Mites ?

[ReptileJimmy]

Hey everyone. My 2 and a half yr old Bredli has three small black spots underneath her head ? I really hope they are not mites.. please help. Thanks.

 

[JM1982]

ReptileJimmy,
Try this link;

http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/herp-help-38/got-mites-148641/

Hopfully that helps.
-Jay

 

[ReptileJimmy]

Thanks heaps mate, but i still have not figured out if she has them ? Do you know any methods of identifying them ?

 

[spud_meister]

Thanks heaps mate, but i still have not figured out if she has them ? Do you know any methods of identifying them ?

Run your fingernail over the spots, if they run away or get squished, they're probably mites. Though mites hide under scales, so if the dots are on top of the scales they may not be mites.

I'll just say all my mite experience has been in a blue-tongue, so I dunno if there's a better way for snakes.

 

[Pitttownboy]

Check around its vent if it has mites it will normally have mite here then simple top of decent to get rid of it

 

[Lawra]

Run your fingernail over the spots, if they run away or get squished, they're probably mites. Though mites hide under scales, so if the dots are on top of the scales they may not be mites.

I'll just say all my mite experience has been in a blue-tongue, so I dunno if there's a better way for snakes.

Exactly this for snakes also and if/when you squish it and it's red/ready brown then it's a mite easily fixed too, contrary to everything I found on google when looking it up last week.

 

[ReptileJimmy]

Thanks heaps guys ! I am going to check now, I hope they are not mites.. will tell you if they are

 

[ReptileJimmy]

Well I gave her the daily scratch and they didn't move so I doubt they are mites. Would they just be some weird scales ? Thanks.

 

[JM1982]

So it's permanent marking on the scales? Good news if that's the case.
Guessing you don't have a camera with macro?

 

[Pythoninfinite]

Exactly this for snakes also and if/when you squish it and it's red/ready brown then it's a mite easily fixed too, contrary to everything I found on google when looking it up last week.

Once again I'm at odds with you Lawra ! Mites are not always "easily fixed" as you suggest, and if some of the info on Google suggests otherwise, it may be correct. If mites have spread beyond the enclosure, and you only treat the animal and the enclosure, you can guarantee that you'll have a reinfestation sometime later.

Jamie

 

[Lawra]

.

 

[Lawra]

+1 Jamie

Since the info given was only a couple of spots and not a "OMG there are crawling dots everywhere" I thought my feedback would be helpful

I agree though, that it's not always an easy fix. I had an "OMG" mite moment last week but thanks to my breeder it was an easy fix.