Mite? what to do while he is shedding?

[Techy1013]

Hi all!
Below are a few pics of Gizmo. Not sure what kind of boa he is.
I do have a question. Gizzy's eyes are getting a little cloudy and his skin is sticky. I suspect he is about to go into his shed cycle. This morning I found two little black things crawling on him. I'm praying its not mites. The last picture below show the little black thing. Do you think its a mite? If so, what do i do?

Untitled | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/29790291@N07/7644942052)

Gizmo at 2 months | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/29790291@N07/7644987990)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29790291@N07/7644963794Untitled | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/29790291@N07/7644963794)

[Wildside]

Black things crawling on him sounds like mites. Wait until about a day after he sheds to treat him but for now you can treat his cage. Remove all substrate/cage furniture and clean thoroughly, soak it in whatever mite-fighter you choose. Do not replace substrate or cage furniture until mites are gone. If he's not infested he should still shed ok. If he doesn't there is this stuff I really like called VetRx. It's cheap and you can get it at any feed store. It will aid with the bad shed and eliminating the mites.

[bcoop1234]

I had 2 snakes with mites and all i did was remove them from their cages and take out the water, but leave all the substrate and hides and what no.. Them get some Provent-a-mite from somewhere off the net.. Spray the cage and the substrate really well. Now just to be safe i feed them while they were out of their cages. Then let the stuff dry a while.. I just aimed a fan toward the cages... The after about 30 minutes you just put them back in. Just refill their water and leave them be for atleast a week.. Worked perfectly.

[Techy1013]

Thank you so much for the informaiton. Someone mentioned that it could be ticks. I honestly dont know the difference (yet) between a tick and a mite. Could you take a look at the pic and help me confirm its a mite?

Much appreciated!
M

[Jendee]

That doesn't look like any mites I've seen but I'd treat anyways BC that stuff kills all bugs and watch your substrate that stuff has been known for hitch hikers

[Tekpc007]

looks like a small tick , possible if he was outside. remove it with tweezers and put some neosporen (non pain killer type) on it for a few days . don't handle him until he sheds . He looks good, some type of salmon jungle? i dunno much about morphs.

[Jack C]

Looks like a tick to me, but I only saw a tick once before on a stray dog many years ago, but the way it looks to be holding on with it's mouth look like it could be a tick.

[Gungirl]

It is a little tic as others have stated. Careful taking the tic off, you need to make sure to get its head other wise the head will continue to eat into your snake and can cause issues.

[Wildside]

Thank you so much for the informaiton. Someone mentioned that it could be ticks. I honestly dont know the difference (yet) between a tick and a mite. Could you take a look at the pic and help me confirm its a mite?

Much appreciated!
M

I'm sorry I didn't see the bottom pic... I'm also going with tick.

[Techy1013]

thank you all! I feel better knowing what needs to be done now.
I'm super anxious to get home and get this tick thing off of him. I'll post an update later.

I'm not sure what kind of Boa he is. Anyone have ideas?

[Techy1013]

That didn't go very well. He has two ticks wedged deep inside his scales(skin?). We tried for an hour and all we managed to do was make Gizmo super stressed and scared. Any other way to get the ticks out? Should I take him to the vet?

[Ashton]

id say yes take him to a vet... nice snake by the way.

[Wildside]

That didn't go very well. He has two ticks wedged deep inside his scales(skin?). We tried for an hour and all we managed to do was make Gizmo super stressed and scared. Any other way to get the ticks out? Should I take him to the vet?

Put turpentine or nail polish remover on the ticks, they should back right out. I don't really see any need for a vet call over 2 little ticks.

[Gungirl]

Take a match, Light it and then blow it out after a second. Place the hot tip of the match on the back of the tic. This causes them to retract and fall out. I use this method on my dogs when ever they get a tic, it works fine.

[Lankyrob]

Take a match, Light it and then blow it out after a second. Place the hot tip of the match on the back of the tic. This causes them to retract and fall out. I use this method on my dogs when ever they get a tic, it works fine.


this ^^^ i have removed ticks from humans and animals with a lit cigar or cigarette tip :)

[Toronto1977]

Hmm, using a match, cigarette, or nail polish remover are not viable options anymore, and it is now known that those methods could make the tick release fluid (which could be infected) back into the body and increase the chance of infection. Your best bet if you are not able to remove the tick close to the head with tweezers, is to seek professional help (your vet). It might not be easy on the pocket but at least you can be sure your snake is in the best hands possible.