Post by kathyskidsdc on Apr 29, 2004 21:50:34 GMT -8
We are fairly new gerbil owners and we desperately need help.
We bought 3 baby girls two months ago from the same shop at 6 weeks old. Today the kids noticed minute red specks crawling on the girls (our gerbils) and they seemed to be everywhere in the cage (a 20 gallon glass tank with wire cover) and a cluster on the side glass. The girls were scratching feverishly. The dark one became lethargic and by nightfall started spasming, She did not make it. The other two seem OK except the little bugs casuing some itching. I have cleaned the cage and soaked everything in it with bleach and put the girls in new housing (after treating them with a mite/lice spray for birds that the pet store said they use on the gerbils) for the night with all new stuff until the other air dries thoroughly.
Tonight we found two of the minute red bugs in our brand new carpet that was just installed yesterday. My husband now wants to treat the house for mites/fleas. Do we need to do this, will they survive without a host? Also, will they get on humans? How do I know if they are mites or blood lice? If blood lice will they get into the kids hair like commom lice and infest the kids?
The petshop thought they might be chiken mites which are bright red and these are. Any help or advice is greatly appreciated. They are bright red and about he size of a grain of salt (a little samller). My kids were distraught tonight at loosing Dark Knight. We have cleaned the cage every 1-1/2 weeks and have given fresh water and gerbil food daily plus fresh vegis and nuts. They have all been very active until yesterday but it was hot so I thought perhaps that was getting to Dark Knight, I was wrong.
Any advice on the above questions please, we can not afford a visit to the vet. Thank you.
We bought 3 baby girls two months ago from the same shop at 6 weeks old. Today the kids noticed minute red specks crawling on the girls (our gerbils) and they seemed to be everywhere in the cage (a 20 gallon glass tank with wire cover) and a cluster on the side glass. The girls were scratching feverishly. The dark one became lethargic and by nightfall started spasming, She did not make it. The other two seem OK except the little bugs casuing some itching. I have cleaned the cage and soaked everything in it with bleach and put the girls in new housing (after treating them with a mite/lice spray for birds that the pet store said they use on the gerbils) for the night with all new stuff until the other air dries thoroughly.
Tonight we found two of the minute red bugs in our brand new carpet that was just installed yesterday. My husband now wants to treat the house for mites/fleas. Do we need to do this, will they survive without a host? Also, will they get on humans? How do I know if they are mites or blood lice? If blood lice will they get into the kids hair like commom lice and infest the kids?
The petshop thought they might be chiken mites which are bright red and these are. Any help or advice is greatly appreciated. They are bright red and about he size of a grain of salt (a little samller). My kids were distraught tonight at loosing Dark Knight. We have cleaned the cage every 1-1/2 weeks and have given fresh water and gerbil food daily plus fresh vegis and nuts. They have all been very active until yesterday but it was hot so I thought perhaps that was getting to Dark Knight, I was wrong.
Any advice on the above questions please, we can not afford a visit to the vet. Thank you.