As a reptile possessor , you may have find tiny mites crawling around your pet ’s enclosure . But not all speck are created adequate – there are key differences between snake touch and Sir Henry Wood mites that all herp keepers should understand .
What are Snake Mites?
Snake River speck are tiny , dark - color parasitic insects that feed on reptiles . They are scientifically known asOphionyssus natricis . big snake mites reach about 1 mm in length and have an ellipse , flattened contour . Under a microscope , you’re able to identify them by their crabby person - similar appearance with 8 legs .
These touch survive by latching onto reptile and sop up their ancestry – kind of like tiny vampires ! They will leave small carmine dot on the cutis of infested dearie . Snake mites can rapidly reproduce and spread leading to harmful infestations if get out untreated . Anemia , lethargy and skin infections are common in severely mite - ridden snakes .
Snake mites bewilder a restrained health peril to reptiles and must be eradicated . They can also occasionally bite humans , stimulate irritation .
What are Wood Mites?
forest mites belong to to several species of non - parasitic mites that feed on decompose Mrs. Henry Wood . The most common varieties areOribatidaandSarcoptiformes . They appear whitened , tan , or brownish in color and are larger than snake mites , quantify 1 - 2 millimetre in duration .
Under a microscope , wood mite have plump , round body with 8 legs – interchangeable to snake mites , but they can be differentiated by their lighter vividness As their name indicate , these mites experience in and consume rotting Grant Wood , especially in humid environments
Wood mite are generally harmless magpie . They do not bite , feed on , or taint reptiles . However , large population can be a nuisance in vivariums and reptile cages .
Key Differences Between the Two Types of Mites
Here is a quick overview of how to distinguish snake mites from wood mites :
Color – Snake mites are dark - colored while wood speck are whitened , tan , or brown . This is the most obvious visible difference .
nutrient germ – Snake mites prey on reptilian roue but wood mites eat decay wood
doings – Snake mites latch onto and remain on legion reptiles . Wood mites wander freely through bedding and substrate .
Health risk – Snake speck can churn up reptiles and occasionally prick humankind . Grant Wood mites are harmless to pets and citizenry .
Reproduction – Snake touch reproduce rapidly , earmark population to detonate . Grant Wood speck breed more slowly .
discourse – Eliminating snake mites requires miticides , deep cleaning , etc . Ellen Price Wood tinge only need removal if populations are too high .
How to Identify Snake Mites vs. Wood Mites in a Reptile Enclosure
If you fleck tiny mites in your pet reptilian ’s home ground , here are some backsheesh for identifying what sort they are :
Closely scrutinise your reptilian ’s body . snake in the grass mites will be crawling on the pelt , especially in folds and scissure .
Wood mite pucker in moist areas like under water system bowls , in bedding , or on Mrs. Henry Wood decor .
Use a magnifying glass for a closer looking . The dark gloss of snake mites is very apparent compared to wood touch .
See if mites are leave petite violent Zen on your reptile ’s scales – this suggest feeding snake speck .
Capture a sample of the mites to examine under a microscope . The trunk configuration and coloration will help distinguish between the two .
note the touch ’ behavior . serpent mites remain on reptilian while woodwind instrument mites wind freely .
view when the mites first appear . Snake hint often arrive on new reptiles from favored depot . Natalie Wood mites may emerge after adding new woods ingredient .
Carefully identifying whether reptilian speck are parasitic or harmless will conduct appropriate treatment . Misdiagnosing wood soupcon as snake speck may lead to unnecessary miticide use of goods and services .
Dangers of Snake Mites
Although tiny , snake touch can play havoc on enwrapped reptiles if infestations are left unbridled . Here are some of the major risks :
Blood loss & anaemia – Mites feed on significant amounts of reptilian rakehell . continuing blood loss induce anemia .
failing & lethargy – Lack of blood and nutrients due to mite eating top to crushed muscularity and bodily process levels .
pelt irritation & infections – Mite morsel rag the skin and can allow bacterial infection to develop .
Unsanitary housing – big mite population cheating inclosure with stool , eggs , and junk .
Declining health & weight red – Reptiles become fragile and ill as mite infestation drain their resource .
Stress – Constant mite eating and skin discomfort is very nerve-racking for reptiles .
Human insect bite – In uncommon shell , Hydra mites may bite humans and cause skin discomfort .
Act quickly to eradicate snake mite before they negatively touch on your favorite ’s health .
Options for Removing Snake Mites
If your reptilian has serpent mite , here are some good discourse methods :
Miticides – Special reptilian - safe mathematical product like Provent - a - Mite kill mites . Apply as directed .
Deep unobjectionable – Thoroughly wash , disinfect , and dry the entire habitat and accessories to eliminate touch .
Hot body of water – Soak your reptile in lukewarm water to drown and detach mites . Repeat daily .
Manual removal – Use a indulgent brush or cotton swab dipped in oil to softly remove mite from skin .
Modern substratum – supercede all old substrate with new , clear textile to eliminate mite ballock and larvae .
Quarantine – Isolate infest reptiles until soupcon - barren before allowing contact with other pets .
Predatory mites – Some mite coinage likeHypoaspis mileseat snake mite . inaugurate to enclosures .
Be open-eyed and patient – it can take several weeks to amply clear serpent touch from a reptile collection . Remove wood mites only if populations are excessive .
Can Wood Mites Become Harmful?
woodwind instrument mites are see entirely harmless scavengers in most cases . However , a few situations may arise where wood mites impact reptile health :
Allergies – In rarefied cases , reptile may be allergic to wood mites . This get skin annoying if prominent numbers get through the ducky .
Competition – If wood touch populations explode , they can outcompete good louse like springtails that help break down waste .
well over enclosure – exuberant forest mites look unsightly and make maintaining cleanliness difficult .
Mite misidentification – Wood mites are mistaken for harmful snake mites , causing unnecessary miticide utilization .
Microenvironment disruption – High wood mite density alters the reptile ’s enclosure conditions like humidity .
Fortunately , these publication are uncommon and deflect unreasonable wood mite population easy prevents them . Monitor numbers and dispatch extra mites if needed .
How to Control Wood Mite Population
Though wood jot are harmless , an overpopulation can become a pain in the neck . Here are tips for managing their numbers :
transfer and replace too infested substratum , décor , and plants .
make out older substratum and exhaustively clean and disinfect the inclosure .
Bake or freeze out Mrs. Henry Wood décor item to kill mites and egg .
Limit wet and humidity to discourage mite reproduction .
Introduce springtails – they will help control the wood pinch population of course .
Apply a thin layer of diatomaceous earth on infest surfaces to dry out mites .
Use gloomy - toxicity insecticidal sprayer or concentrated essential oil color on interior decoration to reduce mites .
With notice and a few simple interposition , wood mite population can be keep in stop as harmless fellow member of the vivarium surround .
In Summary
serpent mites and wood mite may seem interchangeable on first glance , but understand their fundamental differences is critical for reptile health . While snake mites are grave parasite requiring fleet eradication , wood tinge are essentially harmless and only need population control . Identify mites cautiously under magnification and by observing behavior before do by an infestation in a pet ’s home ground . With right identification and direction , both Snake River mites and wood mite can be manage appropriately .
SNAKE MITES? – REMOVE THEM, FOREVER!
FAQ
How do you know if you have Snake River mites ?
What does a wood mite plague look like ?
Are wood tinge harmful to reptile ?
How do I get rid of wood mites in my snake enclosure ?
