A warning about live feeder mice and rats.....

[nimblykimbly]

Snake mites aren't red or "almost invisible".
They're black and look like poppy seeds. Unless it's the juvi stage, which are brown in coloration.

Are you sure it isn't harmless spider mites? (from bedding perhaps? )



Rodent mites and snake mites are species specific. It shouldn't make you itchy, unless it is something else?

They were juvi mites, teeny tiny little brown things, nearly invisible I say because of their size. The red was irritation from them biting her, I believe.

They made me itchy simply because I got the heebie-jeebies from seeing them... lol I wasn't getting bitten.

I'm not giving the impression that they were living/feeding on the rats, but I do believe they hitchhiked in on it. All of my snakes are treated when they come in, and she had never shown any signs previously of any mites...? None of my snakes have shown any signs of mites at all, either. Just her, only after I fed her the rat...?

The spray I use on my snakes is the brand Reptile Spray from Reptile Basics. It's all natural and safe for use on the snake. The label says to treat the snake every three days in the event of a mite problem. I spray down the snakes when they come in, three days later just in case, then if I see no signs of mites, I leave it be and spray just once more when QT is over.

I appreciate everyone's feedback, when I found the mites on her, it really freaked me out. I did research it online and on some other forums and reptile pages it says that they can indeed carry them in and infect your snakes. The rats were on one shelf in glass tanks, and snakes were on the same shelf and next shelf, also in glass tanks. It was a sketchy place, to say the least, but at the time it was the only place I could find a live feeder rat for her. I know it's not typical for this to happen, but I do believe it's possible...?


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