Flour mites 😫

[Amy]

Yes they do go over the top I wanted to give a little rescue guy a good home. I couldn’t have him because my house is not 1,20 x 50 cm
I think I am a responsible hamster mum, but it was a no.
I am waiting for Nibbles, as if he knows what I am up to. He’s been up twice snatched his veggies, been for a pee and goes back to bed.

 

[Angel’s Teddybear]

I’m happy that you were able to clean the cage!! It’s certainly a mystery on where they came from, but hopefully it is all sorted out. I’ll be praying they stay away!! I still recommend a dehumidifier (apologies for being so pushy) as it can help them stay away. I got one on amazon for like $35. It also provides some white noise which I personally like!

 

[Magpie]

You don’t realise how much dust settles on your bucatstate until your neurotically checking for bugs…

So far he seems happy enough. He’s not taken away anything from the pile of food in the MCH. He’s had a bath and a pee in his sand. Eaten his broccoli and walnut and had a run in his wheel tonight.

Will see what there is to see tomorrow morning… bugs probably

 

[Maz]

Fingers crossed no bugs And yes mine have tended to ignore the new food I've put in the house after removing hoard - but I think it makes them feel secure Mine have often looked bemused or confused and sniffed it and then just left it there. They don't take it because they didn't put it there

 

[Magpie]

He seems happy enough-been busy in his wheel and sand and now taking food back to stash underground.

I’ve just seen a little bug wandering about on the slate under his water bottle again! All day spent and all the upheaval to Mr Maggie and apparently all in vain. I could cry.

Not sure what else i can do. If there is one there will be doubtless many more on the horizon.

 

[Maz]

Oh no. squish it. Do you have a spare cage?

 

[Angel’s Teddybear]

Ugh, i know exactly how you feel. When i found them again in her new cage, I broke down. It’s really frustrating, but you can do this!!!

 

[Amy]

He seems happy enough-been busy in his wheel and sand and now taking food back to stash underground.

I’ve just seen a little bug wandering about on the slate under his water bottle again! All day spent and all the upheaval to Mr Maggie and apparently all in vain. I could cry.

Not sure what else i can do. If there is one there will be doubtless many more on the horizon.

I hope it was just a lone survivor I feel so sorry for you, after all that work. But fingers are crossed and hope today there will be no more!

 

[Maz]

I saw a picture of some similar ones on a hamster cage, elsewhere online, and they were thought to be grain or wood mites.

 

[Magpie]

Oh no. squish it. Do you have a spare cage?

You best believe it was squished!

No, I don’t have a spare cage.

I’ve seen a couple on the outside this morning- on the black outer frame (squished now) but none in his water dish or on the slate/water bottle and holder which is where they were rife before.

So I’ve certainly knocked them back but not totally rid.

 

[Maz]

You mean the black outside frame of the tank? Maybe you could just wipe that outside bit with a cloth with a little bit of dilute vinegar on - nowhere near the hamster itself but it could smell a bit. Probably not too bad if just wiped and on the outside.

 

[Magpie]

You mean the black outside frame of the tank? Maybe you could just wipe that outside bit with a cloth with a little bit of dilute vinegar on - nowhere near the hamster itself but it could smell a bit. Probably not too bad if just wiped and on the outside.

Yes- the black outer frame. I’ve found one or two on there a couple of times today. I’ve squashed those I’ve seen.

 

[Magpie]

Definitely have the bugs back.

Managed to get hold of a great microscope which takes pictures. Was very difficult to get a picture but managed and have added a photo of the picture (not sure if if can be downloaded)

That’s 6 weeks since the complete gutting and cleaning of the tank plus baking and freezing everything so not sure what I can do other than Learn to live with them and do a full cleanout if they start to get too numerous.

Think they are grain or mould mites maybe? Bane of my life!

 

[Amy]

Oh no i feel so sorry after all that hard work

 

[Maz]

So sorry. I screenshotted your photograph and asked AI what it was - and it said some kind of mite Not very helpful. It narrowed it down to most likely book lice though, as you thought - due to them liking being near water. However, do you know how many legs they have? If they have 6 legs most likely book lice. If they have 8 legs, some other kind of mite like a grain mite.

 

[Amy]

I counted eight legs after zooming in and have been scratching since then

 

[Maz]

It also said book lice are more oval shaped and grain mites rounder - not sure if that helps.

 

[Magpie]

It’s impossible to say what are legs and what are feeler things.

Don’t suppose it really makes much difference though. They are one or the other and the method is going to be the same either way I guess

Less than ideal though and very frustrating. Can’t be doing this every 6 weeks.

 

[Maz]

It's a nightmare for you. I can't remember, but I think someone suggested a dehumidifier in the room might help as well? I'm sure the recent hot weather won't have helped.

 

[Magpie]

Our renovation project is hopefully going to start in a week or so. I might see if I can get a small temporary cage locally second hand to put him in for a few days at my mums house to keep him away from the dust and the noise. (It’s an external wall that is being knocked through and a steel lintel being put in so will be very noisy and dusty)

I know that will be stressful but think it’s the better option for him? Also know it won’t be ideal size wise or bedding depth wise but will get the bedding as deep as I can and make sure his wheel is in for him and if possible a small temp sand bath using a dish or something

And while he is in that temp cage I can get and sort the bucatstate tank. Again