Quote Originally Posted by calmolly1 View Post
Ok I've read through this sticky and I'm glad I did before adding any other snakes! But my concern is that the exotic pet store we buy our feeder mice from. We go there A LOT! Just to look and dream mostly, lol, but it's where we buy our feeder mice from. We bring them home and within a day or two, whenever she is ready, feed our BP. Yesterday we visited to pick out her new enclosure and also looked at all the snakes. I started noticing almost everyone had mites! I pointed this out to the owner who immediately removed them to be treated. We didn't buy a mouse yesterday, as she just ate. I've searched online but can't find any information whether mites are species specific or can they transfer from mice. I'm terrified that Prec has got them now! I don't see any but she is in shed and wants to be left alone. I bought some spray they recommended but they said wait til she finishes shed. So can she catch them from the mice we feed her gotten form this store, as they seem to have a infestation? It has sure put a damper on adding a red tailed boa to our home for now.


Molly & Precioucess
I wouldnt buy substrate from a store with an infestation either.

Just like you, I walked into a local pet store that has a relatively large reptile collection. I was looking over the snakes for sale, and noticed an aquarium with spider bp's, and baby boas housed together. Obviously not a good combination. I noticed mites on the spider BP's, but not the boas.
Its clear that mites can hitch a ride on your clothes to your car, or even worse, your house.
So this got me thinking, there's a good chance the substrate is infested as well.

Then i realized this could be the case at any pet store that sells substrate. What can a snake owner do to make sure that you dont contaminate your collection with infested substrate? Would freezing the substrate kill the mites? Is it safer to buy substrate from a supplier that doesnt sell snakes too?