How timely ... I too am having a flea problem...

[PeterB]

... they seem to be in two rooms in my apt, bedroom and study. Study is where I'm keeping the hamsters, and yet, interestingly enough, I don't see ANY fleas on any of the hammies-- the fleas seem to be on the floor and maybe in the carpet. I could flea-bomb, but I'd rather not do that because of the hammies. (I'd have to move them outside, and they don't do well for any period of time outside in warm weather.) How should I deal with this?

[Black]

This forum is making me itch tonight.

[ka jowct]

You might be able to get rid of them by just treating the carpet.

[PeterB]

ka jot, yeah, that's what I was thinking too. Question is, what to use that won't hurt the hammies (by inhalation)? Borax maybe?

[mattkime]

>>I'd have to move them outside, and they don't do well for any period of time outside in warm weather.

you apparently don't live in new york.

[ka jowct]

Allow the borax to sit for 24 hours. During this time keep any children or pets you have away from the borax as it is toxic to them.



It tells you how to do it, but doesn't indicate whether direct contact is the problem, or whether inhalation of the borax dust is also a risk.

Here's another procedure:

[mjgkramer]

On problem you have to address is the next generation of fleas. The ones you have have probably laid eggs, which as I recall hatch in two weeks. So plan on multiple treaments. One approach we used years ago was to spread Sevin dust on all our carpets, leave on a two plus week vacation and then vacuum up the dust and dead fleas upon return. The bad part is that the Sevin dust is very fine so quickly clogs up the vacuum cleaner bag or filter.

[vicrock]

Diatomacious earth - sprinkled into the carpet - non toxic, but destroys the exoskeleton of the flea.

[Jack D.]

I've used Dr. Goodpet's Inside Flea-Control with good results. Non toxic, made from Boron and kills by dehydration. It's applied the same as the Borax but without the toxic side effects. I haven't tried the outside version but the web site says it's just Diatomaceous Earth which is what's in many pool filters and may be cheaper at a pool store.

http://www.goodpet.com/library/pharmacyF...ontrol.asp



edit: Damn you vicrock! :turbo: beat me to the diatomaceous earth!

note to self: don't eat breakfast while posting.

[mjgkramer]

Diatomaceous earth (aka DE) works on fleas and other kinds of bugs, but it is very abrasive and can damage the vacuum or other pieces of equipment.