Ball Python Health Problems Guide - External Parasites

External parasites are found on the skin. In the wild, snakes can have numerous ticks attached to their bodies. In captivity, snake mites are the most common exter­nal parasite of ball pythons. Both of these types of parasites are reason­ably simple to eradicate.

Ticks

At one time, it was common to find ticks on ball pythons. They can still be found on imported ball pythons, but due to better tick con­trol in Africa, they are not as com­mon as they once were.

To feed on your snake, a tick embeds its head into the skin, between the scales. You can easily remove a tick with a pair of tweezers. Grab it firmly with the tweezers just behind the head, as close to the ball python's scales as possible. Do not squeeze too hard with the tweezers; you do not wish to squash the tick until it has been removed from the snake. Gently pull back and twist the tick out of the skin. Treat the area where the tick was attached with an antibiotic ointment.

If the tick is embedded in the tissue around the eye socket, use great care in removing it. The tissue around the eye is fairly delicate, and removing a tick improperly from this area can damage your snake's eye. You may wish to coat the back of the tick with petroleum jelly; this may make it let go of the skin, and you should be able to easily remove it with tweezers and properly dispose of it. If you are unsure whether you can remove any tick from your snake without causing injury, consult your veterinarian.

Once you remove the tick from the ball python, proper disposal includes spraying the tick with an appropriate insecticide (without getting any on the snake) or dropping the tick in a small container of rubbing alcohol. If numerous ticks need to be removed from your ball python, have a container ready to collect them prior to their disposal. This container will need to be sprayed with your preferred brand of insecticide, following the manufacturer's instructions. Place the lid back on the container after each tick has been dropped inside.

Mites

Mites are a common external parasite of snakes. Think of them as snake fleas. They can be found on any species of snake, including ball pythons. Mites are smaller than ticks and move much faster. They commonly embed themselves around the eye sockets of ball pythons or under the chin in the fold of skin that runs down the middle of the bottom jaw (an area called the mental fold or mental groove).

Ball pythons suffering from heavy mite infestations will lie in their water dishes in an attempt to drown the mites. They may also look as if they have small white dots on them; these "dots" are the mites' waste. When you hold a mite-rid­den snake, the mites will be seen crawling over the snake and possibly your hand. Mites are reproduc­tive machines, and it will not take long for one mite to turn into hundreds, even thou­sands. Adult females will migrate out of the enclosure looking for a new snake host.

You must permanently eliminate mites from your python and its enclosure. They are more than just an irritation; they are a hazard to your snake's health. A ball python may refuse to eat if it is suffering from a large mite infestation, and small ball pythons that are severely infested with mites can die due to severe anemia. Large numbers of mites on a snake can drain it of too much blood and cause its death. Mites are easily eradicated through the use of any one of several commercially available products that are manufactured for the specific task of mite removal. Exactly follow the manufacturer's instructions for the product you choose.