How to Treat Ticks and Mites on Pet Snakes

Mites and ticks cause serious problems in captive reptiles. If left untreated, they consume enough blood to cause a life-threatening case of anemia. Mites and ticks transmit pathogens such as roundworms and bacteria that cause pneumonia, mouth rot and inclusion body disease, a fatal viral infection of snakes. Learn how to prevent, detect and treat mites and ticks to keep your snake healthy.

Things You'll Need

  • Soapy water
  • Provent-A-Mite
  • Magnifying glass
  • Paper
  • Brush
  • Pillowcase
  • Tank
  • Cardboard boxes
  • Paper towels
  • Petroleum jelly
  • Tray
  • Mineral or vegetable oil
  • Water
  • Bucket
  • Measuring cup
  • Bleach
  • Lice shampoo
  • Paper towels or newspaper
  • Disinfectant
  • Tweezers
  • Jar
  • Alcohol
  • Antibiotic ointment
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Instructions

  1. Prevent Mites

    • 1

      Wash the snake enclosure weekly with hot, soapy water. Ventilate the enclosure and avoid warm, damp conditions. Use commercial mite preventatives such as Provent-A-Mite, which is available at the Pro Products website.

    • 2

      Quarantine new reptiles for a month and observe for mites and ticks. Have your new snake examined by a veterinarian and all snakes examined yearly.

    • 3

      Avoid particulate floor coverings like gravel and corncob material, which provide hiding places for mites and their eggs.

    • 4

      Use a magnifying glass to check for mites, which appear as black or red dots in skin folds, along the lower jaw and around the eyes and cloaca. Check for dull skin, bad sheds and pitted or crusty scales.

    • 5

      Watch for lethargy and appetite loss. Note if the snake acts agitated, continually moves around and rubs against the cage furniture. Look for dead mites in the water bowl.

    • 6

      Lay the snake on a large sheet of white paper. Flick the area around the scales near the head, neck and cloaca with a small brush. Check the paper for mites.

    • 7

      Put the snake in a white pillowcase overnight. Check for mites at the bottom of the pillowcase in the morning.

    Quarantine the Infested Snake

    • 8

      Put the snake in a separate tank, without cracks, that is easy to clean.

    • 9

      Use furnishings made of cardboard boxes, and line the bottom with paper towels.

    • 10

      Put a line of petroleum jelly around the tank rim to prevent the escape of mites.

    • 11

      Place the tank in a shallow tray of water to create a mite barrier.

    Treat with Water Bath

    • 12

      Soak snake in lukewarm water for 30 minutes to drown mites. Cover the snake's back, but not its head so it can breathe.

    • 13

      Wipe snake dry and place it in the enclosure with paper towels or plain newspaper.

    • 14

      Repeat until you don't see dead mites in the bath water.

    Treat with Oil Rub

    • 15

      Wear old clothes because the oil will stain.

    • 16

      Rub a small amount of mineral or vegetable oil on your snake to smother the mites.

    • 17

      Place the snake on paper towels overnight.

    • 18

      Soak in lukewarm water the next morning and wipe the snake dry.

    • 19

      Repeat until you don't see dead mites in the bath water.

    Use Commercial Products or Medications

    • 20

      Consult with your veterinarian before you use an insecticide or pesticide on your snake.

    • 21

      Read and follow the directions on the bottle carefully. Observe your snake for any adverse reactions.

    • 22

      Check with your veterinarian to treat the snake with Ivermectin, as it can be highly effective, but fatal if not administered properly.

    • 23

      See if your veterinarian recommends Fipronil, an active ingredient in flea prevention products. Use to spot treat mites in hard-to-reach areas. Rinse with water after treatment to avoid intoxication.

    Treat the Cage and Surrounding Area

    • 24

      Remove everything from the cage and throw away everything you can. Clean cage furnishings in hot, soapy water or a solution of 3 oz. of bleach to 1 qt. of water. Rinse or put in the dishwasher.

    • 25

      Bake wooden cage accessories at 200 degrees F for two hours. Check to ensure they don't burn.

    • 26

      Place cage furnishings in boiling water for 30 minutes or in the freezer for 24 hours.

    • 27

      Take cage outside and clean with lice shampoo to kill mites. Pay attention to cracks and crevices. Rinse and air out to diffuse the fumes. Dry in direct sunlight to kill remaining mites.

    • 28

      Use paper towels or blank newspaper for several days to see any new mites or their eggs.

    • 29

      Disinfect hardwood floors, drapes and carpets near the cage. Mites travel up to 15 feet per day.

    • 30

      Repeat this process every three days until mites aren't present on your snake.

    Treating for Ticks

    • 31

      Check for ticks regularly with a magnifying glass. Look under the scales, in the nostrils and any place they can hide.

    • 32

      Look for abnormal skin shedding and wounds.

    • 33

      Grab the tick with tweezers by the head where it's attached to the skin and pull firmly and directly out without twisting.

    • 34

      Place the tick in a jar of alcohol to kill it.

    • 35

      Disinfect the wound and apply antibiotic ointment.