Question on mites

Hello all,

I found a mite on my redtailed about a week ago and went nuts. Everything was cleaned and i have yet to find another one in my house, her bedding, etc. Where did it come from? Is it like ants, you never see just one and there must be others?? I have only one other snake, a corn, but he doesn't have any mites either and there is no cross-contamination between them.
Also, this is a general curiosity thing, Why do people ship snakes with mites and how can someone ship snakes and the receiver see the mites out of the box? Wouldn't it be a lot easier to pass WC off as CBB or CB if they just took the time to wipe the snakes off before putting them in the box? or can mites hide and not 'show up' till later? It just boggles me how someone can throw a snake in a box, send it off with visable mites and *hope* the buyer doesn't complain!
Am i just crazy? How much of a health risk is mites?

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QUOTE=clarinet45]Hello all,

I found a mite on my redtailed about a week ago and went nuts. Everything was cleaned and i have yet to find another one in my house, her bedding, etc. Where did it come from? Is it like ants, you never see just one and there must be others??

I have always said they had wings, lol. All jokes aside they do come in, it is not unheard of.

I have only one other snake, a corn, but he doesn't have any mites either and there is no cross-contamination between them.
Also, this is a general curiosity thing, Why do people ship snakes with mites and how can someone ship snakes and the receiver see the mites out of the box?

We turn the shipping bag inside out. The mites will be in the bag, as well as on the reptile. If it is a white bag, it even shows up better. You can also put yours in a white bag or pillow case for a hour, turn it inside out and see them in it.

Wouldn't it be a lot easier to pass WC off as CBB or CB if they just took the time to wipe the snakes off before putting them in the box? or can mites hide and not 'show up' till later? It just boggles me how someone can throw a snake in a box, send it off with visable mites and *hope* the buyer doesn't complain!

It would probably be easy to pass them off like that. I am sure it has been done as well.

Am i just crazy? How much of a health risk is mites?

Mites can kill a reptile, no doubts about it.

I do have a question. Did you put anything in the cage from outside? Rocks, limbs, or hides? This is a real good way some people get mites in the cages.

In my snakes' tanks, no outside wood, but i do use bricks in all my tanks to make hides/basking spots, etc. I use Virosan, healthy habitat, vinegar and baking to sanitize all my tanks/furniture regularly. All my friends like to joke that the cleanest part of my apartment is my animals tanks, lol.

Sounds good, maybe you will be mite free after you treat this one.