where do mites come from?

[chrid16371]

I noticed Kratos soaking in his water bowl the other morning so I checked his water bowl and there was a mite in it. I also checked him over and there were only a few on him. I treated with reptile spray and provent a mite. He had them when I first got him so I contacted the breeder so he knew then I ordered the products and treated him for a month. He hasn't had them since till now. Persephone showed no signs of mites but I also treated her just in case.

I know mites can be brought home from pet stores, expos, and other places reptiles are at but when there not on herps where do they spend there time? I'm trying to figure out if there's a chance I'm going somewhere they can be or if there at my work possibly. I guess I'm kinda asking where there native to.

[bcr229]

http://vpi.com/publications/the_life...of_snake_mites

http://denardo.lab.asu.edu/publicati...snakemites.pdf

The second link is a good read but a bit dry up until you get to the "Treatment" section on page 8. It also explains why stopping treatment after only a month may not eradicate the infestation.

[chrid16371]

Those links gave me a better understanding of mites. I've read before of life stages but this is way more in depth then other articles I've read.

I work in a saw mill so I was concerned about wood mites but they are white in color while snake mites are red/black correct?

[Slim]

I guess I'm kinda asking where there native to.

PETCO....

[bcr229]

I work in a saw mill so I was concerned about wood mites but they are white in color while snake mites are red/black correct?

Yep.

PETCO....

Gee thanks, I just shot coffee out my nose.

[O'Mathghamhna]

I dunno if it's relevant or if it's just coincidence, but my last rescue was riddled with mites and he was fed live mice. I've never had a problem with mites and I feed F/T only. Possible the mites are hitching a ride on the mice?

[bcr229]

I dunno if it's relevant or if it's just coincidence, but my last rescue was riddled with mites and he was fed live mice. I've never had a problem with mites and I feed F/T only. Possible the mites are hitching a ride on the mice?

While snake mites don't feed on mammals, if the shop where you purchase your mice has a mite infestation then it's possible to bring home a hitchhiker.

[Andylee11]

PETCO....

Agreed .

[MarkS]

I guess I'm kinda asking where there native to.

What I have been told, and I don't know if this is true or not, is that they are native to India and they are a naturally occurring pest on cobra's I was actually looking for that info myself many years ago and that was the best I could find. They are NOT native to Africa. Ball pythons in the wild are often infested with ticks, NOT mites.

[O'Mathghamhna]

While snake mites don't feed on mammals, if the shop where you purchase your mice has a mite infestation then it's possible to bring home a hitchhiker.

Or if someone tries to feed live and then takes the snake back, and the shop resells it... If the snake that initially refused it had mites they will hop on. :/ So frustrating!