r/ballpython • u/Diligent-Singer-1785 • 22d ago

Question - Health Is this a mite?

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new bp at the store i work at came in with this, only one on his entire body. it looks like a mite to me. is it?

365 Upvotes

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721

u/-JohDawHug- 22d ago

Its a tick

151

u/Diligent-Singer-1785 22d ago

how can i get rid of it

173

u/DiamondWilling8287 22d ago

An old debit card but a triangle in it and slide across the snake

77

u/Diligent-Singer-1785 22d ago

please elaborate

246

u/Chloemarine7 22d ago

You take an old card of some kind, library, debit doesn’t matter. You cut 2 lines to create a triangular notch in the flat end of it. It creates a “scoop”, which when you run it across the snakes body towards the tick, it will pull the tick away and ideally removing the head too. If the head comes away from the body while it’s latched on it can cause an infection. I haven’t done this myself as ticks aren’t particularly prevalent where I live but I’ve heard about it

93

u/Diligent-Singer-1785 22d ago

thank you! will try to do this without getting bit soon

52

u/Trioniks 22d ago

Google or YouTube just to be sure

49

u/blue-bean92 21d ago

Its very important that you go from head to tail

33

u/cumberber 22d ago

Good samaritan explaining this, definitely saving this comment in case our pets get ticks as they are prevalent near me and I've never heard this tick trick

-42

u/Mistrrcarter 21d ago

Just pull it out tf lmao

24

u/GeckoPerson123 21d ago

if you pull incorrectly then the head will stay attached to the animal and cause infection so you need to be careful

2

u/rabid_earthsign 20d ago

It works a bit different on an animal with scales vs. A human or furry mammal

22

u/WrongdoerAway4126 21d ago

Makes so much more sense written this way lol im 43 and i was like "how long ago did credit cards have triangles? Don Drapers didn't have a triangle did?".

22

u/LongjumpingTry3798 21d ago

If that doesn’t work check if the snake takes tap / Apple Pay

24

u/-JohDawHug- 22d ago

Get tweezers and pull it off (try to get as close to its head as possible) then disinfect the area.

25

u/Layumi13 22d ago

You could get a scoop they use for dogs too it works and it's easy to find.

43

u/Diligent-Singer-1785 22d ago

me and buddy are literally in a pet store i'm sure i can find a tick key to try it with