Mites cross-infestation?

Hi guys! My sibling will be purchasing a bearded dragon soon, and I thought I'd post this question in case any forum members here own both ball pythons and beardies and have some experience with this. We've read that bearded dragons can also have mites - how common are these, and are they the same species of mites that affect snakes? What degree of quarantine and/or enclosure pre-treatment would be appropriate, if any?

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Originally Posted by RedRabbit

Hi guys! My sibling will be purchasing a bearded dragon soon, and I thought I'd post this question in case any forum members here own both ball pythons and beardies and have some experience with this. We've read that bearded dragons can also have mites - how common are these, and are they the same species of mites that affect snakes? What degree of quarantine and/or enclosure pre-treatment would be appropriate, if any?

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The mites you get on lizard species are not going to harm your ball pythons . I read up on it a while ago I’m 99.9% sure I am correct someone else will inform you also . But I’m sure of the fact just google can my snake get mites of my bearded dragon :)


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Originally Posted by RedRabbit

Hi guys! My sibling will be purchasing a bearded dragon soon, and I thought I'd post this question in case any forum members here own both ball pythons and beardies and have some experience with this. We've read that bearded dragons can also have mites - how common are these, and are they the same species of mites that affect snakes? What degree of quarantine and/or enclosure pre-treatment would be appropriate, if any?

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Originally Posted by callumdegg

The mites you get on lizard species are not going to harm your ball pythons . I read up on it a while ago I’m 99.9% sure I am correct someone else will inform you also . But I’m sure of the fact just google can my snake get mites of my bearded dragon :)

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there are cross species mites. the most common reptile mite is Ophionyssus natricis and they will feed on snakes and lizards alike. i would make sure sure sister gets a beardie from a reputable source. essentially keep it in QT for 30-90 days so hopefully she has a separate room, u can keep it on white paper towel substrate to monitor for mites and other issues. i also treat my new snakes w/ Natural Chemistry Reptile Spray when they arrive but it's nit necessary. a good vendor, QT and proper husbandry will do the most work.

I have both species at home. Good thing about beardies is that it is uncommon for them to carry external parasites like mites because of how tough their scales are. They exist but it is not common. If they had any, you will easily detect it on the lizard. The more common parasite with beardies are more like pinworms, parasites picked up from live feeders.

What you need to focus more on is getting the correct lights: a T5 UVB fixture if it goes on top of the screenlid or T8 fixture without any lid or installed inside the enclosure. Make sure the beardie is active, alert and eager to eat, especially babies. Check for any sign of tail rot: is the tip of tail dark in color, is it flexible or shrunken and black? Very common for baby beardies picked up with such injuries as most pet stores house them in groups where they can nip each other. No loose substrate. If you have any questions, we are here to help.

Thank you everyone for the helpful responses! Our new beardie (a chunky 6-month-old red hypo trans boy!) came home on Monday, and is settling in nicely so far. He was bred by Derrek Davis from Reptile Factory (a fairly well-reputed reptile specialty store in our area). No visible mites, tail rot or any other issues on inspection. He is being kept in his own room on the ground floor, and we've moved our crested gecko and our two BPs upstairs to ensure a proper quarantine. He's on white paper towel substrate in a 40 gallon Exo Terra tank, and we have a T5 UVB that rests on top of the screen lid, while the lamp for his basking spot is clamped to a separate stand to achieve the right height. We'd already tested out the temperatures and day-night timer cycle in the 1-2 weeks prior to his arrival, so that's been pretty straightforward. He has been active in getting familiar with his enclosure space, including making use of his nice new hammock, and has been readily eating both his dubia roaches and his salads, with no objection to the dusting of calcium powder, lol.

Beardies are adorable lizards... we look forward to his "throne" portrait once he's out of quarantine. :D

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Beardies are adorable lizards... we look forward to his "throne" portrait once he's out of quarantine. :D

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I've got just the thing in mind for him ... if he doesn't outgrow it by the time his quarantine ends!