Mite Question

[MasonC2K]

So, does anyone know if mites can travel on feeders? I can go an entire year without a single mite and then they just come out of nowhere with no new additions to the reptile family. So I am trying to figure out where they are coming from

[mackynz]

I would assume so, just the same as they could travel on you or I. I think there have been a few threads where people couldn't think of anywhere else they came from.

They way I understand it they won't feed off of rats or people but have no issues hitching a ride.

[SnowShredder]

I had the same problem a while back. Hadn't changed anything, I use newspaper for substrate, no new additions.
The one thing I did different was to feed a snake a live rat (difficult eater) and that was the snake to pop up with them.
I was fairly certain it had hitched a ride on the rat. I don't actually know for sure but that is what I assumed

[satomi325]

Mites are species specific and wouldn't last long on a mammal. But its possible for them or an egg to hitch a ride of a feeder or yourself. Eggs can survive months dormant before becoming active. And the nymph stage of mites is airborne.

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