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Old 10-07-2022, 06:44 AM   #11
kattsy
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Default Re: Book lice problem in hamsters cage. Any help?

That is possible because I bought all the hamster stuff I had in April (her main food, snacks, dried plants, etc), and they only now appeared, which was confusing as I haven't bought any new items in months. But we did have a horribly hot summer, so maybe they hatched around August and only now bred enough to be seen.
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Old 10-07-2022, 07:10 AM   #12
LunaTheHamster1
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Default Re: Book lice problem in hamsters cage. Any help?

That's what happened with me and others i know. I bought my sprays, forage mix in the may and i think i saw a bug or 2 in one of my hamsters cages in the Aug but thought nothing of it, then September i saw loads.
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Old 10-07-2022, 07:11 AM   #13
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Default Re: Book lice problem in hamsters cage. Any help?

Quote:
Originally Posted by kattsy View Post
Thank you, I just read though the post.
I'm really interested in how she got rid of them, currently sending a private message.
My biggest fear is cleaning everything out but them still coming back because they're on the furniture etc, and I don't know how I can completely get rid of them as they're so small.
you will be able to get rid of them, but it can take time.
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Old 10-07-2022, 09:20 AM   #14
Ria P
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Default Re: Book lice problem in hamsters cage. Any help?

I wonder if a pest control company would be able to identify them and advise? They may not have originated in your hamster's enclosure as they are on furniture as well.
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Old 10-07-2022, 09:32 AM   #15
Ria P
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Default Re: Book lice problem in hamsters cage. Any help?

Apparently, booklice are caused by damp and reducing humidity by 50% kills them off. Does your enclosure have sufficient ventilation and airflow?
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Old 10-07-2022, 11:10 AM   #16
kattsy
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Default Re: Book lice problem in hamsters cage. Any help?

Yes, that is what surprised me because I have a big living room that is not damp / there's no mold anywhere, which is apparently what book lice enjoy. ;D
The only thing that comes to mind is the plants I have in that room. Maybe they like the wet soil in the plants, but I checked them all and I found no bugs on or around them.
The books on my shelves are also 1-2yo, new books, undamaged and fresh.
Either way, I'm going to try and clean the whole cage out this weekend and then see if that helps. And maybe buying a pest prevention spray and spraying the furniture.
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Old 10-07-2022, 09:40 PM   #17
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Default Re: Book lice problem in hamsters cage. Any help?

If I were you I'd take the hamster to the vet asap.
That was the only way I got rid of all of the bugs and then clean everything with whatever the vet will give you.
To me he gave literal poison and told me to clean everything very carefully with it.
My hamster had the same looking bugs too as you're showing us here. If possible go to the vet.
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Old 10-07-2022, 09:46 PM   #18
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Default Re: Book lice problem in hamsters cage. Any help?

Quote:
Originally Posted by kattsy View Post
That is possible because I bought all the hamster stuff I had in April (her main food, snacks, dried plants, etc), and they only now appeared, which was confusing as I haven't bought any new items in months. But we did have a horribly hot summer, so maybe they hatched around August and only now bred enough to be seen.
And honestly, for real, go to the vet. My vet gave my hamster a shot and stuff to clean the cage with.
You could've gotten these bugs from the store. I tried freezing and everything as everybody told me here but it didn't help at all. They kept coming back. I even threw away all of Bogie's food and bought new one, which I force for 2 weeks in a freezer. Still, the bugs came back. You can clean your apartment and all of the things you can possibly find in my apartment, the bugs still came back (I had different kind of bugs, but also the same ones as you showed on your photo).

If I were you I'd go to the vet.
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Old 10-08-2022, 05:22 AM   #19
kattsy
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Default Re: Book lice problem in hamsters cage. Any help?

Hello!
I think it's important to say that these bugs do nothing to the hamster. She's completely fine and taking her to the vet for nothing will only stress her out.
I've had similar bug issues in the past where I took my previous hamster to the vet and the vet told us there's nothing on her, and bugs like these don't harm her in any way. Any type of actual mites wouldn't be seen by ur eyes as I see these bugs + you would notice your hamster itching / loosing fur etc. These bugs (either weevils or book lice) only eat the stuff that could be in her cage like dried plants, grains etc. They don't bite or in any way harm alive beings.
Thank you for sharing your experience though
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Old 10-08-2022, 05:40 AM   #20
Ria P
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Default Re: Book lice problem in hamsters cage. Any help?

Quote:
Originally Posted by kattsy View Post
Yes, that is what surprised me because I have a big living room that is not damp / there's no mold anywhere, which is apparently what book lice enjoy. ;D
The only thing that comes to mind is the plants I have in that room. Maybe they like the wet soil in the plants, but I checked them all and I found no bugs on or around them.
The books on my shelves are also 1-2yo, new books, undamaged and fresh.
Either way, I'm going to try and clean the whole cage out this weekend and then see if that helps. And maybe buying a pest prevention spray and spraying the furniture.
I'm just wondering if it would be a good idea to house your hamster in a temporary cage like a bin cage with washable and disposable furnishings. You could move him to a different room and use a pesticide spray on your furniture and the empty enclosure. As you pointed out, they are not mites that live on your hamster so he wouldn't be the source. I'd still clean the big enclosure as well and bake the wooden items but not set it up until the bugs have gone otherwise you'd have to repeat the whole laborious process including unsettling your hamster.
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