Ways to Kill Mites on Snakes

Snake mites, ophionyssus natricis, are quick spreading, species-specific parasites that feed off the blood of living snakes. They are vectors for several blood borne pathogens, and can be deadly if not recognized and treated early in an infestation. Due to their quick propagation, an infestation can severely disrupt the activities of a snake breeder.

  1. Description

    • Snake mites are tiny---the size of pin points---and are black or occasionally red in color. They often travel in groups and are usually concentrated around the eyes, nostrils and crease of skin on the snake's chin. Mite feces are white and are more visible on darkly colored snakes than the mites themselves. Snakes often spend excessive time soaking in water bowls to drown the parasites, thus this behavior is a good indication to check a snake for mites. Mite corpses in a snake's water bowl are a tell-tale sign of infestation. Snakes with mite infestations sometimes display a loss of appetite, poor shedding or symptoms of anemia.

    Treatments

    • Chemical bathing and enclosure cleaning products are specially formulated to treat snake mites, although there are several home remedies. It's generally recommended to buy the specially formulated products, as the incorrect dosage of toxic chemicals can result in injury to the animal. Products such as Provent-a-mite is very effective against mites, but also can pose serious health risks to snakes and should be used with caution. Enclosure cleaning is vital, as mite eggs are often deposited off of the snake. Use a mild cleaner inside the cage and avoid products with strong fumes or ammonia. While bleach is effective, special care must be taken to ensure none of it remains before the snake is reintroduced to the environment. Rinse all objects in the cage and clean the surfaces. In extreme cases, a herp vet may administer ivermectin. It is strongly recommended this treatment be administered by a skilled professional. Do not return a snake treated with mite formula to an enclosure until it has been cleaned from top to bottom

    Considerations

    • Snake mites are notoriously hard to eliminate and may require multiple treatments. In each case, make sure the cleaning products used have been completely removed with water before returning them to the snake enclosure. Again, snake mites are species specific and will not affect adults, children or non-snake animals. In the wild snakes have many mites and ticks all over them but unlike in the wild, a pet snake is not in a balanced ecosystem, thus mites pose a greater health risk.