Unwanted guests...

SinNyx · 02-04-2014, 09:28 AM

It all started over a year ago when I bought a bag of sand for the hamsters...upon opening it and giving some to a hamster, I saw a small, black/brown insect. It had pincers and luckily, was dead. After this I got rid of the sand and never bought this type again as I was scared it may of been kept in there for a long time.

The 'battle' I will say started as I began to see some in the house, in particular only the hamster room and a few times, my room (right next to the hamster room). I would sometimes walk into the hamster room and see 5 on the wall/floor...and it was horrifying to see them walk around. I spent so much time having to get rid of them...sorry to anyone that loves insects, but I could not stand the thought of them with my hamsters! I cleaned their cages often too so it was not as if it was a dirty room at all.

Luckily, they all started to disappear and I have not seen any for a long time...months! It is such a relief....but also, I am scared to purchase that sand again...I do not know for sure where these bugs came from, just the fact I found a dead one in the sand made put me off it...I do not know if it was kept in a bad place or not, maybe in the shop I bought it from...I had never seen any of them before in the garden so I did not assume they were from inside, or I do not know how they could of gotten in.

Has anyone else had this problem before, or know about these little bugs? I know they have been long gone for months now and I have completely cleaned, cleared and had new flooring ect in since then and I have not seen any...but I am curious to know if anyone has had this experience.

**Bec** · 02-04-2014, 09:39 AM

How odd...where did you purchase the sand from?

We get chinchilla sand from pet supermarket but never noticed any bugs. Can imagine you are very concerned, and hopefully you won't experience this again and it was a one-off. Have you contacted the place you got the sand as well?

SinNyx · 02-04-2014, 10:19 AM

I purchased it from a local pet shop which is no longer there, a shame as I really liked it.
I was very concerned for quite a while...it is so much of a relief that they are gone...I feel like I may of been putting my hamsters at risk because of that.

BrainGirl · 02-04-2014, 02:30 PM

Pincers? Was it a pseudoscorpion?

Pseudoscorpion - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

SinNyx · 02-04-2014, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrainGirl

Pincers? Was it a pseudoscorpion?
Pseudoscorpion - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

No, the pincers were smaller...they almost looked like tiny beetles...just not? It's probably something very common that I just don't know about...but I can't help that I worried so much about them. It's never nice having your home with bugs anyway...I get freaked out with a tiny spider that's on a wall right now >.<

BrainGirl · 02-04-2014, 02:42 PM

Hmm, I don't like unsolved mysteries! How big was it?

SinNyx · 02-04-2014, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrainGirl

Hmm, I don't like unsolved mysteries! How big was it?

After a frantic search for a ruler and remembering...2-3mm? Very small...

BrainGirl · 02-04-2014, 02:59 PM

Were the pincers on front legs or on the head?

SinNyx · 02-04-2014, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrainGirl

Were the pincers on front legs or on the head?

The head...I really hate unsolved mysteries too!
Saying that, I may feel daft over-reacting when it's going to just be so simple

BrainGirl · 02-04-2014, 03:06 PM

Here, try using this key. Keys are generally really easy to use and have something like a "choose your own adventure" format. If this doesn't work, have you got an agricultural office nearby who can maybe identify it for you? Even some medical offices or museums will have experts on hand who might help

Insect Identification