Thread: The Rodents Can Have Parasites too

HI,
Many times new reptile owners donot realize that every species of animal can have its own problems with parasites and insects, the food we feed our snakes may be food for many species of parasites , worms, amebia's, ova (eggs), and tape worm (proglottids) pieces of the tapeworm can break off ,and become a new tape worm. All parasites have a primary host they prfeer, but if they have bad luck and their host is consumed by another speicies (SNAKE) they will try to survive and reproduce in the new host (SNAKE). This occurs in wild state and can also occur in our cages.
So here's a good parasite link that was designed to educate rat keepr's, how to care for their pets.
Almost each and every species of parasites mentioned can survive in their new host the snake.
PS the best method to irradicate parasites is to allow a complete freezing of the food items and allow a little addtional time frozen ,to be sure the food item is free of worms and their eggs , thats why most snake owners prefer the thawed and warmed method for feeding their pets. The feezing produces ice needles inside cells that destroy the parasites and their eggs.
Here's the link its pretty well done.


http://www.rmca.org/Articles/worms.htm


Man those worms give me the creeps ..


Common terms used with parasites..

Host: An animal infected by a parasite

Definitive Host: The final host in which the parasite reaches sexual maturity and is able to reproduce itself
Intermediate Host: A host that the parasite passes through the larval or asexual stages of development.
Pathogenic Parasite: A parasite that causes disease in its host.
Dead Host: Host that a parasite infects, but is the incorrect host for the parasite, leaving the parasite unable to continue its development. The parasite then dies a natural death with no treatment.
Direct Life Cycle: Parasites that do not require an intermediate host to complete its life cycle. Those with a direct life cycle such as some tape worms are often easier to treat.
Indirect Life Cycle: Parasite that does require an intermediate host to complete its life cycle. It can pass from host to host infecting many during its life cycle.
Granuloma: A mass of granulated tissue that has formed in repsonse to a chronic infection, inflammation, foreign body, or of unknown cause.

Originally Posted by Synergy

most mite infestations come from the food items in which you feed your snakes.

Also leaving there waste in the viv can create a problem

i agree with u Synergy