opinions and ideas/thoughts on my snake!

[snakems]

what are the chances of a wild caught garter having mites?
its not something Ive given too much thought to but now im worried from reading the mites thread that my snake has mites and I just didnt know it!

I mean would I know by the looks of her for sure? .... ive never ever seen anything on her and im always handling her and the bottom of her tank is paper towels because I find it would be the best way to make absolutely sure to keep her clean at all times. if I see a poop or any discolorations on the towel I just wipe down he glass well & change them right away. And I have never seen anything even teeny weeny on her towels other than her excrement.... I really have no reason to think it other than the fact that I did catch her from the outside, and I dont know if its super common.

some ideas on the mites thing.
ways to tell if my snake has mites
lol i could just be worrying too much as usual but Id appreciate your thoughts!
thanks!

[ssssnakeluvr]

I have never gotten mites from a wild caught snake....have had them before, but from store bought snakes. If you have them, there will be little black things floating in the water.....and would be easy to see if you have white paper towels in the tank....

[guidofatherof5]

I have never(knocking on wood"my head") had mites with any of my Garters.

[infernalis]

Mites are kinda like fleas, If you look, you will see them.

[guidofatherof5]

Quarantine time and clean enclosures are vital. Scheduled visual check-ups are a big help, also.

[reptile3]

I found 2 mites(they were SMALL) on George, my female ball. About 2 weeks after I got her. I took them off her, soaked her in water.. cleaned her cage out, started to use newspaper as substrate. Never saw any crawling on her, nor in her cage.

I got George from a breeder, later down the road found out she was not a great person to deal with. It's all over now.. George is gorgeous, and doing very well.

Aundrea, on here got a albino checkered garter a few months ago, within 3 days of getting it, she found mites all over it. Then since not quarantine it, the other 3 garters got mites too.

It's a big mess sometimes...

[infernalis]

Aundrea, on here got a albino checkered garter a few months ago, within 3 days of getting it, she found mites all over it. Then since not quarantine it, the other 3 garters got mites too.

It's a big mess sometimes...

That may have killed Swiper.

Mites are lethal little mosters... They will knock young snakes down quick.

[reptile3]

That may have killed Swiper.

Mites are lethal little mosters... They will knock young snakes down quick.

I am thinking that too Wayne... cause his appetite died after that. so sad.

[infernalis]

I have not publicly broadcast about it, but I have lost snakes before to mites.

They are horrible little creatures, I hate them.

[drache]

I agree - not to be underestimated
if they turn up in the kind of environment you keep, you will certainly notice them
they show up really well on white, even though they're tiny (about an eighth of the size of a traditional metal pin head)
they are black and they move around - not fast, but noticably
you'd see them in the waterbowl too, and you'd find your snake spending a lot of time there, trying to drown them