Mites found on rats. Can I still feed?

[ReptiMoto]

I just bought freshly pre killed rats from the store and when I opened the bag and took one out I found a bunch of live little mites crawling around the rat. These rats were thawed so I put them in the freezer in a ziplock. Should I contact the store? Can I still feed them if I leave them in the freezer for a few days?

[MercedesBenz]

Noooooooooo, I wouldn't wanna risk my snake getting mites

[chrid16371]

Yes contact the store. You may want to start treating your reptiles, cleaning floors, etc. You probably caught some on you and your clothes when there. Idk about feeding them, going to have to wait for someone else to chime in.

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[Fraido]

Mites are species-specific, rat mites won't affect your snakes. However, it is possible for snake mites to hitch a ride on the rats, if you feel like it's not likely to carry snake mites, feel free to feed. If you have the means of treating the snakes for mites in the event that snake mites were on the rats, I would feed. In the future, I would probably avoid where you got your rats, mites are not good, regardless.

ETA: Definitely contact the store, and if you're going to freeze them for a few days I think you're most definitely fine to feed them.

[ReptiMoto]

I took everything out of the tub and sprayed it with wipe out, took a shower, then with the wooden hide I sprayed that with provent a mite and my snake is currently in my clean clothes. The store I got them from, I have never had any problems in the past. I am going to freeze them for a few days then most likely feed them. I have mite treatment stuff and only one snake.

[danielwilu2525]

Get your mop cause its time to clean the house. Get some prevent o mite and start treating your whole entire collection before any outbreaks start.

[Fraido]

The mites were likely only rat mites and won't cause any problems with the snake, and seeing as Moto has only one snake and has already taken the proper precautions, cleaning the whole house is not really necessary.

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[PitOnTheProwl]

WoW..... Love the comments
What did they look like?
Fraido has the answer.

[wolfy-hound]

Rat mites are not snake mites. Contact the store though because rat mites are not good for the rats and they might want to clean their rat colony.

[chrid16371]

They also could of been wood mites from the pet store bedding. If they are rodent mites they are known to bite humans if they don't have a rodent host.

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