Cleaning Fleas infestation

[Naali]

Hi, I am creating this desperately need advice on how do I get rid of all the flying fleas in my Guinea pigs cage. It isn't too much like over than 100 fleas but I can see them clear enough quite a lot of them flying around I can feel it is bugging my Guinea pigs a lot. I'm feeling so guilty I haven't had the time to properly take care of them for a month I only feed and refill their drinks. Not even have time for spot cleaning just recently I realised the previous fleas which I thought had died (not all still very few left) as I regularly treated them with the medicine the vet gave me, now had turned adults. I don't know where to start. I asked pet store for fleas and ticks they recommend the Fido Fleas and Ticks Spray for cats. Is this product good enough for me to get rid of the flying fleas? I don't plan to use this on Guinea pigs because all I want is to remove the flying fleas first. When it's all dead, I can start do a thorough clean, throw bedding, and bath my Guinea pigs, that's my plan. Or is there any other way to solve this?

 

[4boipigs]

Fleas don’t fly. They crawl and jump. They don’t have wings. I would have pest control or a vet confirm actual fleas. Do NOT use anything on the pigs for pest control. You CAN treat pigs with Revolution (for cats) but it not the entire dose (someone else could advise on the dose). Should you go to a vet they can provide and dose Revolution as it is a prescription product.

I am wondering if it is gnats or something but do start cleaning their cages more/better. What size cage, type of bedding and so on?

 

[bpatters]

Ditto @4boipigs. You don't have fleas.

There are small black flies that are attracted to bits of food and poop in a guinea pig cage. They may be fruit flies, or drain flies, or something else. You can google those and see if you can identify what they are and how to take get rid of them. But getting rid of them will NOT involve spraying your pigs with any sort of insecticide.

I know someone who once got rid of a bad black fly infestation with a small electric bug zapper. You might also be able to suck some of them up with a vacuum cleaner hose.

But to keep them away once you've gotten them under control, you'll have to keep the cage cleaner -- get rid of the excess food bits once a day, and vacuum or sweep up all the poop. Otherwise, you'll have flies forever.

 

[Naali]

Fleas don’t fly. They crawl and jump. They don’t have wings. I would have pest control or a vet confirm actual fleas. Do NOT use anything on the pigs for pest control. You CAN treat pigs with Revolution (for cats) but it not the entire dose (someone else could advise on the dose). Should you go to a vet they can provide and dose Revolution as it is a prescription product.

I am wondering if it is gnats or something but do start cleaning their cages more/better. What size cage, type of bedding and so on?

Firstly thank you so much for the explanation. Yes I believe it could be gnats, it is very small need to take a closer look to be able to realize they're there. I also did see something black jumping around their body. Cage is quite big, I use microfiber towel bedding and only have 2 Guinea pigs.

 

[Naali]

Ditto @4boipigs. You don't have fleas.

There are small black flies that are attracted to bits of food and poop in a guinea pig cage. They may be fruit flies, or drain flies, or something else. You can google those and see if you can identify what they are and how to take get rid of them. But getting rid of them will NOT involve spraying your pigs with any sort of insecticide.

I know someone who once got rid of a bad black fly infestation with a small electric bug zapper. You might also be able to suck some of them up with a vacuum cleaner hose.

But to keep them away once you've gotten them under control, you'll have to keep the cage cleaner -- get rid of the excess food bits once a day, and vacuum or sweep up all the poop. Otherwise, you'll have flies forever.

Thank you for the explanation. But there might also be fleas because I saw something black jump in their white fur, I thought some fleas fly and some stay on their body probably feeding. I misunderstood. But yes I am starting to clean their cage, I've already bought all the required items to thoroughly clean their cage and my Guinea pigs. Another thing, if I switch on a UV light closer to their cage will it work to attract those flies? It has a trap underneath the UV as well and some type of fan that claimed to kill

 

[Guinea Pig Papa]

If they are gnats and not fleas, you can make a very simple trap for them. A small container filled with apple cider vinegar and a drop of dish soap, and then cover it with clear food wrap. Poke holes in it big enough for the gnats to crawl through. Make sure it's in a place closer to the pigs but not so close that it can't be bumped or knocked over.

 

[Guinea Pig Papa]

Ditto @4boipigs. You don't have fleas.

There are small black flies that are attracted to bits of food and poop in a guinea pig cage. They may be fruit flies, or drain flies, or something else. You can google those and see if you can identify what they are and how to take get rid of them. But getting rid of them will NOT involve spraying your pigs with any sort of insecticide.

I know someone who once got rid of a bad black fly infestation with a small electric bug zapper. You might also be able to suck some of them up with a vacuum cleaner hose.

But to keep them away once you've gotten them under control, you'll have to keep the cage cleaner -- get rid of the excess food bits once a day, and vacuum or sweep up all the poop. Otherwise, you'll have flies forever.

I actually have one of these small indoor bug zappers. They DO work on the gnats but not exceedingly so. They are dumb enough to fly into it but not in large numbers. The apple cider vinegar trap is much more effective.

 

[Guinea Pig Papa]

If they are fleas, they ARE attracted to light. A great solution is again, use a small container with water in it but only halfway. Add a drop of dish soap, which breaks the surface tension. No need to cover it. Place that container directly under that light source. A night light is a good start. Th e fleas will migrate to the light, and then jump in the water and drown. Works great at night when there's no other light. Just don't put the water IN the pig cage.

 

[4boipigs]

Thank you for the explanation. But there might also be fleas because I saw something black jump in their white fur, I thought some fleas fly and some stay on their body probably feeding. I misunderstood. But yes I am starting to clean their cage, I've already bought all the required items to thoroughly clean their cage and my Guinea pigs. Another thing, if I switch on a UV light closer to their cage will it work to attract those flies? It has a trap underneath the UV as well and some type of fan that claimed to kill

You may also want to look up what fleas and flea dirt (their poop) look like, and then look at the guinea pigs. A white guinea pig (or other animal) will make spotting fleas and flea dirt very easy. You could also take a flea comb and run it thru their fur, and then dunk the comb into soapy water and try to spot any fleas. However, I don't know how well gpigs will take to being combed!