Bad Business.

[A.VinczeBPs]

Well, lets start at the beginning:
I went to an expo to buy frozen rats. Our normal feeder business was not to be seen, and so I went to another. (First mistake, should have searched harder) They didn't look very professional, or at least less so than I'm used to, and their service was very slow. Now, I was tired, so I ignored these facts. (Another mistake).

We used these rats last week, and they seemed fine. This week I noticed something off. There were little brown ovals on the rat. Upon inspection, they were bugs. Dead of course. Me and my boyfriend looked them over and decided they're not mites, but are cat/dog fleas.

I'm never going back to them again. I don't care if they are dead, I think that is an unclean specimen and should not be sold as a feeder.


Now, I will also explain that I cannot breed my own rats. I'm allergic, both to the rats and the bedding. They would need to be in a separate room, and I just don't have that space.... yet.

Has anyone else ever had this problem? I've never had to deal with this, and although I doubt dead fleas would affect my BPs, I want to make sure.

[Foschi Exotic Serpents]

Thats a good question. I have never had this proble wih any of my frozen rodents. I do know that fleas can give a dog or cat worms if eaten. Im interested in knowing if they can affect snakes too.

[A.VinczeBPs]

Thats a good question. I have never had this proble wih any of my frozen rodents. I do know that fleas can give a dog or cat worms if eaten. Im interested in knowing if they can affect snakes too.

Good thing the only one who ate this week was our bumble bee, and that was an apparently unaffected one...
Would a dead flea still carry it though? Thats my real concern, that even though the flea is dead, the freezing and thawing might not have killed a parasite?

[A.VinczeBPs]

No advice at all?

Well, guess I'll have to wait and see. Vet visits will hopefully not be in my future.

[LadyOhh]

I would think it would be "fine".

Most blood parasites are host specific and will not transmute to a reptile or even a human...

I say "fine" because I'm sure there is something out there that could and would prove me wrong, but in most cases, I think its safe.

Just don't try and go out and feed more fleas

[A.VinczeBPs]

Never a fan of fleas!
I just like to keep all my reptiles healthy and clean, and didn't like the idea of "unclean" food being sold.

I guess I just worry too much. I'll still stick with my previous buyer until I can remodel the Garage into another room with heating and make that a rat room that my boyfriend can manage.

Thanks!

[Seru1]

Mice in the wild have fleas and stuff. I am not saying it's ideal but Hey these little dudes deal with it out there.

I wouldn't worry.

[A.VinczeBPs]

Mice in the wild have fleas and stuff. I am not saying it's ideal but Hey these little dudes deal with it out there.

I wouldn't worry.

In the wild they also normally have parasites, and do not live in ideal conditions.
I thought about that already, and I've seen some WC and I'd rather keep mine as far from WC conditions as possible. Health wise anyway, they love their tubs.

[Seru1]

In the wild they also normally have parasites, and do not live in ideal conditions.
I thought about that already, and I've seen some WC and I'd rather keep mine as far from WC conditions as possible. Health wise anyway, they love their tubs.

Oh hey I'm not saying put mouse traps outside or anything like that


All I was saying is these guys can be tougher than we give them credit for. I'd rather feed mine f/t's from a super clean trusted source.

[A.VinczeBPs]

Oh hey I'm not saying put mouse traps outside or anything like that


All I was saying is these guys can be tougher than we give them credit for. I'd rather feed mine f/t's from a super clean trusted source.

I know, I find the eggs much less fragile than people give credit for as well. But when one simple thing like a flea infested (dead) eat comes in, and has even a very small chance of negatively affecting my whole collection (I feed them all on the same day, same rat source) then I get angry and worried.

But, I feel better now, just wanted to make absolutely sure instead of just assuming.