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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.
Flour mites 😫
- Thread starter Magpie
- Start date
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.
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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?
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?
- Messages
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- 270
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!
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!
- Messages
- 60
- Reaction score
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- Points
- 270
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!!
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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
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
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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!
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!