bugs!!!

[Snake lover 3-25]

there seem to be tiny and when i say tiny i mean really really tiny bugs... i don't think that they're mites.... but i JUST replaced their substrate and i DO NOT want do it again!!!! and i don't have any more left.... they are crawling on the snakes... and they are realy light in color... are they safe??? there is no way i can get a pic... i have a hard enough time with normal sized things!!!!!

[el lobo]

If they are so small that you can't take a pic, then I don't think you have anything to worry about. There are probably plenty of them in the snakes natural habitat. I wouldn't worry about it.

[adamanteus]

They could be 'thrips', little beasties that eat the debris and detritus that accumulates in reptile vivs. You find them in pot plants too. Harmless but irritating.

[Snake lover 3-25]

whew!!! thanks!!! i've had them b4 but that time my cage needed cleaning anyways so i didn't care as much... so i boiled everything and they went away.... but at least it's good to know they're harmless!!!!!!

[jitami]

Shanley, I'm just curious, what kind of substrate do you use? Couldn't you put the babies in another container for a little while and just boil or cook the substrate in the oven, and clean out the tank, furnishings, etc? Of course, your mom may not be crazy about bugs in the oven, but that's what I would do if I couldn't throw it away and start over. Even the microwave may do the trick? I treated Sly for mites for what seemed like forever when we first got him and the sight of any creepy crawlies in the tank would drive me crazy!

[Snake lover 3-25]

yeah...

i dont have babies yet but HOPFULLY i will SOON!!!!!!!

but to be honest i boil all of my new substrate and put the excess in a sealed bag... so i have no idea where they came from... but i have an idae that they are not just in the cage... so unless i can find a way to boil my entire house.....

[adamanteus]

They find their way in there, whatever you do. The only cure is a rigorous cleaning regime.

[Snake lover 3-25]

that sounds so FUN!!!!! NOT!!!!

[jitami]

What you could do is to run a strip of double sided tape around the outside of the snake's tank. That may catch a few of the bugs? If you have any issues with escapees, though, I wouldn't do it...

But, yeah, I'd try to clear them out of the cage and then try the tape thing to keep new bugs out. Obviously, don't let the snakes get near the tape.

[Snake lover 3-25]

um... well then that won't work... i'm REALLY bad about closing the cages.....