Little bugs but not mites

**Amanda Wight** · 13-03-09 06:19 PM

Hi everyone, i was round at my friends the other night and she told me of problem she had but i wasn't sure on the answer, i told her some one here would know so here it is.

She put a mouse in her tank for her brb to snack on, but when she took the mouse out after a day when she didn't eat it, she noticed on the nose where there was a little blood, some really small bugs where there. She describes them as a beige-brown colour about half a mil long, really small she said.

We checked her snake but there was nothing on her snake's skin, eyes and mouth or cloaca. Because they weren't on the snake i said i doubt it would be mites.

We looked in her tank and couldn't see any more, but she uses aspen and because they were so small and almost the same colour as the aspen we were not sure if there was any more or not. I was wondering if you get harmless tiny bugs in the aspen?

Any ideas people?

Thanks Amanda

**paulcoyle** · 13-03-09 06:37 PM

yeah tell her to ditch the aspen and disinfect the viv. Put plain white paper towels down and keep vigilant for a few months (esp the water bowl). No idea what the wee bugs could be if there def NOT mites as I think ticks are black and bigger than mites.

**Amanda Wight** · 13-03-09 07:10 PM

I have been looking up on the net for more info, and it seems there is sometimes, substrate mites that live in the substrate and are totally harmless, has anyone else seen any life in their substrate? My friend is freaking out?

Has anyone had any experience with anything like this?

**kingdom reptiles** · 13-03-09 07:47 PM

hi yep seen these small mites normally in bark though, that hasnt been baked or neuked they do look like snake mites but dont go near then snakes.

**thistlereptiles** · 13-03-09 08:47 PM

Hi
These wee creatures are completely harmless if it is the ones I think they are.
They do no harm to your snakes and normally die out when everything is dry.
As they need some for of moisture.

I have only ever heard of them once being found in apsen back (the big big sacks) Most likely of to be picked up in warehouse or something

I would not worry so much as they will stay away from the snake etc and evntually die out no need to stress or worry at all.

You could also check the snakes water dish to see if any are loating or swimming in circles good way for them to be collected and dispossed of
change water a few times a day.

**paulcoyle** · 13-03-09 09:00 PM

I would get your friend to change the substrate if its for a brb as anglea said the bugs need moisture but the brb needs higher humidity. I found aspen too dry, I use a combo of spag moss and bark chips (which are roasted in the oven before use for this reason).

**absintheboy** · 14-03-09 02:50 AM

I had something like this in my curly tail viv. Turned out they were springtails, completely harmless little bugs. Due to the substrate being bark and moist, the heat provided the ideal conditions for the eggs to hatch. I dried out the viv and they all died out.

Your description of the bugs sounds very familiar, although, springtails jump about an inch in the air when disturbed, did your friend have anything like this? If so, then they are nothing to worry about.

Gary

**moonlightspark** · 03-07-09 05:05 PM

hah i had those little things, there seemed to be an outbreak when i raised my boas humidity.none on the snake though. my substrate is a mix of orchid bark and eco earth.

**SlipknotMaggot** · 03-07-09 06:39 PM

any wood in the viv?? if so it could be wood mites but they are harmless to the snake...

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