Really Tiny red bugs
 

Hi!

I wonder if you guys could help me. I have this two dwarf (Fidel and Che) and today I was playing with Fidel in my hand and I saw a really really tiny red bug in my finger. I smashed it and blood came out of it. I looked in the ham fur and saw a few of them in his fur/skin.

I thought it was a tick because of the blood, but it doesn't look like a dog/cat tick at all.

I've looked for help in brazilian and portuguese foruns and I haven't found any information about it.

I'm really worried about the babies, I haven't noticed if they are scratching themselves more, I think they aren't, but I'm worried that could be something serious.

I'm looking for a vet, because I'm surely gonna take them to a specialized vet, but it's not easy to find one.

If any of you guys had that problem and can help me, I would really appreciate.

thank you!

Re: Really Tiny red bugs
 

Is this what they look like: Outside: Red Bug Question - Now Identified!?

I'd guess it was a mite anyway... Hope you can get it fixed :(

Re: Really Tiny red bugs
 

Hmmm the poster is in Brazil...im afraid without a picture we couldnt begin to try identify. Sounds like a mite...or could be where you place your cage and they have just got on the hammies?

ive read chickens can get red mites but i think they would be quite large on a dwraf hammy.

I would suggest cleaning the cage completely and moving it to quarentine, keep us posted x

Re: Really Tiny red bugs
 

sounds like a red mite to me, they are common on poultry, are you around any poultry at all
they look like this
http://www.chickenvet.co.uk/Uploads/...tion_large.jpg

i would recomend a course of ivectomin from the vet, or a course of xeno spot on if you can get that in your country

our hens had red mite last year, they wouldnt be too large to go on a dwarf hamster

Re: Really Tiny red bugs
 

mmhm our chickens had red mite too >.<
hope your hamster gets better x

Re: Really Tiny red bugs
 

If theres blood coming ot it's a mite for sure, but what species,phew,can't say without picture. Red mites are horrible >___< We had a few affections on the german board here and it tooks a long time to get rid off them. Hope everything goes well,keep my fingers crossed XD

Re: Really Tiny red bugs
 

i did wonder red mites but having never seen one i wasnt sure their size x

Re: Really Tiny red bugs
 

It sounds like the mite that are common on house bird pets like budgies - I had them in the house. they are pale gray when unfed, but after a feed they turn red and then black. they lay eggs in crevices and ridges of wood so you'll have to sterilize the whole of the cage really well and throw or bake all of your wooden stuff otherwise after treatment the babies will hatch and you'll have to go through the treatment again. try covering the cage with a cloth and you'll soon see them on it. Nasty things - I had to throw away the cabinet my bird cage was on as the eggs were in the wood. if left untreated, it causes anemia and infection, so please go to the vet soon!

Re: Really Tiny red bugs
 

Hi guys, thanks for all the answers.

I saw the pictures of red mites you have posted but they don't look exactly like that, at least not as I can see with only my eyes. I can't see legs, althought they walk and move around. The size is as tiny as a dot you can make on a paper touching a red pen on it. Really small.

All the hammys have it, the dwarfs and the syrian. Che has diarrea now but they are not scratching...

I 'm washing the cage everyday, threw away all the wood they had.

I live in a apartment on the 7th floor, I have no other animal but beside my building there's a big park, at the park they have all kinds of animals and birds and also chicken.
But isn't it weird that the mite would come all the way here??? I never took them to the park and they never got in touch with any other animal...


The good news I have is that I found a vet and friday night he is going to see my babies.
I'm getting sick worried but hopefully soon they'll be free of those nasty bugs.

I'm going to try to take a picture of the bug, but it's so small that I don't know if I can, but I will because maybe I could help someone identify their problem.

The other thing that I'm worried, is if that bugs could pass to me, to my hair and be like a human louse. I'm afraid they could get me sick either, so I don't know what to do to prevent that, I wash my hands all the time after I touch my babies and I'm paying attention to see if any of those bugs are walking on me...

Well, soon enough I'll come here to post news or pictures (If I'm able to take them) so you guys could know what will help my hammys.

Thanks you all for the help and support.


I'm sorry for the english mistakes, hope you can all understand what I'm saying.


Xoxo


Laura, Dito, Fidel and Che.

Re: Really Tiny red bugs
 

They sound like mites and they can easily be blown in on the wind or brought in in food / bedding / shavings etc. They are a devil to get rid of and you need to get a house spray and spray round the cages and in the house etc. They can bite humans too - well certain types can and give you nasty rashes. Some breeders here have found the Johnson's spray to be good and constant treatment is needed. You can spray the bedding with it and mix around before you put the hammies back.
Not long till Friday now and I hope the vet sorts them out.
This is the spray
Pest Control / JOHNSONS ANTI MITE SPRAY 100ML - Petstuffgalore
Ivermectin drops can also be used
http://www.animalmedicationdirect.co...6-pr-5735.html