Vote for BP.Net for the 2013 Forum of the Year! Click here for more info.

» Site Navigation

» Home
 > FAQ

» Online Users: 756

2 members and 754 guests
Most users ever online was 47,180, 07-16-2025 at 05:30 PM.

» Today's Birthdays

None

» Stats

Members: 75,909
Threads: 249,110
Posts: 2,572,149
Top Poster: JLC (31,651)
Welcome to our newest member, KoreyBuchanan
  • 10-04-2011, 01:28 AM
    xxCARLOSxx
    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:
  • 10-04-2011, 01:30 AM
    llovelace
    Mites no
  • 10-04-2011, 01:36 AM
    Obscurus28
    Re: Rat mites or ticks on my python?!
    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.
  • 10-04-2011, 02:38 AM
    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!
  • 10-04-2011, 02:48 AM
    Obscurus28
    Re: Rat mites or ticks on my python?!
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by xxCARLOSxx View Post
    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!

    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 :)
  • 10-04-2011, 02:49 AM
    Foschi Exotic Serpents
    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?
  • 10-04-2011, 02:55 AM
    xxCARLOSxx
    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
  • 10-04-2011, 03:12 AM
    CoolioTiffany
    Re: Rat mites or ticks on my python?!
    Mammal mites are not reptile mites :).
  • 10-04-2011, 03:15 AM
    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.
  • 10-04-2011, 04:11 AM
    Obscurus28
    Re: Rat mites or ticks on my python?!
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Foschi Exotic Serpents View Post
    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.

    [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........
  • 10-04-2011, 09:57 AM
    Rawbbeh
    What about fleas? Are they ever a problem with feeder rodents?
  • 10-04-2011, 03:24 PM
    Obscurus28
    Re: Rat mites or ticks on my python?!
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Rawbbeh View Post
    What about fleas? Are they ever a problem with feeder rodents?

    A flea is another type of parasite. You will not encounter flea parasites from a rat to a snake. Unless the rat was in contact or housed in a terrarium that contained mites. Mites are your primary and only worry in the parasite world of snakes. If things progress and you find yourself with Mites Follow the steps provided ;) Goodluck
  • 10-04-2011, 03:35 PM
    kitedemon
    Re: Rat mites or ticks on my python?!
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Obscurus28 View Post
    A flea is another type of parasite. You will not encounter flea parasites from a rat to a snake. Unless the rat was in contact or housed in a terrarium that contained mites. Mites are your primary and only worry in the parasite world of snakes. If things progress and you find yourself with Mites Follow the steps provided ;) Goodluck

    Not exactly true, there are tons of parasites that snake can carry. Most are internal ones. There is however little chance of any external parasites that a rat carries effecting a snake much or at all. Any external parasites ingested would be digested. Ticks can and have transferred from mammals to snakes but are super easy to deal with so I would not risk a regourge for something so minor. Re-gorges can be a serious event in a snake and should not be treated as a minor issue. Parasites are generally less a concern than re-gorge is to my mind anyway.
  • 10-04-2011, 03:58 PM
    Obscurus28
    Re: Rat mites or ticks on my python?!
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by kitedemon View Post
    Not exactly true, there are tons of parasites that snake can carry. Most are internal ones. There is however little chance of any external parasites that a rat carries effecting a snake much or at all. Any external parasites ingested would be digested. Ticks can and have transferred from mammals to snakes but are super easy to deal with so I would not risk a regourge for something so minor. Re-gorges can be a serious event in a snake and should not be treated as a minor issue. Parasites are generally less a concern than re-gorge is to my mind anyway.

    That is what i meant, there aren't many cases recorded of separate species of the bloodsucking parasites differing from Mites That provide a problem to snake owners. Since it is less common i told him not to worry. All in all, if you follow the steps, no matter what it is it will be taken care of. Internal parasites (in snakes) are ussually digested. and taking precautionary measures to rid the cage and snake of outer mites. Will in turn, with time rid any possible internal mites.
Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v4.2.1