Feeding a wild caught mouse/rat to a snake?

[gaitedappy]

I've had mites from a f/t rat I bought from pets mart. It was not a fun situation. Parasites are little survivors with adaptations to expand their population in even the most foreboding of environments. They're "less advanced" than other forms of life so it is easier for them to have these adaptations.

(Sorry my biology nerd is coming out lol)

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[Mr. Misha]

I've had mites from a f/t rat I bought from pets mart. It was not a fun situation.

I'm surprised you got mites considering f/t is usually sold frozen. I'd think that the mites wouldn't be able to survive.

In regards to the OP's question, there's to many cons and not enough pros.

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[gaitedappy]

It's really just a problem with arthropods and similar taxa, their eggs are able to survive the freezing process (in some cases). Basically they go dormant until ideal conditions are met, of course this process is not indefinite, but can certainly last a long time.


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[Grim]

Ok so in closing. If you take the wild rodents and use precautions to eliminate the risk of poison and aggression you would still have the parasite risk. The parasite risk would be greater because wild rodents have a greater chance to carry them. Sound about right?

[gaitedappy]

Ok so in closing. If you take the wild rodents and use precautions to eliminate the risk of poison and aggression you would still have the parasite risk. The parasite risk would be greater because wild rodents have a greater chance to carry them. Sound about right?

Basically yes. It's still a huge risk, but that is the most basic way to put it... But one must also consider the internal parasite thing as well, though that would be going along with your last sentence. Still a huge risk though.


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[Caspian]

I don't even let my cat have wild mice or rats. It's one of the leading ways for a cat to get tapeworms. I certainly wouldn't put one of my snakes at risk like that. I'll leave them to the wild bull snakes that hang out by the hay bales - so far I've only ever seen one wild mouse here, and the next day there was a very smug looking snake sunning itself by the paddock.

[J.P.]

risky...

on the other hand, i personally know of a few ball pythons that escaped and found many months later having grown a lot, with no illness after all that time feeding on wild rodents. they just got lucky i guess.

[Ax01]

remember the saying "u are what u eat."

Edit: for example, i live in the city and would not feed wild city mice/rats that probably feeds on garbage to my snakes.