This was so gross!

[squeaksister]

I was cleaning out my hamsters tank this afternoon and I went to go fill his bowl up with some fresh food.I had bought this seed mix from a local petshop about 2 weeks ago and kept it sealed in some tupperware. I had been buying the food in small portions but then I decided to buy a whole bunch at once. Not all of it fit into the tupperware so some I kept in a ziploc bag. I used up the ziploc bag mix first and today was the first day I was going to use the mix from the tupperware. Well I open up the tupperware I had it stored in when atleast 50 moths came flying out! EEeeeeeewwwwwww!! I screamed like a girl and threw the food out. What a waste of money Would you go back to the petshop and say something to them?

[reallybes]

Yes I would! And I would either want my money back or a replacement!

.......EEEw.

[doomgerbiluk]

I store my gerbil food (as much as possible) in a smalll freezer I have set aside for animal stuff.
No creepys for me

[whitmoregirl]

THAT HAPPENED TO ME!!
I got food from this Focus place (the pet section has now closed) and when I opened it, nothing happened... but a few days later the plague began. Flies and moths were everywhere - and it was the middle of winter!!!
My mum took the food back and got a refund, as well as a bazillion other people. Took us around a month to kill all the little buggers.
And that place had terrible hygene standards anyway - I once saw a handful of woodlice on a food treat for rabbits out for sale, and I freaked and threw it at a passing guy (who luckily worked there lol) who apoligised for "traumatising me".

[yankeedoodledandy]

Yuck. This is why I freeze all food, bedding and toys before putting them in the tanks.

[malabui]

That happened to me too! It was the stuff which they scoop and put into bags. They had the House Moth caterpillers in it (the annoying moths that eat cloths). I threw the lot away.

Personally now, I only get stuff that was sealed at the factory and branded. I personally go for a brand called 'Wagg' since the food isn't as dry and dusty as many other brands, and it has a good mix of small seeds to other stuff like biscuit and pellets. I found that many brands such as Gerty Gerbil mainly had biscuit in it and not much in the way of other seeds. Also now I have found that If I run out of the Wagg gerbil food and buy another brand cos I don't get a chance to restock, my gerbils wont touch ANY other brand!!! I mean seeing them turning thier little noses up is well...

[annenrob]

I keep all my animal food in the freezer and refrigerator. We have a deep freeze that we use for the people food

[gerbiefan]

Something similar happened to my rabbit's food a while ago. I kept his food in a small bin, and he is a little dwarf bunny, so he goes through his food pretty slowly. One day, I scooped some out into his food bowl and glanced back into the storage bin to see a whole bunch of little worm like things squirming around. Of course, I threw out the remainder of the food and went out to buy some more (I dumped out the food that I had just put in his bowl as well. I can't stand the fact of my innocent little bunny eating those things). Those little worms were so disgusting. In fact, they seemed to have these strange white webbish things around them until they hatched out. Yuck!

[rainbowmonkey]

that happened to me before and was pretty mad. What a waste! Then i started feeding in small portions. It worked alot better. I didnt say anything to the pet shop cause i didnt want the trouble.............but you could ask them how to make sure they dont get into the food again.

[firefly]

IEeeel thats so horrible I'm so happy it never happened to me, but thanks for the warning; I'll take really good care of my food!

[lisser]

I'm new here...I'm also a new gerbil owner. I have two cuties. I went to change their food out today and there were little bugs in it. They didn't look like moths but like tiny oval ants. Does anyone know how these bugs got in the food and what they are so I can prevent it from happening again? The food is always stored indoors and sealed. I guess I'll start keeping the food in the freezer like the majority of you have suggested, but it still bothers me that these bugs got in my house and in my gerbils' food!!

[doomgerbiluk]

It's surprising how often this happens.
the bugs are probably soem type of grain beetle. If so they where probably harvested with the grain and added to the mix at production stage. It is also possible bugs can get into the food during storage or at the shop, especially if your buying 'loose' feed from a bin.

Contact the feed supplier/manufacturer and make them aware of the problem and yes do freeze the food if you can. When you buy food try, if possible, to make a mental note of the shops cleanliness, if the shop looks grotty and not so clean imagine what the storerooms probably like? Make sure food containers are airtight.

[lisser]

Thank you for your help!!! I'm going out today to buy a new pair of gerbils for my office at work!! I work at an elementary school and the kids will love looking at them!!!

The two gerbils I have at my house, I've only had them for 2 months and they are already eating out of my hand. I've spoiled them rotten!!! They chirp when I walk in the room. I guess that means they are happy to see me?? I hope so!!

[vic]

Ewwww. That's SO discusting!

vic