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 in my whole 25 plus years of snake/mouse keeping. 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 to anyone who has an answer. ..

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-

Zee, I see these mites on my snakes sometimes --- probably the same ones you are talking about.

They are a type of wood lice or wood mites. They don't feed on the snakes. Sometimes they gather on the snakes but they are harmless.

The first time I saw these bugs I freaked out (this was a couple of years ago). I treated every cage in my room, the carpet, etc. I then spoke with Ted Thompson who laughed at me and explained what they are.

I see them when I use aspen and cypress mulch but i think they mainly come in on cypress mulch. If they are the same ones that you are seeing on the snakes and they came in on the mice - then they are probably from the bedding the mice were on.

However, these are not the normal looking snake mites (thatc look like a fat speck of pepper). they are smaller and either white or opaque. Is that what you are seeing?
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Peter Jolles
East Coast Colubrids
www.eastcoastcolubrids.com

YES, those would be it - not quite as dark, nor as fat as a snake mite and they do move a lot faster than a snake mite. . .

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-

Just woke up - sorry . . . But anywho, that's what I meant: MITES ON MICE (not the other way around). . . .It's been a loooong day . . .

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-

Same here - Little whitish/translucent mites. They were on my Black Rat road rescue.

Took her to the vet and he said, "Chill out, they come from the aspen."

JPD
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I am so not lesdysxic!

0.1 Creamsicle Cornsake "Yolanda"
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake "Steely Dan"
0.1 Desert Kingsnake "FATTY"
0.1 Black Rat (WV Rescue) "Roberta"