Found tiny black bugs while cleaning cage, should I be worried?

[Hnrpiggies]

Cleaning out the boys two tier cage (they’re housed separate due to extreme fighting). Cleaning the second bit of the cage I saw the tiniest little black bugs ever and I’m not sure if it’s something to be concerned about. There wasn’t many at all.
I’m using a disinfectant on the cage and I’m going to check his hair once I’ve cleaned his housing and cage items.
Not sure if this is anything to be aware of?
Never had anything like this before.

 

[Siikibam]

What did they look like? Ants or something else? Your description is a little vague I’m afraid. Perhaps post a photo if you have one.

I know that’s not what you posted about, but is their cage one where you can put the top level on the floor next to the ground floor section? Although they don’t get along, they can still interact through the bars - staves off loneliness and fulfils their need for constant piggy company.

 

[Hnrpiggies]

What did they look like? Ants or something else? Your description is a little vague I’m afraid. Perhaps post a photo if you have one.

I know that’s not what you posted about, but is their cage one where you can put the top level on the floor next to the ground floor section? Although they don’t get along, they can still interact through the bars - staves off loneliness and fulfils their need for constant piggy company.

No they were much smaller than ants. They were literally like the size of a dot drawn with a pen. They were round rather than long like ants, kind of like tiny little spiders.

I could put them next to each other yes, but one would have an open top and the other would be fully protected.

 

[Wiebke]

No they were much smaller than ants. They were literally like the size of a dot drawn with a pen. They were round rather than long like ants, kind of like tiny little spiders.

I could put them next to each other yes, but one would have an open top and the other would be fully protected.

Just deep clean the cage and make sure that you change the bedding very regularly; ideally twice a week.
They are not a guinea pig specific parasite, just an uninvited subtenant.

 

[Hnrpiggies]

Just deep clean the cage and make sure that you change the bedding very regularly; ideally twice a week.
They are not a guinea pig specific parasite, just an uninvited subtenant.

Thanks! I clean their cage twice a week anyway

 

[Sophie B]

I think I know what you’re talking about and I had the same problem, I mixed a bottle of something (I’m so sorry I don’t remember what it was, I will try to find out tomorrow) diluted it down and put it in a spray bottle I had previously used for misting the tortoise house. I sprayed that all around the cage, the window, windowsill, and anywhere else I saw bugs, I did this for weeks. Though in the end I just moved the pigs downstairs as I had found mold in the room which as been sorted now.
Do you have plants? I have a bunch of cacti and I was sceptical that it could’ve been related to them, never found out though

 

[Hnrpiggies]

I think I know what you’re talking about and I had the same problem, I mixed a bottle of something (I’m so sorry I don’t remember what it was, I will try to find out tomorrow) diluted it down and put it in a spray bottle I had previously used for misting the tortoise house. I sprayed that all around the cage, the window, windowsill, and anywhere else I saw bugs, I did this for weeks. Though in the end I just moved the pigs downstairs as I had found mold in the room which as been sorted now.
Do you have plants? I have a bunch of cacti and I was sceptical that it could’ve been related to them, never found out though

No they aren’t near any plants or mould. I’ve used a pet safe disinfectant spray and completely scrubbed the cage so hopefully won’t have anymore visitors any time soon

 

[Sophie B]

No they aren’t near any plants or mould. I’ve used a pet safe disinfectant spray and completely scrubbed the cage so hopefully won’t have anymore visitors any time soon

The mould was unrelated, but it was one of the factors that made us move them downstairs x
Make sure to keep checking the area

 

[Hnrpiggies]

I got pictures. These aren’t the same bugs as last time but I moved the cage and found all these tiny flies. Have hoovered all that I could see and sprayed disinfectant everywhere but is this anything I should be worried about?

 

[rp1993]

Do the flies have strips on their wings.. they might be meal moths.. a quick google will confirm this, if it is them it could have come from their pellets as the feed on grains,

 

[Hnrpiggies]

Do the flies have strips on their wings.. they might be meal moths.. a quick google will confirm this, if it is them it could have come from their pellets as the feed on grains,

As far as I could see they were fully black but they were so tiny it’s possible I couldn’t see stripes. I hoovered them up and sprayed (pet safe) disinfectant everywhere but if they return I’ll have a closer look.

 

[Hnrpiggies]

I just read something about ‘fungus gnats’. Might be that.. maybe from soiled wood shavings? I clean them out twice a week though and haven’t had a problem before. They also weren’t inside the cage but were on the wall behind it. It’s also only this cage. I have another cage in another room that gets cleaned out once a week and there’s no sign of the bugs there. I’m getting so frustrated hahaha

 

[rp1993]

That’s so frustrating! It could of come from the bag of bedding, I don’t know about fungus gnats, there not fruit flies? Do you have all there things in sealed containers? When noticed some meal moths changed everything sealed everything, deep cleaned our whole flat and kitchen cupboards and have never seen them again.