Field mice as feeders?

[Coleslaw007]

Just what parasites are you guys thinking might be transmitted from these field mice? Please be specific.

I'll be completely honest here and say I have no idea lol but I wouldn't personally want to risk it. I personally deworm my rat colony once a year and I like knowing they *should* be unable to transmit anything to my reptiles.

[Pythonfriend]

Just what parasites are you guys thinking might be transmitted from these field mice? Please be specific.

i would say: external parasites like mites? near impossible. Gastrointernal parasites? Parasites that go after the intestines? possible. If you have a reptile collection, regular lab screening of poop samples is advised anyway. Many labs sell them and when you buy a kit, the kit contains the info on how to take a good poop sample and where to send it. And the kit is costly, because the lab expenses are already included. You buy the kit, get the sample, send it in, and get a full lab report on the poop sample back. That what vets do, but you can have it retail, and its the ultimate silver bullet to keep your collection free of parasites. Direct lab access at retail level.

if you get a troublesome report, knocking out all the intestinal parasites will be easy.

But no, consider the toxic problems, and consider that it is not a way to save money. Feeding such wild-caught that would otherwise go to waste has aesthetic benefits and brings with it some responsibility, so overall i am or would be for it. It could be a statement.

[mohawk]

Just what parasites are you guys thinking might be transmitted from these field mice? Please be specific.

There are many internal parasites that wild mammals carry.
Some live in the tissues, some are intestinal. (Roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, tapeworms, heartworms)
Dogs and cats get these parasites all the time . Not sure if these particular parasites would harm a reptile,
but it would be very common for wild mice to harbor these parasites.

[wilomn]

There are many internal parasites that wild mammals carry.
Some live in the tissues, some are intestinal. (Roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, tapeworms, heartworms)
Dogs and cats get these parasites all the time . Not sure if these particular parasites would harm a reptile,
but it would be very common for wild mice to harbor these parasites.

And all these parasites are specific to North American field mice? They aren't found in any other animals that are eaten by snakes anyplace in the entire world?

[satomi325]

Unless you guys deworm your rodent colony like I do, then most likely your feeders have parasites as well...

[wilomn]

There are many internal parasites that wild mammals carry.
Some live in the tissues, some are intestinal. (Roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, tapeworms, heartworms)
Dogs and cats get these parasites all the time . Not sure if these particular parasites would harm a reptile,
but it would be very common for wild mice to harbor these parasites.

Did you google that list of parasites? Can mice even get heartworms? I've never heard that before. You've also forgotten all the flagellates unless field mice have some immunity, which I have also never heard of, to them.

[mohawk]

And all these parasites are specific to North American field mice? They aren't found in any other animals that are eaten by snakes anyplace in the entire world?

No. These are common in all wild mammals.
Which I suppose, is the reason that a lot of wild caught snakes
are checked, and treated for internal parasites . Also one of the reasons that new additions
are quarantined , and fecal samples are vet checked.
It all comes down to personal preference ........ if you choose to feed wild
caught rodents to your collection, and potentially expose them to parasites,
that is certainly within your right. Heck, I saw someone make a post about feeding
thier ball python wild caught hummingbirds (with the beaks removed, of course).

I guess if the wild caught mice were given a de-wormer (maybe Panacur or something similar),
that would lessen the chance of the snake getting a parasitic infestation .
Food for thought .

[wilomn]

Personally, I wouldn't feed wild caught mostly for the reasons mentioned. I'm just looking for facts.

[mohawk]

Did you google that list of parasites? Can mice even get heartworms? I've never heard that before. You've also forgotten all the flagellates unless field mice have some immunity, which I have also never heard of, to them.

I didn't google those, LOL. My friend is a dog breeder, and he threw those out to me.
He also had the idea of giving Panacur to the wild mice.

[Bluebonnet Herp]

when a farm has mice, you can catch them with glue or nets or even a vacuum cleaner, when they have mice they have A LOT of them.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTIlOlVT3LI