Parasites on thawed rodents - OK food?

[pythonmum]

Just thawed a rat I bought frozen from the local petshop and it's covered in little brown parasites. I put one under the microscope and they look like lice. All are well and truly dead. Anyone think it would be a problem feeding them to the snake? Ectoparasites are usually species specific, so I think it should be fine. Just thought I'd get a few more opinions.

 

[wiz-fiz]

i wouldn't i'd play it safe.


Will

 

[Helikaon]

itd be fine . though your petshops supplier needs to treat his colony

 

[pythonmum]

I plan to inform the petshop of the problem tomorrow. The supplier contact details were (unfortunately) not on the label.

 

[wokka]

Well thats a start, they have a label, It is amazing that keepers use food, and petshops sell food, without knowing any source or origin.Contact details and brand names add to thelong term commitment to quality and consistancy.

 

[Fireflyshuffle]

I do no of a very big rodent supplier (im sure most of you know) that is still selling hes rodents in nearly every pet shop, and the rats are covered in what looks like fleas.. poor thinkgs. and there being sold 17 dollars a large rat..I think its apauling. they come from another state and everything

 

[pythonmum]

These rats are from a major supplier who generally has a big exhibit at the Castle Hill expo. I visited the pet shop and told them about the problem. They offered money back immediately (it's a good pet shop) and checked the ones they had in the freezer. Sure enough, plenty of lice on them as well. This supplier really needs to clean up their colony, as animals with parasites will not breed and grow as well as healthy ones.

 

[caraohara]

Just thawed a rat I bought frozen from the local petshop and it's covered in little brown parasites. I put one under the microscope and they look like lice. All are well and truly dead. Anyone think it would be a problem feeding them to the snake? Ectoparasites are usually species specific, so I think it should be fine. Just thought I'd get a few more opinions.

No way! Take the rodent back to where you bought it and get your money back then find a new supplier! Don't feed it to your snake, mites might not be the only thing wrong with it.