How to Get Rid of Those Little Mites in My Hamster's Cage
Mites are one of the most common pests you may encounter when keeping small animals, including hamsters, one of the world's most popular pets. Not only are mites annoying to your pet, but the stress they cause can lead to aggression and general unhealthiness. Luckily, there is an effective and safe method of eliminating mites that's also quite simple.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
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Eliminating Mites in a Hamster Cage
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1
Remove your hamster and put him in the shoebox. This will serve as a temporary enclosure while you modify the cage.
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2
Remove all the bedding from the cage. In most cases, it will be pine shavings, aspen shavings or carefresh.
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3
Replace the removed bedding with about a half-inch of cedar chips.
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4
Thoroughly spray the chips with anti-flea spray.
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5
Wait five minutes, then let your hamster back into its cage.
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6
After three days, check for mites. If none or few can be found, repeat steps 1 and 2.
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7
This time, make the bedding about half pine and half cedar and let your hamster back into its cage.
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8
After three more days, your hamster's cage should be free of mites. If not, repeat steps 1-7 until you've achieved the desired results.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Cedar is a natural insect repellant, and is often used in dog beds. However, it can be toxic to your pet if used too prevelantly, so do not consider it as permanent bedding. Ideally, your pet hamster should not be exposed to cedar for any more than two weeks or so. If possible, you may want to consider purchasing a temporary cage while you eliminate the mites in the primary cage.
Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly after cleaning the cage and replacing the cedar, as oils from the cedar chips could possibly be absorbed by your hand and lead to irritation.
