weird brown mites - help!

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Posted by jean on March 01, 2000 at 23:20:21:

Several months ago I noticed a strange kind of mite on a pair of ridleyi that I had purchased a few months before. These mites are light brown, and I've only noticed them congregating around the eyes. They seem to be smaller than the typical, black snake mite, and they look like dust particles from pine shavings (except I periodically see them move). Since they are so tiny and light in color, it is possible that they are elsewhere on the body, but I haven't detected them anywhere but the eyes.

I had heard that vapona is especially dangerous to Asian Elaphe, so I put vaseline on the eyes for 24 hours, then wiped it off along with several dead mites. I repeated this once again later in the week.

I have checked the ridelyi periodically, and haven't noticed any more mites. However, I did just notice them on another snake that was not originally in the same room as the ridelyi. I got disgusted and haven't yet checked my whole collection, but I'm fearing the worst. Can anyone help me out here? What are these? I do keep a small colony of mice in the same room, but I wouldn't think rodent mites would be interested in snakes. I have never heard of snake mites other than the typical black ones, and am not sure what I am dealing with. Any suggestions as to treatment? About half of my collection is Asian Elaphe, the other half an assortment of milksnakes and N. American rat/corn snakes.

Thanks in advance for any ideas or suggestions!

Follow Ups:

Re: weird brown mites - help! KEN 03/21/00 (0)
Re: weird brown mites - help! Emanuele 03/02/00 (2)
- Re: weird brown mites - help! jean 03/02/00 (1)
  - Vapona Emanuele 03/03/00 (0)

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: Several months ago I noticed a strange kind of mite on a pair of ridleyi that I had purchased a few months before. These mites are light brown, and I've only noticed them congregating around the eyes. They seem to be smaller than the typical, black snake mite, and they look like dust particles from pine shavings (except I periodically see them move). Since they are so tiny and light in color, it is possible that they are elsewhere on the body, but I haven't detected them anywhere but the eyes. : I had heard that vapona is especially dangerous to Asian Elaphe, so I put vaseline on the eyes for 24 hours, then wiped it off along with several dead mites. I repeated this once again later in the week. : I have checked the ridelyi periodically, and haven't noticed any more mites. However, I did just notice them on another snake that was not originally in the same room as the ridelyi. I got disgusted and haven't yet checked my whole collection, but I'm fearing the worst. Can anyone help me out here? What are these? I do keep a small colony of mice in the same room, but I wouldn't think rodent mites would be interested in snakes. I have never heard of snake mites other than the typical black ones, and am not sure what I am dealing with. Any suggestions as to treatment? About half of my collection is Asian Elaphe, the other half an assortment of milksnakes and N. American rat/corn snakes. : Thanks in advance for any ideas or suggestions!

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