Rat mites or ticks on my python?!

Hey guys I'm new to the forum and well I have a Ball python called Ziggy, it's around 1 1/2 years old.

So today I decided to buy a medium rat for Ziggy since it has gotten bigger, I was feeding it small rats before. I got home and I gave the rat to the snake and halfway through the swallowing process, I noticed some ticks or mites on the rat and I'm worried that they will latch on to my snake... They were incredibly tiny so I'm not sure what they were.

After the rat was in its belly I put the snake in a tub with a bit of water to remove any potential pests, and then I sterilized the feeding container I used with some alcohol and water.

So my real question is, can my snake acquire ticks/mites from a rat? :confused:

Mites no

Ticks? yes, Mites? no.
What you saw was probably not ticks as they are larger. Also, what you saw could have been dirt. Next time ;et the snake digest b4 a soak so as to not cause regurgitation. If you are worried about possible mites use paper towels and you should be able to see them with the stark whiteness of the paper towel.

If it happens that you do have mites on your BP read my second post in this thread link for instructions on what mites are, what they can do to your snake, and what you can do to help.
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...=1#post1666974

Goodluck and best wishes.

Phew! So I guess I shouldn't be worrying about mites then.

I did think about the digesting and possible regurgitation but I'd rather take the risk of regurgitation than having parasites, and I didn't want those things on the snakes when I put it back in its tank :X. I'm really positive it wasn't dust since dust doesn't move lol but I'll keep an eye out for anything that moves in the next few days just in case. I have seen ticks on dogs and these weren't bloated or large in any way, so I guess they were mites. Thanks, you guys are awesome! :D Great forum btw!

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Originally Posted by xxCARLOSxx

Phew! So I guess I shouldn't be worrying about mites then.

I did think about the digesting and possible regurgitation but I'd rather take the risk of regurgitation than having parasites, and I didn't want those things on the snakes when I put it back in its tank :X. I'm really positive it wasn't dust since dust doesn't move lol but I'll keep an eye out for anything that moves in the next few days just in case. I have seen ticks on dogs and these weren't bloated or large in any way, so I guess they were mites. Thanks, you guys are awesome! :D Great forum btw!

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In the event that I am wrong, due to yours and many other Threads about worried owners and mites i made a thread about care and correction. Here is the link if something occurs.
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...and-Correction
Goodluck :)

Pet store rodents often have mites. They are species specific and will not get on or harm the snake. How did these poor creatures ever survive the wild without our help?

Obscurus: Thanks, I'll try that out if I see anything. Great thread!

Foschi: They survived in the wild because they are simply awesome XD

Mammal mites are not reptile mites :).

I was being sarcastic lol. Snake mites are a little bigger than rodent mites and won't be on rodents. If they were on the rat, I don't think you have anything to worry about.

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Originally Posted by Foschi Exotic Serpents

I was being sarcastic lol. Snake mites are a little bigger than rodent mites and won't be on rodents. If they were on the rat, I don't think you have anything to worry about.

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[NOT srs]
Unless the Rattata's Mite (joltick) had been carrying an everstone and when the snake (Ekans) bit it used the ability Constrict and then snatch. Thus causing the mite (Joltick) to drop the everstone and having it evolve into a Snake Mite........