapproval and their fear of my snake) and one of which sleeps on a mesh-lidded lizard enclosure, so I am unaware of whether cats can carry mites on them and continue to pass them around.
If anyone has any personal stories on mites, can verify my picture, or has any other information for me about eradicating them if they turn out to be mites (I am unfortunately positive they are) as any further (I have looked these up and read the previous posts) information would be much appreciated. At this point in time I am thinking of using the "mite eaters" (I am incredibly tired and cannot remember the name at this point in time) people have mentione in the past and if someone knows of any other stories about these or locations I can order them from in Australia It would also be helpful.
Can cats carry mites from different locations? Can mites live in drawers, cupboards, clothes that have not come in contact with reptiles?
As I mentioned before, I have been back in Oz for less than 48 hours and am still suffering jet lag. This is an incredibly unpleasant welcome home gift and I frankly have a million other things that I would have preferred to be doing upon my return, but I will be preoccupied with mite eradication. :cry: I have no idea how long theyve been here and I do not know if im dealing with the first generation or several generations.
Cheers, Jay
