Mites
The snake mite. (Ophionyssus natricis)
The snake mite is the enemy of all reptile keepers. It is not restricted to snakes alone as it is often found on several species of lizards.
What are mites?
The snake mite Ophionyssus natricis is a parasite that feeds on reptile blood. It has a short life span, normally in the region of 1 - 2 months. Hatchling mites are whitish in colour and are so small they can not be seen easily with the naked eye. In adults the females grow larger than the males and are about 0.5mm in size. Adult mites are black with a light patch on their back. When full of food ( the blood of your pet ) they are a dark red colour. Mites prefer temperatures of 75-85 0F . They like it dark and humid. They feed mostly at night and have been reported to move away from strong light. Mites are very fast at spreading. They move though ventilation panels and gaps in cages. I have heard reports of mites walking up to 11 inches in an minute. That may not sound much but works out to be over 50 feet an hour. They can therefore spread around your whole home in a matter of days. Females lay their eggs in warm, dark, damp places. These egg laying sites are often on the inside edge of your snakes cage or on pieces of wood. Eggs are often laid directly on the skin of larger snakes.
What to look for.
If you can not see the mites actually on the snake the easiest place to spot them is often the water bowl. When snakes have mites they soak to relieve the itching. This soaking manages to kill a small number of the mites. These dead mites look like pepper that has been sprinkled on the water.
How to get rid of mites.
It is best to use one product to treat the vivarium and any carpets and furniture around the viv and a second to treat the animal. It is extremely important to follow the instructions on the containers, as all chemicals used to
treat mites can be dangerous to your reptile if used incorrectly.
Whilst we cannot recommend any specific treatment, as this will be down to the individual, we can let you know what many people we know use. Most people we are aware of usually use a combination of Ardap to treat the viv and surrounding furnishings (it is VERY important to let the viv dry out completely and let all fumes disappear before returning the reptile to it’s viv)! And Callingtons to treat the animal and bedding.
Water MUST BE WITHDRAWN for 24 hours whilst using and after using both of these products.
However, there are other treatments available such as Prevent a Mite etc.
Use any Mite treatment with caution and ALWAYS follow what it tells you to do on the label!
The snake mite is the enemy of all reptile keepers. It is not restricted to snakes alone as it is often found on several species of lizards.
What are mites?
The snake mite Ophionyssus natricis is a parasite that feeds on reptile blood. It has a short life span, normally in the region of 1 - 2 months. Hatchling mites are whitish in colour and are so small they can not be seen easily with the naked eye. In adults the females grow larger than the males and are about 0.5mm in size. Adult mites are black with a light patch on their back. When full of food ( the blood of your pet ) they are a dark red colour. Mites prefer temperatures of 75-85 0F . They like it dark and humid. They feed mostly at night and have been reported to move away from strong light. Mites are very fast at spreading. They move though ventilation panels and gaps in cages. I have heard reports of mites walking up to 11 inches in an minute. That may not sound much but works out to be over 50 feet an hour. They can therefore spread around your whole home in a matter of days. Females lay their eggs in warm, dark, damp places. These egg laying sites are often on the inside edge of your snakes cage or on pieces of wood. Eggs are often laid directly on the skin of larger snakes.
What to look for.
If you can not see the mites actually on the snake the easiest place to spot them is often the water bowl. When snakes have mites they soak to relieve the itching. This soaking manages to kill a small number of the mites. These dead mites look like pepper that has been sprinkled on the water.
How to get rid of mites.
It is best to use one product to treat the vivarium and any carpets and furniture around the viv and a second to treat the animal. It is extremely important to follow the instructions on the containers, as all chemicals used to
treat mites can be dangerous to your reptile if used incorrectly.
Whilst we cannot recommend any specific treatment, as this will be down to the individual, we can let you know what many people we know use. Most people we are aware of usually use a combination of Ardap to treat the viv and surrounding furnishings (it is VERY important to let the viv dry out completely and let all fumes disappear before returning the reptile to it’s viv)! And Callingtons to treat the animal and bedding.
Water MUST BE WITHDRAWN for 24 hours whilst using and after using both of these products.
However, there are other treatments available such as Prevent a Mite etc.
Use any Mite treatment with caution and ALWAYS follow what it tells you to do on the label!