Went to visit a local pet store...

[Alexandra V]

... and I noticed that in almost all of the snakes' enclosures and some of the lizards there were lots of what appeared to be little tiny white mites crawling about in the substrate and on the decorations in their vivs. I really feel like I should do something about this but I'm not sure what to do or who to tell to get this fixed.

Advice?

[hunter94]

Talk to the manager if they don't fix anything within a couple of days I think it would be appropriate to call the police. Then again you live in Canada and I live in the US.

[grits]

Hopefully its just an oversite and hes not deliberately letting it slide.

[jfreels]

Probably grain mites from mealworms or superworms that are being fed. They won't do any harm to the animals, it's just annoying to see them. Be sure to let the store manager or assistant store manager know.

[Maverick67]

i was at a pet store today because there is no source ear me for feeders and i stopped to look at their reptiles. they all seemed in ok condition but the enclosures where all a mess. feces and shedding in the vast majority of the tanks. unfortunately it is one of the better places i have seen.

[Alexandra V]

Probably grain mites from mealworms or superworms that are being fed.

I don't see why they would be feeding a boa mealworms or superworms, or why they should be near the boa enclosure, but that's what they looked like, I just wasn't sure.


I'm going to be calling the store tomorrow when they open and then I'm going to go back and check in on them in a couple of days. If nothing has been done by then I'm going to be contacting some authorities.

[jfreels]

I don't see why they would be feeding a boa mealworms or superworms, or why they should be near the boa enclosure, but that's what they looked like, I just wasn't sure.

They wouldn't be, but grain mites are better breeders than rats. 800 a day or some crazy number. All it would take is a humid environment and an introduction of a few to start a big mess. Say an employee fed some grain mite infested mealworms to a beardie or some geckos and got them on his hands. Then the employee placed his hands in the snake cage. I believe that could do it.