How To Get Rid Of Snake Mites: Life Cycle, Treatment, And Prevention

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If you have a snake as a companion, you know it is an exotic pet. And that means you have to take extra care of its health. Snake mites are parasites that can get in the way of this endeavor. So, I will discuss with you how to get rid of snake mites in the content of this article!

What Are Snake Mites?

Snake mites are very small, parasitic bugs that feed off the blood of reptiles. They can infest both snakes and other reptiles. Snake mites can cause serious health problems for your pet and should be treated as soon as possible.

Red Velvet mite

In fact, snake mites are easy to see with the naked eye. They can be located on the thin-skinned areas of your snake, such as their eyes and ears. If you do suspect that your snake has a case of snake mites, it is best to take action right away.

In addition, you can find snake mites on your hands after you touch your snake or in their water dish in their snake’s enclosure. The life cycle of the mite is about two weeks, and they can go through three to four generations in a year.

What Do Snake Mites Look Like?

Snake mites are tiny red, grey, or black bugs that feed on the blood of snakes. They can cause various health problems in snakes, including skin lesions, weight loss, and even death. They are most commonly found in the southern United States but can be found all over the world.

Generally, snake mites are most likely to be seen in thin-skinned areas of the snake’s body, such as around the eyes, muzzle, and vent.

They may also be found on the underside of the snake. If you see small red dots on your snake, there is a good chance that they are snake mites.

They measure about 1/16th of an inch long and can be reddish brown, yellow, or black in color. They are most commonly found on the snake’s body, but they can also infest other common areas such as the nostrils and gular fold.

They might be in your snake’s enclosure, most likely around the water bowl. You may also see them on your hands after you’ve cleaned the reptile’s enclosure; they can jump onto your skin and cause an itchy reaction.

However, in addition to looking for mites in your snake’s cage or on its body, you should also pay attention to any changes in the manner in which your snake behaves. It is possible for the snake to experience frustration and stress as a result of the mites sucking its blood.

This may lead the snake to display a variety of behaviors, such as hiding more, being less active, and losing weight.

Where Do Snake Mites Come From?

Snake mites are a common problem for reptile owners. They can be difficult to get rid of and can cause a lot of damage to the reptiles they infest.

They come from other reptiles and must be treated on all the animals in the environment in order to completely eradicate them. Prevention is key, so make sure you take steps to keep snake mites out of your reptile enclosure.

They are often brought into captivity with new animals, but they can also lay dormant for quite sometime before hatching and attacking their host.

In addition, snake mites can come from a variety of places. They may be on something you buy at the pet store and bring home without knowing it. They can also hitch a quick ride on you and then hatch and get on your snake that way.

There are various methods of treatment, but the most important preventative measure is to keep the environment clean and free of prey items.

Other Things To Know About Snake Mites

Snake mites are a type of mite that can be found on snakes. They require the right conditions in order to survive, including warm temperatures and high humidity levels. If these conditions are not met, the snake mites will die.

They are very small and can be difficult to see with the naked eye. They can cause a damn great deal of damage to their host, often leading to death.

There are various ways to eliminate snake mites, including treating your snake for mites, getting rid of the infested habitat, and preventing snake mites from entering your home in the first place.

There are a few other things you should know about snake mites. Firstly, they have a short lifespan – they live for up to 40 days.

Secondly, they can survive for up to 30 days without feeding. And finally, female snake mites can lay 20 eggs after sucking enough blood from their host.

What Causes Snake Mites?

An infestation of snake mites might have been caused by a variety of different things.

Lack Of Hygiene

A lack of hygiene is one of the most common causes of snake mites. They thrive in dirty environments and can quickly spread if not treated.

If an infestation of snake mites is not treated, it can lead to the death of the snakes. Snake mites are most commonly passed on when the enclosure and bedding are not kept clean. It is important to maintain a high level of hygiene if you are keeping snakes as pets.

When more than one snake is kept in the same enclosure, it can create an ideal environment for mites to thrive and spread. It is important to keep snakes’ living areas clean and free of debris to help reduce the risk of mites appearing.

Contact With Other Snakes

Cobra, Sri Lanka

Mites are parasites that can infest a variety of animals, including snakes. If you have a snake as a pet and it was caught wild, there is a chance that it could have brought mites home with it.

They can also travel on other objects and animals, so it is important to take precautions when handling snakes, especially if you have other snakes in your home or facility.

Anytime you buy something at a pet store, there is a chance that the item is carrying eggs of the mite.

There are steps you can take to prevent mites from getting into your home and affecting your snakes, but it is important to be aware of the life cycle of the mite and how to treat them if they do become a problem.

Substrate With Mites In It

If you’ve recently purchased a new substrate for your snake, there’s a chance that it was infested with snake mites.

These pests can quickly take over an enclosure and cause serious health problems for your snake. The good news is that they are easy to get rid of if you catch them early.

While there are many different types of mites, reptile mites are the only ones that will live on the substrate. The substrate can contain snake mite eggs, so it is important to take preventative measures to avoid an infestation. There are a variety of ways to treat and prevent snake mites.

Can Mites Kill Your Pet Snake?

Mites are small parasites that can attach themselves to your pet snake. While they may not kill your snake immediately, they can weaken its body over time and make it more susceptible to other health problems.

You can do a few things to get rid of mites and protect your snake, including treating it with an appropriate mite treatment, keeping its environment clean and free of pests, and using preventative measures.

The mites feed on the blood of their snake hosts, and in large numbers, they can cause serious health issues for the snakes. Additionally, mites can lead to behavioral changes and stress in the snakes, making them more susceptible to other health problems.

How To Get Rid Of Snake Mites?

There are a few ways to get rid of snake mites. The most effective way is to consult with your veterinarian.

They will be able to prescribe the appropriate medication and treatment for your situation. You can also take steps to prevent snake mites from infesting your snakes in the first place.

Take Everything Out of the Cage

Super macro photo of group of Red Spider Mite infestation on vegetable. Insect concept.

Take out everything that’s within the cage. Throw away the substrate as well as any hiding boxes since mites are able to conceal themselves very readily in these places, and it may be difficult, if not impossible, to clean them thoroughly.

Clean the Inside of the Cage

When you have finished removing everything from the tank, fill the inside of the cage that houses your snake with a small amount of water and a few drops of dawn dishwashing soap.

This will force the mites to drop to the bottom of the cage where your snake is housed, where they will eventually drown.

Make use of hot water (over 120 degrees Fahrenheit) and a bleach solution of 5 percent.

Put two teaspoons of bleach into one quart of water, and it will give you a solution that is 5 percent bleach. The enclosure should then be scrubbed with this solution until it is completely clean. This includes the top of the container.

Allow the cage to Fully Dry.

When the enclosure for your snake has finished drying completely, you may begin preparing it to be utilized.

The bottom of the cage should be lined with newspaper, paper towels, or brown wrapping paper until all of the mites have been removed.

Because you are going to be cleaning the habitat of your snake rather often over the following several weeks, you should line the bottom of the enclosure with any paper product that is convenient for you to get and use.

Clean All Solid Cage Accessories

It is important to use the bleach cleaning solution to thoroughly clean and dry any solid cage accessory that will be reused, such as water bowls, before replacing them in the cage.

When you clean the enclosure, you should also clean any solid attachments that may have gotten inside.

Spray Cage With Fipronil Spray

The effectiveness of fipronil in treating snake mites is quite high. Spray the inside and outside of the enclosure where your snake is kept with fipronil. 

Be sure to treat anything that comes into touch with their cage, including the lid, and don’t leave anything out of the treatment process.

Treat Your Snake with Fipronil Spray

Use the fipronil spray on your snake and spray it all over.

Repeat Cleaning Part

It is recommended that you clean the enclosure for your snake once every seven days using warm water and bleach. After you have cleaned the cage, you should replace the paper that is currently on the bottom of the cage with fresh paper.

Repeat the Treating Process

Repeat Step number 5 and 6 in 4 weeks. If you followed all of the steps correctly, this should, after two treatments, be effective in getting rid of all of the mites.

If you still observe mites after the second treatment, you will need to continue carrying out this procedure once every three weeks until the infestation is completely eradicated.

Your snake should NOT be treated if they are in the process of shedding or if they are about to shed. It is in your best interest to hold off until a few days after they have finished shedding.

Make sure that the bottom of their cage is lined with newspaper or brown paper to act as substrate until all of the mites have been removed.

Are There Any Natural Remedies To Eliminate Snake Mites?

There are a few different methods that can be used to get rid of snake mites naturally. One option is to use a combination of essential oils, such as lavender oil, tea tree oil, and peppermint oil.

Another option is to use organic apple cider vinegar. Finally, you can employ the use of a steam cleaner to kill the mites.

While there are a few natural remedies to get rid of snake mites, one is particularly effective. If you have a snake, you can put a layer of olive oil over it. This will suffocate the mites and eventually kill them.

You can also soak your snake in water. This will help drown the mites and loosen their grip on the snake’s skin. You can also try using neem oil to kill the mites.

While there is no escaping the need to clean your snake’s enclosure with soap and disinfectant, it is worth trying to use non-chemical methods.

By using one or more of these oils regularly, you may be able to keep the mites at bay and protect your snake from further infestation.

Can Snake Mites Live On Humans?

How to Get Rid of Snake Mites: Life Cycle, mite treatment for snakes, and Prevention

Snake mites are a type of mite that can infest snakes. They can also attack humans on some occasions, but this is rare. The most common way for snake mites to spread is through contact with an infested snake.

Interestingly, snake mites can also be found living in the enclosure of a python at the zoo. There are various methods of treatment, depending on the severity of the infestation. However, prevention is key to avoiding snake mite infestations in the first place.

Summary

Snake mites are a common problem for snake owners. These tiny creatures can cause your snake a lot of stress and health problems. It is important to be aware of the presence of snake mites and deal with them effectively. There are various methods that can be used to eliminate snake mites from your snake, including, but not limited to, manual removal, chemical treatments, and environmental changes.

About the author

A biotechnologist by profession and a passionate pest researcher. I have been one of those people who used to run away from cockroaches and rats due to their pesky features, but then we all get that turn in life when we have to face something.