Can bp catch anything from a leopard gecko??

kiiarah · 11-15-14, 08:13 PM

Hey guys, I have a new little friend...more on that later

. Just wondering if I need to quarantine the new little guy. He is a leopard gecko and I am not sure if anything is likely to be passed from him to a snake. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks!

kiiarah · 11-16-14, 12:05 PM

Any thoughts? Is there maybe a different topic I could post this under where it would get more views by someone with experience in both species?

**Tsubaki** · 11-16-14, 04:27 PM

Mites are transferable, other things i do not know of.

Zoo Nanny · 11-17-14, 10:35 AM

Cryptosporidia can be transfered across a number of different reptile species. Geckos and ball pythons are both effected by it. So yes you should keep your gecko in guarantine.

SSSSnakes · 11-17-14, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tsubaki

Mites are transferable, other things i do not know of.

Snake mites are snake specific and do not live on other reptiles.

**Aaron_S** · 11-17-14, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSSSnakes

Snake mites are snake specific and do not live on other reptiles.

Jerry is correct here. Leopard geckos don't get snake mites.

However, an animal should always be in quarantine.

**Tsubaki** · 11-17-14, 02:33 PM

I have Had snake mites on a bearded dragon at my in-laws house, they do bite other reptiles.

**Aaron_S** · 11-17-14, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tsubaki

I have Had snake mites on a bearded dragon at my in-laws house, they do bite other reptiles.

Are you sure it wasn't a different kind of mite if it was infesting the dragon and enclosure? Mites are species specific. However, a single mite would take a meal and then continue on to find a better home.

With the hundreds of lizards I've dealt with in my time, I have never witnessed a snake mite infesting them.

**Tsubaki** · 11-17-14, 03:30 PM

Hmm unsure now, it was back in 2006 so it's been a while. By the time he noticed a new snake having them it was too late we had to treat both the dragon and the snake, they seemed to like the lizard even better. These were not my animals b.t.w. but i did help getting rid of the mites.

**Aaron_S** · 11-17-14, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tsubaki

Hmm unsure now, it was back in 2006 so it's been a while. By the time he noticed a new snake having them it was too late we had to treat both the dragon and the snake, they seemed to like the lizard even better. These were not my animals b.t.w. but i did help getting rid of the mites.

Outside of actually knowing it isn't common. Back in the day when wild caught were more apparent and I was working in a reptile related pet store we had snakes come in with mites and the lizards next to them would be unharmed.

**Tsubaki** · 11-17-14, 05:05 PM

And what about some lizard mites species infecting snakes? Just curious! In my memory they really affected both animals. (not saying i can't be wrong though)

I do know cat fleas are the most common fleas on both cats and dogs (and other mammals) , but dog fleas really prefer dogs over anything else. Could there be a mite that attacks a multitude of cold-blooded creatures?

**Aaron_S** · 11-17-14, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tsubaki

And what about some lizard mites species infecting snakes? Just curious! In my memory they really affected both animals. (not saying i can't be wrong though)

I do know cat fleas are the most common fleas on both cats and dogs (and other mammals) , but dog fleas really prefer dogs over anything else. Could there be a mite that attacks a multitude of cold-blooded creatures?

To my knowledge the mites we are familiar with are specific to their host. Just like there's wood mites and snake mites. Neither care for the others choice in food.

Now a snake mite feeds off blood. If they have to take a meal from a lizard or another host they will. It's all about breeding and continuing their own species.

I could still be wrong and there is a multi-host mite. I just may not know about it.

**Tsubaki** · 11-17-14, 05:54 PM

Well it is interesting, can't find any documentation about it. Who knows how many different mite species there are that could affect reptiles.. I rather just keep them all at bay though

**Aaron_S** · 11-17-14, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tsubaki

Well it is interesting, can't find any documentation about it. Who knows how many different mite species there are that could affect reptiles.. I rather just keep them all at bay though

You and me both!

I wish more people participated in these type of threads. I find myself rather lonely dishing out advice at times.

**Tsubaki** · 11-17-14, 06:23 PM

I will always try to participate, if i think it could be a contribution to the topic. Always nice to read/learn about other people's experiences, more input would be nice. Especially in topics like this, since i have only kept a hand full of lizards, significantly more snakes. There is so much left to be learned on the lizard end of it all!