Went (way) out of my way to go by the only place I know of in town to get live rats to pick up a few extras for breeders and they obviously have fleas. Skin sores, flea debris, chewed up ears.

Would dog flea shampoo be safe to clean them up with?

Went (way) out of my way to go by the only place I know of in town to get live rats to pick up a few extras for breeders and they obviously have fleas. Skin sores, flea debris, chewed up ears.

Would dog flea shampoo be safe to clean them up with?

Probably would work.... that's if they have fleas, maybe they have rodent mites?

Rats and fleas just scares me a little.... you know, Black Death and all that!

There is also a rodent mite if you don't see any fleas. I personally would take them back and tell them where to stick them.

I agree with Jeff, take them back.

Thanks, didn't know there was a rodent mite; the sores look just like flea sores, so I assumed fleas without seeing an actual flea.

Cleaned her up real good and have her isolated, I'd take her back but its 20 miles one way from home. Next chance would be Valentine's day and I don't dare pull that on the wife!

Thanks, didn't know there was a rodent mite; the sores look just like flea sores, so I assumed fleas without seeing an actual flea.

Cleaned her up real good and have her isolated, I'd take her back but its 20 miles one way from home. Next chance would be Valentine's day and I don't dare pull that on the wife!

Isolated?

If you breed your own rodents it's too late.... you will of already spread them if that rat has or had mites.

Rats and fleas just scares me a little.... you know, Black Death and all that!

What's a little Hunta virus among friends? :lol:

Isolated?

If you breed your own rodents it's too late.... you will of already spread them if that rat has or had mites.

Sorry, I wasn't clear. I'm establishing some breeders, went to the herp store to buy this weeks feeders and picked up 2 extra girls for future breeders. Those two are sep. from the other 6 rats I have in their own tub and different room.

Are rodent mites big enough to see or are they like chiggers?

What's a little Hunta virus among friends? :lol:



Sorry, I wasn't clear. I'm establishing some breeders, went to the herp store to buy this weeks feeders and picked up 2 extra girls for future breeders. Those two are sep. from the other 6 rats I have in their own tub and different room.

Are rodent mites big enough to see or are they like chiggers?

Big ones are black.... move as fast as a sports car.... but the little ones are practically naked to the eye.... and move with incredible speed, once you've touched a rat that has em, you won't even notice them on you.... your hands, clothes etc and are easily transported from one room to another without even knowing it....

Big ones are black.... move as fast as a sports car.... but the little ones are practically naked to the eye.... and move with incredible speed, once you've touched a rat that has em, you won't even notice them on you.... your hands, clothes etc and are easily transported from one room to another without even knowing it....


Got it! I'll keep a vigilant eye out for them. How do you get rid of them once you find them?

Got it! I'll keep a vigilant eye out for them. How do you get rid of them once you find them?

In the past I have used lice spray, cleaning day meant hosing down the tubs to remove them and any eggs.... they feed on warm blood animals only. You, your dog, cat etc....

I had good luck with ivermectin (sp) paste mixed in with a spray bottle with some water to spray them down with...rat mites are evil little buggers to.

If you can get the ivermectin (sp) liquid it mixes much better and normally lasts about a week....doesn't stain anything so you can spray the walls and floors around the rats to kill any explorers...

I had good luck with ivermectin (sp) paste mixed in with a spray bottle with some water to spray them down with...rat mites are evil little buggers to.

If you can get the ivermectin (sp) liquid it mixes much better and normally lasts about a week....doesn't stain anything so you can spray the walls and floors around the rats to kill any explorers...

I couldn't for the life of me remember what that stuff was called.... :lol:

When I started breeding rats I had the same problem. I used 5% Seven Dust. Just put it in a sock and bounced it around the top of the cages. The dust floated down on the rats and the bedding. Took care of the problem. Jeff
P.S. I have also used the Seven Dust on snakes for mites.

I hope you didnt introduce the new rats right away. This is pretty much the reason for QT new rats.


Don't use dog flea shampoo, using seven dust is a good way to kill them. Ivermectin spray might work, but is very toxic in low doses, especially for nursing mothers it will kill the babies, born or not. Ivermectin paste requires exact measurements and multiple doses over the course of a few weeks.

Your best bet now is to treat your whole colony if these new rats have been anywhere near them, even if you wore the same clothing around both your established colony and the new rats, AND you will not be able to feed them off safely for a month (30 days) after the initial treatment.

First thing you should do is remove the infected rats from your colony. Get them as far away as possible. Even a different location is best.

Second, buy Frontline SPRAY. Not the concentrated drops. Frontline spray is the easiest thing to use. Put on some rubber gloves, lightly mist your hands and rub each rats all over with the spray, getting them slightly damp. After the initial 30 day treatment it's a good idea to treat them again if you plan on keeping them.

If you even SUSPECT that your established colony was exposed to the fleas/mites/lice, you should treat them FIRST. Follow normal QT procedure.

It will also help to get Pyrmethrin fly spray from TSC. They come in an auto sprayer that you can mount in your rat room. One can is approx. a month of sprays. Make sure it is ventilated in there as well.

Please don't try and use home remedies, rats are incredibly small and what may be safe for dogs and cats is lethally toxic to rats.

And from now on, QT all new rats. Imagine if these rats didnt come home with just fleas, but a highly contagious disease which is common in rats, you could have lost your whole colony in a matter of a week.

It's more important the larger your colony grows in size. It really sucks to have to start over again with hungry mouths to feed.

Honestly, it's probably best to just get rid of these rats because getting rid of parasites is very hard, tedious, and you can never really be sure that you've gotten rid of them all.

Any questions on the use of, please ask. Especially if you have young nursing right now.