Can rodents carry mites?

[Team Slytherin]

Uggghhh. Picked up a couple live rat fuzzies today for my picky Dumeril’s and when I opened the bag, they were covered in these tiny, mite-looking bugs! Gross! I tried to take a photo, but it’s not very clear.

Would a snake mite be feeding on a rodent? The little buggers were definitely full of blood. I was super late for work, so bringing them back was not a possibility. I immediately squished as many as I could see and thoroughly looked over the rats. Washed hands and arms, changed shirt and tossed the bag in a dumpster right away...

Felt bad for the little ratlings, but wtf are these things? They are tiny and red.





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[asplundii]

Rodents can carry mites but they are different than snake mites (mites are pretty host specific.)

That said, what you more likely have there are rat lice:

https://www.google.com/search?q=rat+...=2560&bih=1486

[Sauzo]

Snakes mites can be on rodents and they can take a blood meal from them if they need to but they arent going to be the choice host. Probably lice or something like posted above.

Regardless, that is pretty gross and i would definitely find a new feeder supplier.

And if they let their rodents get that infested, i would be worried about picking up a hitch hiker walking around in the place. The hitch hiker being a snake mite.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Mites are species specific some feed on warm blooded creature some on warm blooded creature so not mite found on rats will not feed on snakes.

The issue is a snake mite can hitch hike on a feeder and lead to a mite infestation.

Find another supplier those feeders are not healthy if they carry external parasites they might carry internal ones too which can be transmitted to your snakes.

I have bred feeders for over a decade and never had a mite infestation in my colony, with proper care and quarantine something like this should not happen.

[Team Slytherin]

Thanks, guys! I’ll keep a close eye out. Now that I think about it, I remember finding a single red, mite-looking crawley on Apophis after I brought him home (from the same shop). I only ever saw one, but treated for mites anyway and the monster never returned. I will definitely steer clear of this place in the future. Especially considering how infested these poor ratlings were! Ugh.


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[Bogertophis]

Thanks, guys! I’ll keep a close eye out. Now that I think about it, I remember finding a single red, mite-looking crawley on Apophis after I brought him home (from the same shop). I only ever saw one, but treated for mites anyway and the monster never returned. I will definitely steer clear of this place in the future. Especially considering how infested these poor ratlings were! Ugh. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'd be inclined to tell them why you'll be staying away: it's likely they need the business & if they clean up their act, it's a "win" for their animals. Otherwise,
consider how many others will buy from them without knowing any better, & ultimately it's the animals that will suffer. Some pet store owners/managers are
knowledgeable, others not so much: it's possible they haven't noticed the issues, & maybe they're coming from their supplier. They might even appreciate a
"heads-up"?

I'm also wondering if they're in violation of any laws...I think I'd also call animal code enforcement for the city, just to see if there's anything they can do?

[Team Slytherin]

I'd be inclined to tell them why you'll be staying away: it's likely they need the business & if they clean up their act, it's a "win" for their animals. Otherwise,
consider how many others will buy from them without knowing any better, & ultimately it's the animals that will suffer. Some pet store owners/managers are
knowledgeable, others not so much: it's possible they haven't noticed the issues, & maybe they're coming from their supplier. They might even appreciate a
"heads-up"?

I'm also wondering if they're in violation of any laws...I think I'd also call animal code enforcement for the city, just to see if there's anything they can do?

You are right. Thank you for this advice! I have been in enough times that I should be able to mention it in a tactful and respectful manner. Until now, my Dumeril's hasn't eaten live for the last year, but prior to that I often bought them from this supplier and have never seen this before. I actually bought live rat fuzzies from them a month ago and it was not an issue.