Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I had some live mice not too long ago that I got from a local petstore and they had these little mites on them that were running all over their bodies and hiding in their fur. Is this a different subspecies of mite that does not affect snakes since they seem to move about a lot quicker than a snake mite? I have only seen this once. Since I didn't know what they were for sure, I euthanized the mice and froze them for a few days and then only fed them to my wc snakes that were isolated from the rest of my collection. So far, no ill effects from it. Well, it's been almost a year and now my wife has received some more mice from a friend with the same mites on them. Anyone have any info on these little nuisances? At least I don't think they're snake mites, even though they look roughly the same, but move much faster . . . . . .? THANKS

Zee
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"I am an expert on everything, but I know so little and have so much to learn!" -Carsten "Zee" Zoldy-

Snake mites and mammal mites cannot jump from one type of host to another. They are specialized to either feed on reptiles or mammals - not both. So the parasites on your mice are harmless to your snakes.

Tim

Third Eye

Thanks, I wasn't too worried, but also wasn't too sure either, since I've never seen the little buggers before. Would they get on people or dogs??? Thanks,
BTW: That's a very nice snake in the pic,

Zee
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"I am an expert on everything, but I know so little and have so much to learn!" -Carsten "Zee" Zoldy-

They are horrible! They will get on you and on your dog! Good luck! John Meltzer

Nope to dogs. 99.99% sure. I was breeding a lot of mammals 3 years ago and I got a G-pig from some lady and it had mites. Although they seem be seen on the rats, they did not host to them, but they did host to the rest of my G-pigs. I used pest strips that time since it was not a feed item. Although people use pest strips in rodent rooms for feed items too. I've also seem sevind dust used. It the same ingredient in most flea powder. I would not feed an animal off if just treated of course, but mites in summer seem to happen. Hamsters seem to be teh worst. Also do not use open water source if using a pest strip. Its not something they breath, but it lays out a layer of chemical on everything and the mites eat it. If it gets in the water it can be a lot more toxic.

Off topic, just got home. Long arse week. Amel eggs do not look so good I hope at least a few hatch. I did pick up a fair blood red male, and a baby that is suppose to be a blood red. After a LONNNNNNNNNNG nap. I may post some pics.

Oh yea, mites, can live for a while without a host. And be a MAJOR annoyance to you. Breeder forum may have more tips on how to get rid of them for good.

L8r and good luck

i had gerbils that had those mites....they are freakin' blood suckers.... and then they turn into nasty cacoon things and they will jump on you and bury themselves into your skin and bite the bejeebes outta you. i used to give my gerbils baths once a week and clean their cage...they seem to like dirty cages.

~kin
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~SNAKIES~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Corns:
.1 Normal (Gertrude)
1. unknown hypo? normal? (Romeo)
1.2 Miami Phase (Hector, Emily, Charlotte) thanks jeff!
1. Amel het Blizzard (Dunesbury)
1. Classic het Hypo, poss het Amel, Anery (Cobra)
1.1 Classics (Henry VIII, Cassy [Emilys babies])
.1 Amel (Pepperoni)
1.1 Hypo zig zags poss het Caramel (Bernard, Abegail)
.1 Classic het Hypo, Stripe (Gracie Lou) {Reduced black}
1.1 Anery het Motley (Lleroy, Persia)

Rats:
1.1 Black rats (Willard, Cecily)

Cal Kings:
1.1 Striped Cal Kings (Dweezil, Skunky)

Other:
0.0.1 Worm Snake

~~~~~~~~~~~~~LEOPARD GECKOS~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1. Normal het Midnight Blizzard (Mr. Spot)
0.1 Blizzard (Blitz) SHE WAS FOUND ALIVE!!!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~TURTLES~~~~~~~~~~~~
.1 white cheeked mud (Opel)
.1 snapping turtle (no name)

Any bugs you see running around on mice are NOT mites. Most mites that live on mammals are microscopic (or pretty darn close to it) and actually live in the skin. More than likely what you're seeing are lice, or even possibly just plain ol' fleas. If you plan on having the mouse around for awhile before feeding em, you can actually treat with a drop of revolution (the same stuff you can get from the vet to treat mites and fleas and stuff in cats) on the back of the neck, but im not sure if you should be feeding mice to snakes with this stuff on, so like i said, its only if you're planning to wait awhile. Also freezing thier bedding before putting it in helps a lot, but only if you're also treating the animal itself. The most traditional method for getting rid of most of these creepy crawlies is just to give a teeny drop of ivomec by mouth... but that requires catching each mouse and getting the stuff in their mouth... not always the easiest thing.

just a bit of info that may or may not come in handy...

better at nights knowing my snakes & dogs will be alright. Don't care too much about the humans (US) when it comes to stuff like this as we can tolerate more chemicals than anything else. . . I know there are thousands of ways to kill stuff on us!!!

Zee
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"I am an expert on everything, but I know so little and have so much to learn!" -Carsten "Zee" Zoldy-