So, last week I was in my local reptile store. Pretty much the only reptile store I know in my area known as "Reptile Depot". They had some sort of rat snake that they had just got in. Very cool looking and active as can be. Well, I go in today to get the fur kids their weekly meal and I do my normal browsing of what new critters they got in. I see the rat snakes that I saw last week, covered in mites. And I ask the one employee "Uh, dude? Aren't those mites?" and he replied "Yeah, we're trying to take care of it." I take a better look at the snakes and musta counted anywhere from 40-50 mites on just the head and about 4 inches of them that was sticking out.

I know reptile stores are SOMEWHAT pressed for space, but If I had a store, I'd dedicate a quarantine room no matter my limit of space. Just for the well being of the pets I sell and the peace of mind that a customer could buy from me and know that I care about my business and the inventory I sell. These snakes where right next, and above all of the store's other reptiles. I didn't see any mites on the other reptiles. However, they are infected in my mind since being out in the open like that is a mite buffet. I have bought reptiles from them in the past. Its been over a year since I've bought anything from them, and I refuse to purchase from them for now on.