Rat from pet store has mites??

[JHPythons]

I picked up some small rats from my local exotic store and noticed small little mite like bugs crawling all over the fur. Has anyone ever seen this before. My concern is I fed one to one of my snakes before noticing them on the other rat.

My hope is that they are not harmful to the snake? I'm assuming they are probably specific to rats and not snake mites and I obviously don't want to treat the rat before hand, making the rat toxic. But I'm hoping they don't harm my snake from the inside.

I wonder if this is just from a dirty pet store?

Any insight would be great.
Thanks!

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Mites are species specific however if I were you I would find another source for feeders, mite infested feeders are really not acceptable who knows what other problems there might be.

I have been breeding rats and mice for close to a decade producing several thousands each year and never had any mite issues so it is preventable.

[JHPythons]

Mites are species specific however if I were you I would find another source for feeders, mite infested feeders are really not acceptable who knows what other problems there might be.

I have been breeding rats and mice for close to a decade producing several thousands each year and never had any mite issues so it is preventable.

Yes and thank you! I just came home to find the rat dead from just being in a plastic cage for 12 hours so I'm thinking there is something else going on....will def be looking for another source.

[Dezoruba]

I just got a rat that has not only mites but also a respiratory infection or something.



Gross!!! Never buying from this place again. Should I just put it down?

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[JHPythons]

I just got a rat that has not only mites but also a respiratory infection or something.



Gross!!! Never buying from this place again. Should I just put it down?

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Holy crap that's gross....for some reason those "mites" look slightly oval shaped, the ones on the rat I had looked very dark and circular almost like a snake mite. Wonder if there's a difference ...I will not be going to my place again either!

[Dezoruba]

Yeah, these ones are long, tiny and might have wings?



Different looking from snake mites at least. (I hope...)

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[JHPythons]

Yeah, these ones are long, tiny and might have wings?



Different looking from snake mites at least. (I hope...)

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Well I have read that there are rat mites and rat lice...I believe they are very different and I want neither in my house...so gross, I just hope neither can go to humans or dogs for that matter...

[Oxylepy]

I just got done dealing with millions of mites on my breeders. But those were flour/grain mites. Had to dawn dip all the rats and then bathe them, put them in a clean enclosure, then bleach everything, froze their food, theor new bedding, boiled the eco earth, and now they're set up again. Oh, and I washed myself down, froze the clothes I had been wearing, etc.

Keep it as a rescue. Soap it, soak it, and keep it in another room from your snake. Either breed it or keep it as a pet. Don't forget to isolate everything it touched, including yourself. Wash everything, bleach, or bug spray is a good idea. Get the rat some mite killer.

[melcvt00]

Don't forget to report the store to your state's agriculture department, since they are responsible for licensing and inspections.