Mites

[kueluck]

What do they look like and how do you know if you have a problem with them plus what the heck is a "defender mite"??

[Invisible Snake]

My snakes have never had them and from what I've read and seen they look like little black dots. And if you have 1 on your snake that is 1 too many.

[guidofatherof5]

Tiny round dots that move. Easily seen on white paper towels. Snakes will soak in the water dish to drowned them. They sink to the bottom and can been seen there. If you suspect something is a mite smash and smear it on the paper towel. It should leave a dark red/brown color(blood).

Why do you think your snake has a mite problem?
If it does treat it like a deadly contagious disease. Mites kill snakes.

http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/husbandry/9493-provent-mite-usage.html

[kueluck]

No problems here, that I know of. I was just reading about this on the facebook garter snake page and just want to be ready. I think I'll start a once a month magnifying glass snake body search just to make sure. Thanks for the info guys.

[BLUESIRTALIS]

Mites have to be introduced to a collection either through a new snake or mice and bedding. As long as you quarantine new snakes and use new bedding and bleach, bake, or freeze all decor from outside you shouldn't ever have problems with mites. I did bring home mites a couple of years back when i bought a live mouse from the pet store so i try to use mostly frozen unless a have a problem feeder that will take only live.

[-MARWOLAETH-]

Here's a link to a thread that Mark started when his sirtalis got mites.there's a lot good advice given on the treatment and good products also Marks observations.http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/urgent-care/10384-anyone-uk-info-needed.html Hope it helps:)

[EasternGirl]

Yep...you need to be careful if you bring a WC snake in, or get a snake from a pet store or unknown breeder. Like Steve said, you can do a paper towel test and see the mites moving around on the paper towel. Always quarantine any new snakes and keep an eye out for mites. They can also hitch a ride on you...if you handle a new snake and then handle a snake from an existing collection, you can transfer the mites. I have heard of people going to expos and handling snakes and then bringing home mites to their snakes. I have never heard of a defender mite.

[SSSSnakes]

I have never heard of a defender mite. Snake mites only come from snakes. Mites that come from bedding are wood mites and not harmful to snakes. Any mites found on mice or rats are also not harmful to snakes. Only snake mites harm snakes and snake mites need pressure on thier back to feed, that is why you finds them under the scales were they are feeding. They do not breed on the snake, they breed in the enclosure. You need to get the mites off the snake and clean the entire enclosure very good so you get all the eggs. The only way to get mites other than another snake introduced into your collection, as mentioned already, is for a mite to be brought into your collection from you handling a snake that had mites and traveled on you. It maybe possible if a store was trying to feed live mice to a mite ridden snake and the snake did not want to eat, so the store put the mouse back into the sales tank and you came in and bought that mouse that had mites on it from the snake.

[kueluck]

On the FB site they talked about "defender mites" that are good mites that kill the bad mites. Any way, like I said, I don't have a problem, just want to be prepared just in case. I only have the two, Zena & Cleo and according to the posts here, I don't have to worry. :D

[BLUESIRTALIS]

Defender mites eat all the bad mites and once the bad mites are gone they die off. They are used as a natural pest control. I know people with bug and tarantula collections have to use these to kill the mites because they can't use insecticides.

[BUSHSNAKE]

predatory mites they are called

[SSSSnakes]

Defender mites eat all the bad mites and once the bad mites are gone they die off. They are used as a natural pest control. I know people with bug and tarantula collections have to use these to kill the mites because they can't use insecticides.

Could you please give me more info or where I can find where to get these Defender Mites.

[BLUESIRTALIS]

Google Bamboo zoo and look under the health section and look for article alternative organic mite control. I have never used these only read about them.

[SSSSnakes]

Google Bamboo zoo and look under the health section and look for article alternative organic mite control. I have never used these only read about them.
Thanks. I did that and found out about them. I think I'll wait awhile for others to use them before I would risk it. I have a method that works for me, so I think I'll keep using my method.