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10-08-2022, 08:23 AM
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#21
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Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Birmingham
Posts: 8,026
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Re: Book lice problem in hamsters cage. Any help?
Hello. Yes these are a booklice. They can be dark brown to almost translucent. I had a big infestation in my old house that was dark and damp, were all over the bed even!
Despite the name, they aren't just from books.
During the colder months they can sneak in through window cracks and as we start putting the heat on, it creates a perfect environment.
Ive since moved and even though my house isnt dark or damp, I still find them, usually on wooden houses etc
THEY WILL CAUSE NO HARM TO YOU OR YOUR HAMSTER- they are not the kind of lice that would respond to ivermectin or similar so vet visit is of no need or benefit
I reduced mine by doing a deep clean of the room, thats the most effective and then daily antibac wiping for a week or so. When I see any now I just rinse the item and finger squish. It's a hassle but worth it.
I also air the house often and check any food or toys ive stored.
It takes a while but as long as you can reduce the bulk of them it will be fine.
(springtails are more likely what you see in your plants, they are beneficial and also won't harm your hamster)
x
__________________
Feel free to ask me about rat advice too
Last edited by Amethyst_ice; 10-08-2022 at 09:10 AM.
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10-08-2022, 08:50 AM
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#22
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House of Hamsters
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Posts: 7,103
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Re: Book lice problem in hamsters cage. Any help?
Thank You.
So, what happens to the book lice in the enclosure? Is it necessary to deep clean it? I haven't had them but it is always good to be prepared.
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10-08-2022, 09:09 AM
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#23
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Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Birmingham
Posts: 8,026
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Re: Book lice problem in hamsters cage. Any help?
I've noticed them mostly on wooden items and no more than say 10 at a time? I personally have stopped getting paranoid about them and just try make an effort to check any items ive stored. They seem to be more prevalent in warmer temps and rats do better in cooler so ive adapted to things being cooler!
Haven't noticed any in Spirit's (dwarf) cage but he tends to have more smooth wood.
That's a point actually, ive found them more on the "bark" type wood items where there's more nooks.
I think they are one of them bugs most of us prob have in the house and don't notice unless you go looking or they multiply quickly.
Hope that's of use
__________________
Feel free to ask me about rat advice too
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10-08-2022, 11:52 AM
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#24
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Hamster Antics
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
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Re: Book lice problem in hamsters cage. Any help?
Ugh bugs! I just looked up book lice - it seems to say damp (or even microscopically invisible mould). And ventilation helps. So maybe it's humidity? A lot of older houses have a level of damp somewhere or invisible mould spores. Is the hamster in a tank? Just clean em up and hope they go away?!
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10-09-2022, 02:28 PM
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#25
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Newborn Pup
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 33
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Re: Book lice problem in hamsters cage. Any help?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Amethyst_ice
Hello. Yes these are a booklice. They can be dark brown to almost translucent. I had a big infestation in my old house that was dark and damp, were all over the bed even!
Despite the name, they aren't just from books.
During the colder months they can sneak in through window cracks and as we start putting the heat on, it creates a perfect environment.
Ive since moved and even though my house isnt dark or damp, I still find them, usually on wooden houses etc
THEY WILL CAUSE NO HARM TO YOU OR YOUR HAMSTER- they are not the kind of lice that would respond to ivermectin or similar so vet visit is of no need or benefit
I reduced mine by doing a deep clean of the room, thats the most effective and then daily antibac wiping for a week or so. When I see any now I just rinse the item and finger squish. It's a hassle but worth it.
I also air the house often and check any food or toys ive stored.
It takes a while but as long as you can reduce the bulk of them it will be fine.
(springtails are more likely what you see in your plants, they are beneficial and also won't harm your hamster)
x
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Thank you for the info!
Would you usually find them around food / dried grass etc? Because usually they're pretty scattered around, but once I put in like a dried herb or a leaf, the next day there's a bunch around that area. This makes me wonder if they are actually booklice or weevils.
I live in a fairly new apartment with low humidity and new furniture, so I'm not sure what the book lice would be enjoying here ;D
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10-09-2022, 02:31 PM
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#26
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Newborn Pup
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 33
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Re: Book lice problem in hamsters cage. Any help?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000
Ugh bugs! I just looked up book lice - it seems to say damp (or even microscopically invisible mould). And ventilation helps. So maybe it's humidity? A lot of older houses have a level of damp somewhere or invisible mould spores. Is the hamster in a tank? Just clean em up and hope they go away?!
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The hamster is in a DIY wood panel cage with a glass front and a full mesh top, so it has pretty good ventilation/nothing really seems to be moldy or wet. But I'm planning on cleaning it all out this week, spraying the furniture around the cage, and hopefully it helps!
Ill keep everyone updated once I find the right spray for the furniture!
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10-09-2022, 02:34 PM
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#27
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Newborn Pup
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 33
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Re: Book lice problem in hamsters cage. Any help?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000
Ugh bugs! I just looked up book lice - it seems to say damp (or even microscopically invisible mould). And ventilation helps. So maybe it's humidity? A lot of older houses have a level of damp somewhere or invisible mould spores. Is the hamster in a tank? Just clean em up and hope they go away?!
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This is the cage! I have since removed the ice cream stick fence around the second level, as it's a bit dangerous for them as I've read.
(i don't know if I'm uploading the picture correctly haha)
IMG 0530 — Postimages
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10-09-2022, 02:39 PM
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#28
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PM Fluffy for custom title
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 4,545
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Re: Book lice problem in hamsters cage. Any help?
A full mesh top alone may potentially still not be enough ventilation compared to the level of ventilation a barred cage or even a cage with one or more barred/meshed side(lacking cross ventilation which can make a big difference).
That said even barred cages can have ventilation issues with hideouts, tunnels, etc if they're plastic or other non breathable materials - for example plastikoted wood isn't breathable like unfinished wood would be.
I would be extremely careful using any sort of pesticides and insecticides in the room where the hamster is. They can be highly toxic for such sensitive species, or at the very least potentially irritating to their respiratory system. Food grade diatomaceous earth is one thing I would definitely recommend trying around the room in general though since it mechanically kills anything with an exoskeleton & unlike synthetic pesticides and such they can't develop a resistance or tolerance to it over time. A thorough cage clean should help too though.
ETA more natural cage setups can have potential increased moisture issues too, for example moss being best avoided if I'm honest since that can contribute to humidity being too high(even "dry" moss can rehydrate eventually and be a problem). Coconut fiber is a great natural digging material(actually safe unlike any kind of soil) but you do have to be careful to avoid it being too dry or too wet - overly wet coconut fiber can contribute to potential mold and other humidity related issues.
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10-09-2022, 02:39 PM
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#29
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Newborn Pup
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 33
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Re: Book lice problem in hamsters cage. Any help?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ria P
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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Yeah, I'm thinking of just setting her up in a bin cage for a few days, just giving her a couple of things whilst I bake and clean her houses/wheel etc. Have to get creative, maybe make a house out of cardboard just for a day or two to have time to clean her actual cage.
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10-09-2022, 02:44 PM
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#30
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Newborn Pup
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 33
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Re: Book lice problem in hamsters cage. Any help?
Quote:
Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams
A full mesh top alone may potentially still not be enough ventilation compared to the level of ventilation a barred cage or even a cage with one or more barred/meshed side(lacking cross ventilation which can make a big difference).
That said even barred cages can have ventilation issues with hideouts, tunnels, etc if they're plastic or other non breathable materials - for example plastikoted wood isn't breathable like unfinished wood would be.
I would be extremely careful using any sort of pesticides and insecticides in the room where the hamster is. They can be highly toxic for such sensitive species, or at the very least potentially irritating to their respiratory system. Food grade diatomaceous earth is one thing I would definitely recommend trying around the room in general though since it mechanically kills anything with an exoskeleton & unlike synthetic pesticides and such they can't develop a resistance or tolerance to it over time. A thorough cage clean should help too though.
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Our vet sells this "Indorex® Defence Pumpspray" which apparently is safe for animals. I wouldn't spray it with her in the room anyway, I'd set up a temporary bin cage for a day or two, clean out her cage, spray the room and let it all air out for 24 h before putting anything back. I think that should be fine (i wouldn't spray it inside the cage, just use pet-safe disinfectant).
I have tried looking for diatomaceous earth but i live in Switzerland and i can never find it anywhere (
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