Just found mites

[JonD]

Mites can hop on you anywhere there are snakes. It is possible that they came from the feeders that a pet store employee has a mite or two on a sleeve. It then could move on to the rodent. Pet shows or even visiting pet stores give can bring you in contact with mites. They hitch a ride on you and end up in your collection.

[Linds]

Originally posted by corr
IYO, do you think there would be more mites if the BCI had them the whole time? I heard they can come in on feeders, but I feed frozen. With the exception of a couple of live ones that I bought a couple of months ago for my Ball. If they came on these then you'd think that the Ball would have the mites.

It wouldn't make too much of a difference if it were frozen or not, the mites are only on the rodent for a short period of time hitching a ride. Reptile mites are host specific. I was unlucky enough to have my collection infected once before from a few mites that hitched a ride in a lot of feeder insects They are tricky little buggers. As Jon said, they can come in on just about anything