sick snake?

Question
QUESTION: i have a ball python and he just got done shedding about a month ago,but now his eyes are blue and cloudy again. is there something wrong with him? he cant be shedding again can he? please help

ANSWER: Hi Katherine,

its not uncommon for a snake to shed a month apart, especially if young since theyre growing faster. snakes can also shed soon after they have had a large meal.

if this is unusual for your snake and he hasnt been fed a larger then normal meal, there may be something that has induced the shed.

check for the presence of snake mites, any skin lesions (burns, broken scales etc.), or for the presence of infections of the skin.

encase you arent sure what snake mites look like, they look similar to flecks of pepper, usually grey or brown in colour and can often be seen in the water bowl, or checked for by rubbing a wet tissue down the length of the snake's body.

if any of the above are found on your snake, depending on what you find will depend on what treatment or actions (if any) need to be taken. in this case feel free to get in touch with me again and i'd be happy to give you some advice on what to do.

if you cant find any problems that may have caused this shed there more than likely isnt anything wrong.

i hope this helps,

Andy

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: i inspected my snake closely and i think he does have mites.i saw tiny white and sortof brown bugs. what do i do now?i really appreciate ur help.

Answer
Hi Katherine, thanks for your feedback on my previous answer.

the white bugs may be bark mites, which don't cause a problem for your snake, but are best eliminated. if you're using orchid bark as a substrate remove it all, the following instructions will remove the bark mites as well as the snake mites.

to get rid of the snake mites, you have to be incredibly thorough with killing them as if just 2 remain, they can breed and start a new infestation. you will need some anti-mite spray, which you should be able to find at most pet shops.

firstly, give your snake a bath in some lukewarm water, this will help remove the worst of the mites and ease any itching felt by your snake. next, clean the tank thoroughly with some warm water with a small amount of disinfectant, removing any substrate and hide boxes you have. give the tank a quick spray with the anti mite spray and wipe it dry with some kitchen paper. use newspaper as a substrate instead of whatever you were using before, as this is easier to keep clean and is easier to spot mites on. get some kitchen paper, and spray a generous amount of mite spray on it. then rub this treated kitchen paper the whole length of your snake's body, paying close attention to the head area - especially round the eyes- as this is where the mites gather most. you may need several pieces of treated kitchen paper to thoroughly do the job. place your snake back in its tank, but leave the water bowl out. this is because, if the snake bathes in its water bowl and then drinks from it, it will ingest, the mite spray, which can be toxic. after 2 days you can replace the water bowl. for the hide boxes, do exactly the same as for the tank, but don't replace them until you're sure there are no mites present on the hide boxes.

check the tank over the next few days for the presence of mites. if you find any live ones, you will need to repeat the whole process. if all you find are dead ones, clean the tank with some warm water and a bit of disinfectant and dry it. put your snake back on newspaper for a following week and check for mites again. if you find none you can get back to normal.

that should cover everything. it is a real hassle to sort out mites i know, it just takes patience and persistence. i hope this solves your problem.

Andy