Tortoise and snake mites??

Status
Not open for further replies.

chase thorn

Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Aug 3, 2011
Messages
906
Location (City and/or State)
Colorado Springs, CO
So long story short, I got a ball python for free for helping out at a reptile show. brought it home and discovered mites, snake mites. I took her back within 24 hrs and they treated her... next day I just returned her to save the hassle and to get her treated as I could not afford to, and to also give her a better home with a more experienced owner. Can My Russian get snake mites? I cleaned everything and vacuumed and even scrubbed the area the snake was in. Am I safe? The snake was in another separated area but in the same room. The tortoise is in my closet which is vented with air flow.

IS crush going to be ok?
 

ascott

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Apr 10, 2011
Messages
16,138
Location (City and/or State)
Apple Valley, California
Yes they can on both points of your concerns.....if you read the link that I attached you will find description of the buggers along with a variety of successful ways to eliminate/decrease their populations based on their life morph path.....
 

chase thorn

Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Aug 3, 2011
Messages
906
Location (City and/or State)
Colorado Springs, CO
I read that yesterday for trying to Gerri's of them. It was a small infestation. Two or three visible. I will watch out but I did go over board on the cleaning. I heared snake mites are just that... Snake mites they are species specific. I just did not know for sure. I have just read that they do not harm geckos or torts. Hopefully this is correct. I will vacuum and clean every day for a week just to be safe
 

Itort

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
5 Year Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2007
Messages
2,343
Location (City and/or State)
Iowa
Snake mites are not species specific but the good news is RTs habitat requirement are not ideal for them. The thorough cleaning and short period the snake was with you in a seperate area is a definite plus. I think you've done everything right and it's under control. If you do have to treat a good product is Natural Chemistry Reptile Spray.
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
63,269
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
Some mite species are very host specific, and some are not as much. In all my years I've never had snake mites infect anything other than other snakes, but it is possible.
 

Itort

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
5 Year Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2007
Messages
2,343
Location (City and/or State)
Iowa
Snakes are the common host but they will infest other reptiles. Recently I had to treat a bluetongue that had been housed in an enclosure previously used to house a bearded dragon (no snakes). As I said Chase did everything right in manageing a potential threat.
 

Angi

Active Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2010
Messages
2,745
Location (City and/or State)
La Mesa, CA.
What does a mite look like? I dound some tiny tiny dot like bugs in my enclouse. I am a little freaked out!
 

StudentoftheReptile

Active Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2011
Messages
1,705
Location (City and/or State)
Alabama
Snake mites are shiny, black and bead-like.

There are "red mites" that occasionally infest imported WC lizards from across seas. Much smaller, the size of a flea, perhaps.

Then there are little lice/mites that are harmless and often found in natural, organic substrate and naturalistic set-ups. They are brownish/tan and very small. They eat dead vegetation and leftover food. They are not parasitic and will not harm reptiles.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top