Is there any danger of passing ticks or mites to my captive snakes, from handling wild native snakes briefly? I have ball pythons and a boa (bci). I always love to handle any garter or brown snakes I find outdoors while hiking (here in NY state.) I know that snake ticks are probably unlikely to be transmitted, as they stick tight to their host, but I worry about mites.
So, is it safe to briefly handle wild snakes without worrying about contaminating my collection?
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2.2 Python regis, 1.0 Boa Constrictor Imperator, and the frogs.
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Worried about handling wild snakes (ticks, etc.)
ginevive
May 04, 2004 08:00 AM
Replies (3)
repzoo44
May 04, 2004 03:14 PM
Just wash up and youll be fine. Its not likely that you will pass any parasites to your own animals.
EP
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Occupants not paying rent:
7 balls
2 corns(normal, candy cane)
1 pueblan milk
1 everglades rat
1 cal. king
1 gray band king
1 w. hognose
1 bearded dragon
2 fish
1 rat
5 cats
rearfang
May 05, 2004 05:09 PM
Mites are notorious hitch hikers. Wash carefully, or at the very least rinse your hands with alcohol. Changing your clothing before going into your reptile room is not a bad idea.
Ticks are not an issue.
Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."
Paul Hollander
May 06, 2004 05:50 PM
When I started messing around with snakes, I caught and kept the locals. I never had any trouble with mites until I got a snake from a dealer.
The snake mite, Ophionyssus natricis, is native to North Africa and the Middle East, not to the USA. They are notorious hitchhikers. But the odds of picking some up are far greater in a pet store than from a USA native snake picked up in the wild.
Paul Hollander
