can rats transfer mites to snake? HELP

[TLR386]

ok so i just fed my new bp for the second time i fed him a live rat pup and during the constricting process i saw a little black bug crawl from the rat onto my snake is this a mite? i always thought mites were red? this one was a really small black bug and im praying that it wasnt a tick? what could this be? should i be worried?

[satomi325]

Rat mites are species specific and are red. Snake mites are black. They look like poppy seeds. Feeders can carry, but not host snake mites and eggs. They are also specific to snakes only.

Are you sure the snake didn't come with mites? Either way, you should always treat new snakes for mites even if they come from a reputable breeder.

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[TLR386]

yes i am pretty sure the snake did not come with mites i have been handling him for the past few days (i know your supposed to wait a week or two after getting him but he ate for me on the first day i brought him home and i held him 2 days later and doesnt seem stressed at all) but i have never seen a mite on him or anything and i inspected him pretty good. i actually saw this small bug crawl from the rat onto the snake.

[satomi325]

Did it look like a poppy seed?
Even if it wasn't a mite, treating new arrivals should be a regular practice. Its a good preventative measure.

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[TLR386]

it was about the size of a poppy seed but i couldn't get a good look at it i was trying not to disturb him

[Jabberwocky Dragons]

It is possible that mites that infest rats may be the transmission vector for IBD so no mite, either from snake or rat, is ever 'okay'. If you believe you have rat mites, I would suggest changing your supplier. This is a great scholarly resource for those looking to learn more about IBD and its possible transmission vectors. It is an open access articles so it's free for non-subscribers.

Stenglein MD, et al. 2012. Identification, characterization, and in vitro culture of highly divergent arenaviruses from boa constrictors and annulated tree boas: candidate etiological agents for snake inclusion body disease. mBio 3(4):e00180-12.

[TLR386]

it was also moving pretty fast i always thought mites were slow but ive only seen them on snakes at petco so im not sure