Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi.
Is it possible for mites that feed on rodents to also feed on snakes??......or are rodent and reptile mites completely different??
Just wondering if someones suggestion that their mite infestation may have come from feeder mice could actually be possible.
Thanks very much for your help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Most mites are species specific. But that doesn't mean they can't hitch a ride on something else. When reptile mites have eaten their fill, they will drop of the host animal and walk around looking for a mate, then they will wedge themselves into a tight crevice to molt and lay eggs. I've heard of people getting mites in their collections from the paper bags that came from pet stores. I once saw a roll of paper towels that had been laying near a very heavily infested cage of boas. The end of the roll of paper towels had concentric rings of reddish brown that were made up of hundereds of snake mites wedged in between the plys of paper on the roll. I would doubt that snake mites could come from frozen mice, but I can easily see where they could have come in on the box or bag that they were delivered in.

Mark

>>Hi.
>>Is it possible for mites that feed on rodents to also feed on snakes??......or are rodent and reptile mites completely different??
>>Just wondering if someones suggestion that their mite infestation may have come from feeder mice could actually be possible.
>>Thanks very much for your help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!