Mites?

P

PuddingBear

Member
Member
Messages
31
Reaction score
19
Points
8
Hello.
Just been cleaning out our hamsters hoard and some tiny little creatures were in it
Are these mites and could he now have them?
How do we treat it please?
 
If they are visible in the hoard, then they are not hamster mites, so won't get onto the hamster, they will be some kind of bug that has hatched out from the food. We usually recommend freezing all hamster food for a week before using it as that kills bug eggs! Unfortunately nearly all pet food contains moth eggs and bug eggs and they're not visible to the naked eye - they hatch out when it gets warm - either in summer or in winter when the heating is on.

If you freeze the food first you won't have that problem.

What you need to do now is a cage clean. If they are just in the hoard and nowhere else in the cage, you could just clean out that end of the cage and that might be enough. Unfortunately it does mean throwing away all his hoard and nest and putting all new bedding in that area. I'd also wipe the bottom and side of the enclosure at that end with a warm cloth as well. To wipe anything off that might be there. Then all new bedding at that end.

See if that solves it. Hopefully they'll be gone. If you still find them in a couple of weeks then you'll need to do a full cage clean and disinfect all the contents as well - but if they've just hatched out of the food, you should be ok just doing that one end.

Alternatively you could just do a full cage clean now, wipe down any cage contents and hope that does the trick without needing to disinfect the cage contents.

Do you have a photo of your cage set up? I might be able to advise more on what to clean and what can be left then :)

It could be this that is making him bar chew as well, if it's bothering him.
 
Thanks so much yes we have done a complete clean now. He isnt best pleased but it seemed the right thing to do as he has 3 big hoards in different areas of the enclosure and they all had them in it.

We have a bigger enclosure we got some months back which he hated but we are going to try and move him back into this again this weekend to see if the space also helps with the bar biting

They were the size of a grain of sand and couldnt see them anywhere else

Should we treat Pudding our hammy with mite treatment?

Thanks for your help
 
No he won't need mite treatment. If you can see them then they're not hamster mites. Hamster mites live naturally on hamsters and are invisible to the naked eye - they can only be seen under a microscope. When hamsters "get mites" it just means the mites naturally living on them have proliferated, which is usually caused by a low immune system. You would know if he had them as he would have sore skin and open wounds where he'd scratched, and fur loss. They are probably grain weavils or something similar.

I remember now that he freaked out in the larger enclosure. He may still freak out a bit now, with a cold turkey move to a new enclosure but it does sound like the best option now, especially if he was bar biting - he's maybe ready for more space now.

I think you will need to give him two weeks to settle in and adjust though. And at least a few days left alone. During that two weeks, don't change anything or clean anything, to allow him to settle and make it his own.

The main thing in a larger cage is to not have too much open space, as that makes them nervous - so have plenty of overhead cover. eg a platform they can sit under, a large cork log is good as it's also something to climb over and breaks up the space with a long tunnel. And a multiroom house gives them somewhere to feel secure in a dark area.

If you need more items to add to it, they usually accept something new being added very well - as long as you don't move things around or take things out! Give him lots of bedding in the new enclosure and he can burrow and feel secure :-) Which enclosure is it?
 
Yes thats us! And our little dwarf!

No fur loss or wounds he is a healthy little boy. Thankfully.

The newer enclosure we got was the bucastate 2.0. I think he felt really exposed in it as its clear and not bars.

We have lots of hides and he really loves burrowing so this will allow for more than he currently has the ability to do. Going to try and set his platforms up in the same way they are now and gradually introduce bits like you suggest whilst making sure to keep it with little open space like you say.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Maz
I think that sounds good. Do you have sprays? You could put sprays round the front edge and some in the middle and then he might not feel exposed by the glass - they are very good for providing coverage and they love nibbling at them! Like the food, sprays also need to go in the freezer for a week! I freeze all hamster edible things - except for any human grade things like pumpkin seeds. If they're in a bag from the supermarket they are ok!
 
Have ordered some more sprays and definitely going to freeze everything moving forwards. It does make sense now. And especially after this evening!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Maz
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top