Flour mites 😫

[Angel’s Teddybear]

There is one image I have of my previous infestation, when it was really bad. All the little specs that are there is actually the little insects. This was originally a video, but I took a screenshot of it.

 

[Maz]

They look dark coloured rather than white. Could they be some other kind of mites?

 

[Angel’s Teddybear]

They look dark coloured rather than white. Could they be some other kind of mites?

That’s what I was just thinking. Unless they are newly hatched?

 

[Magpie]

ah- well these are all very much lighter in colour than that and don't seem to change at all. its just so gross!

I hate sitting here waiting while they are doubtless multiplying quickly as most creepy crawlies seem to do but I need to wait until the vinegar gets here. The stuff have is clear but smells as strongly as malt vinegar so will be too harsh to use and they whole room will stink to high heaven!

I am seeing them on the exterior of the tank now too. Not sure if because there are more of them or I'm just looking for them now. making me paranoid the whole room will be affected.

His pop up playpen was sitting folded between the tank and the wall- I've just put it out in the shed for now but not sure how best to clean that? would hoovering it be enough? I never actually use it to be honest so would be tempted to throw it away and replace... it was cheap and cheerful. He gets up so late that I never have time to take him out to the play pen and the couple of times I did weeks and weeks ago he really didn't seem to like the noise of the crinkly material on the base anyway.

For Cleaning my plan is:

(put Mr Maggie in travel carrier)

* remove all the sprays/gnaws- (bin or re-freeze for 1 wk)
* remove seagrass tunnel and freeze for 1 week (Mr Maggie will need to live without if until then)
* remove and bake all wooden items
* remove and clean down the 2 wooden platforms that I can't bake (using Vinegar solution)
* remove and clean ceramic items plus wheel in hot soapy water (will this be adequate rather than vinegar? i could use my other stronger vinegar for theses then rinse off in hot hater if that's better)
* remove and bin cardboard items (replace with new)
* remove and bin all paper bedding and hoarded food
* remove and bin sand ()

* hoover tank inside and out
* hoover and spray down table/walls in area of tank
* spray tank with vinegar solution (inside and out) and allow to sit for a bit of time
* hoover room for 1 millionth time
* use paper towel/kitchen roll to wipe off vinegar solution after it has had time to soak

should I turn it upside down to check/clean the underside of the base too? I think so...

re hoovering... my hoover is a dyson amimal... not a closed bag system like a Henry... so wonder if its best to hoover and empty out straight away into a bag and out onto the bin now I think about it... which I haven't done so far after hoovering the room... hopefully there aren't any crawling around the carpet anyway...

replace new bedding and put some food back on where he had stashes, put back cleaned items plus sprays etc that have already been frozen for 1 week, new sand in sand box and then put Mr Maggie back in and hope for the best...

Does that sound ok?

 

[Angel’s Teddybear]

That sounds good! I think definitely wipe down surfaces or materials or furniture around the cage. I would freeze the food as well just in case. Anything new that might have brought the bugs in, maybe freeze or bake. Also, i definitely think wiping down the bottom of the cage as well would be good. I’ll do a bit of research to see if there is anything else to do.
Also, yes! Washing it with hot water can work. I use soap and water (as long as your soap doesn’t have fragrance or beads or any of that sort, and i’m not sure about bars), and I make sure to clean that well and get in all nooks and crannies. If the vinegar arrives before you are done, maybe spray with vinegar after washing it as an extra precaution.
Of course, there is always the risk of your hammy carrying any bugs on him. I’m not sure how comfortable your hammy is with sitting still, so I couldn’t be the one to tell you how that hypothetically be resolved. If your hamster likes sand bath, maybe let him roll around in a clean sand bath with a new batch of sand. Or if your hammy is okay with sitting still, maybe put him on something and brush him with a toothbrush to try to get any on him off. Or you could always bring him to the vet if you suspect they are a type of mite.
All in all, that sounds like a good plan!

 

[Angel’s Teddybear]

I did a little searching and here is what i found: It is likely they are mould mites or grain mites. for mould mites, get a dehumidifier. White vinegar is also for mould mites. Make sure there isn’t any moulding bedding in a spot that you couldn’t see; of course, it could just be the humidity that attracts them. But sometimes, I find that my hammy with decide to bladder dump on a specific spot I have no idea about. Make sure your ventilation is also good in the room!! For grain, it’s mostly just about the food as well as humidity. So I mainly recommend getting a dehumidifier!!

 

[Maz]

White vinegar will probably be more effective than hoovering as it'll kill them. Last time I had anything like this was a moth outbreak and needing to make sure no more invisible moth eggs. The spray bottles of vinegar are actually quite good - I sprayed the wall behind the cage and the carpet in the area too. It did smell of vinegar for a few days but not that long and not that bad. But hoovering probably as well. And yes I'd empty the hoover straight away and maybe give that a squirt inside with white vinegar as well! I think you'll need more than 500ml ............

Definitely do the underside of the tank and spray vinegar into the corners/crevices. It's a total pain - as if cleaning wasn't bad enough as it is. For ceramic, fairly liquid and hot water is fine. Although I did spray mine with vinegar first, left them 20 mins or so, rinsed it off and then soaped them with fairy liquid and rinsed that off. I used one of those washing up sponge squares (yellow with a green scourer bit on the back) and used the softer yellow side - squirting a bit of fairy liquid onto a damp sponge like that means it soaps up well when you wash the ceramic item. Got it all soapy and then rinsed it.

These are the spray bottles of vinegar I got - I went through 3 or 4 of them..........

White vinegar spray for cleaning

 

[Maz]

Edit - yes the hoovering is important! To hoover up any eggs which might not be visible to the naked eye. Apparently the vinegar kills the lice but not the eggs with book lice. So in that case, for the tank it would be

1) Hoover it inside and out
2) Spray white vinegar inside and out (especially into corners and crevices)
3) Leave to stand maybe half an hour?
4) Wipe the vinegar off/spread it and wipe it off
5) Wash out the inside and outside of the tank with soapy water then maybe - which would remove any eggs that hoovering missed.

Although number 5 could be difficult with a tank. A tank you can't just pick up and tip over the sink to get the soapy water out. So maybe hoovering first, then vinegar, then wipe, then just clean out with a soapy water sponge and leave to dry.

Hang in there! At least they're smaller than moths!

 

[Magpie]

That sounds good! I think definitely wipe down surfaces or materials or furniture around the cage. I would freeze the food as well just in case. Anything new that might have brought the bugs in, maybe freeze or bake. Also, i definitely think wiping down the bottom of the cage as well would be good. I’ll do a bit of research to see if there is anything else to do.
Also, yes! Washing it with hot water can work. I use soap and water (as long as your soap doesn’t have fragrance or beads or any of that sort, and i’m not sure about bars), and I make sure to clean that well and get in all nooks and crannies. If the vinegar arrives before you are done, maybe spray with vinegar after washing it as an extra precaution.
Of course, there is always the risk of your hammy carrying any bugs on him. I’m not sure how comfortable your hammy is with sitting still, so I couldn’t be the one to tell you how that hypothetically be resolved. If your hamster likes sand bath, maybe let him roll around in a clean sand bath with a new batch of sand. Or if your hammy is okay with sitting still, maybe put him on something and brush him with a toothbrush to try to get any on him off. Or you could always bring him to the vet if you suspect they are a type of mite.
All in all, that sounds like a good plan!

I had considered that they may be on him and then re-introduced that way after all the cleaning, but I don't think they are that type of bug/mite?

Certainly haven't seen any evidence of them on him at any point, although that is just from surface level observation- he's not scratching or anything like that. He is not hand tame. He happily takes treats from my hand but he is not used to being picked up and handled so I wouldn't be able to brush him. I'm just going to have to hope they are not hitchhikers.

All his food was frozen for 1 week before being opened and has been stored in an airtight tub (with no sign of any bugs in there at all) There is also no evidence of the bugs in his food bowl?! So I don't think they are grain/flour mites. They are concentrated where there is water but as I say, can see them on the plexiglass walls and on the black frame on the outside.

There seem less of them this morning... but I think they are probably just a bit nocturnal!

I haven't done a deep bed clean out for a while (was trying to avoid it as long as possible as he had been disturbed so many times due to vet visits for prolapsed pouch) so wonder if its due to wet area of bedding I can't see? He uses his sand as a toilet, but only when he's up thought the night. I think through the day be is probably a clart and pees in his bed.

All I can do it try my best and cross my fingers...

 

[Magpie]

Edit - yes the hoovering is important! To hoover up any eggs which might not be visible to the naked eye. Apparently the vinegar kills the lice but not the eggs with book lice. So in that case, for the tank it would be

1) Hoover it inside and out
2) Spray white vinegar inside and out (especially into corners and crevices)
3) Leave to stand maybe half an hour?
4) Wipe the vinegar off/spread it and wipe it off
5) Wash out the inside and outside of the tank with soapy water then maybe - which would remove any eggs that hoovering missed.

Although number 5 could be difficult with a tank. A tank you can't just pick up and tip over the sink to get the soapy water out. So maybe hoovering first, then vinegar, then wipe, then just clean out with a soapy water sponge and leave to dry.

Hang in there! At least they're smaller than moths!

Thanks Maz. The vinegar I have coming is a 5ooml bottle undiluted so would dilute with water up to 1LTR. I can certainly order more to have in the cupboard anyway but most likely wont be here until mid week.

So annoying I cant get it locally as having to wait is tedious, but also means I'm missing opportunites to get this done when I'm not at work over the weekend!

I am going to have to move the tank to get in and around it to clean properly so I could even put it outside if I need to and give it a good scrub with hot soapy water after its been hoovered and soaked in vinegar, and hose off before bringing back in to dry. Sounding more like a 2 man job! I think you can dismantle it... which may be an idea... but what a thought!

What a palaver!

I found the magnifying glass but doesn't seem to help much...

 

[Magpie]

I did a little searching and here is what i found: It is likely they are mould mites or grain mites. for mould mites, get a dehumidifier. White vinegar is also for mould mites. Make sure there isn’t any moulding bedding in a spot that you couldn’t see; of course, it could just be the humidity that attracts them. But sometimes, I find that my hammy with decide to bladder dump on a specific spot I have no idea about. Make sure your ventilation is also good in the room!! For grain, it’s mostly just about the food as well as humidity. So I mainly recommend getting a dehumidifier!!

He is in our sitting room which is definitely not damp, but I do open the windows and doors less than I used to as I was worried about draughts/cold for him. (the rest of the house can be a bit cold and draughty)

Perhaps I need to worry less about that and open the windows more?! where he is is not in direct line of the windows so he would not get direct draught from there (oposite end of the room, in an alcove)

 

[Magpie]

oh dear, that´s a lot to do. I cross my fingers you will get rid of them. The hairs on the back of my neck ar standing up, I feel so sorry for you

Thanks Amy... its all a bit grim right now but hopefully I can be rid of them soon,

 

[Magpie]

Have tried to get some photos using magnifying glass but it’s very tricky!

These are as good as I have managed…

So so so gross!

 

[Maz]

So a big few and lots of weeny ones?

 

[Magpie]

So a big few and lots of weeny ones?

I think they are all about the same size and the tiny bits are perhaps eggs?

 

[Magpie]

My vinegar has arrived so I will embark on the cleaning tomorrow.

Hopefully I have enough as it will dilute down to 1 ltr and all I have unless I order more but then will mean waiting until Wednesday to start cleaning.

 

[Maz]

My guess is the larger specks are the adults and the smaller ones the newly hatched ones. The eggs will probably be so tiny they won't be visible to the naked eye. Similar to moth eggs.

 

[Magpie]

My guess is the larger specks are the adults and the smaller ones the newly hatched ones. The eggs will probably be so tiny they won't be visible to the naked eye. Similar to moth eggs.

The small ones don’t seem to move. I’ve not noticed them before… but that’s probably because I’m only just then seeing them through magnifying glass plus phone on full zoom.

I’m still not sure what they are. Can’t seem to get a solid answer from the internet.

They are very pale/white and clearly have feelers or such like. A few along the sides and 2 longer at the end. They sort of remind me of plankton from SpongeBob

 

[Magpie]

Oh- also a thought re my wheel
Platform which I can’t bake ( to try and preserve my glued on chopstick wheel-stay!)

According to google PVA starts to soften at 80 degrees C…

I’m planning to give it a good hoover and then douse in vinegar and let sit before rinsing off. I won’t be able to put it back in wet/damp though…do you think I can dry it gently in the oven at a lower temp since it’s going to be on anyway?

Hopefully that will be enough to get rid of anything on there

I’m trying to get it all done and put back together as quickly as I can so I can get Mr Maggie back in there as I only have his little carry box to put him in. I know it’s not ideal but I’ll put some
Food in for him and pop it in a dark space and I’m hoping that being during the day he will just snuggle into the bedding and sleep the time away.

 

[Magpie]

I’m also now concerned about baking the lid of his sand bath (niteangel) in case it warps and no longer sits on top of the box?

I’ve just baked a platform that I’ve been waiting to put in and the legs have all warped! it’s still usable but they are a bit bendy