Last updated on January 22nd, 2023 at 07:01 pm
Are ants harmful to hamsters?
Yes, ants harm hamsters and can cause problems and diseases in our furry friends. Ants are small and seemingly harmless, but they can cause many problems for hamsters and in their environment and cage.
Usually, ants come in large groups, and with their bites, they cause wounds in hamsters, but not all ants, only those that bite.
Ants also transmit toxigenic and pathogenic microorganisms to hamsters. When there are ants in the cage of the hamsters, it represents significant stress for the hamsters, and the stress leads to diseases.
It is challenging to remove ants once they come into the hamster cage; the only solution is a clean cage. The answer can be diatomaceous earth, which is destructive and destroys ants but is not harmful to hamsters.
Can ants hurt a hamster?
Ants are tiny, but that does not mean they are harmless to hamsters; they can hurt the hamster.
But we should not be too afraid; whether the ants will hurt the hamster depends on their number and what kind of ants attack hamsters.
Indeed, ants can transmit toxic and pathogenic microorganisms to hamsters, but if there are only a few ants in the cage, they will not cause problems for our furry pets.
When it comes to an infestation of a large group of ants, problems can arise for hamsters.
When the hamster notices the ants, it will get stressed, which is the worst thing that can happen to the hamster because stress causes diseases.
In any case, a small group is not dangerous, but larger groups of ants can endanger the health of hamsters.
Do hamsters eat ants?
Yes, hamsters can eat ants and use nutrients such as iron, protein, fat and calcium.
Of course, they should not eat too many ants, but a small amount of ants is welcome for hamsters.
When hamsters eat ants, certain inconveniences can occur if the ants start spraying formic acid as a resistance against the hamsters, but not all ants can do that; only certain species.
Ants are small but have strong and hard-to-penetrate exoskeletons, but hamsters with their strong and tough teeth will eventually finish their job and eat them
Do hamsters attract ant infestations?
No, the hamsters do not attract the ants to come, but indirectly the ants come mainly because of the food in our hamsters’ cage.
It can easily happen that bedding or food that already has ants on it is brought into the hamster’s cage and thus begins their colony in the hamster’s home.
Ants love fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as other sweet treats, especially those that are based on honey.
Ants eat anything and everything, such as seeds, grains, insects and other similar types of food. Since hamsters often eat dried insects and grains, it is challenging for ants to settle in their cage.
Ants also need water which means they will find food and water here. Ants settle in if they feel leftover food, which often happens with hamsters.
Many times there are parts of uneaten food around the cage, which encourages the ants to come and settle in the hamsters.
If the cage is clean without food remaining, then there will be no ants; that is the best prevention of the appearance of ants.
What is the danger of ants to hamsters?
There is a danger from ants and hamsters, but it all depends on which species of ants will attack the hamsters.
And ants don’t want to challenge larger animals like hamsters, but some of them still attack.
Ants attack hamsters and protect against larger opponents; that is their nature of the defense.
How do ants settle in hamsters?
When ants settle in a particular place such as a hamster’s cage, they usually make a nest inside the hamster’s bedding.
It is very difficult to remove them in an easy way, usually you will have to completely change the entire bedding of the cage to clean it of ants.
It is good to clean them, but on the other hand, it will cause stress and nervousness in the hamster because the smell that our pets are used to will be removed.
Can ants bite hamsters?
Yes, ants can bite the hamsters and cause itching and pain in the hamsters; sometimes even swelling can occur in those places.
However, most of the time, their bites are not dangerous for hamsters. Ants use mandibles to bite and pinch the skin. Certain ants bite, but not all types of ants.
Depending on their species, ants can bite the hamster, but there are also those that will not bite our pet and move aside.
The most dangerous ants for hamsters are:
- harvester ants
- fire ants
These two types of ants have very painful bites that can also cause an allergy in hamsters.
Other types of ants that bite are the following:
- wood ants
- raspberry ants
- acrobat ants
- sugar ants
Some ants can spray acids on the skin of hamsters, which causes an allergy and irritations such as itching.
They are the following types of ants:
- bulldog ants
- red ants
As can be concluded, there are various types of ants, some are more harmful to hamsters, and some are less harmful or do not cause any side effects in our pets.
How to remove ants from a hamster’s cage?
To remove ants from the hamster’s cage, there are several possible ways that you will succeed in removing them from the hamsters.
Here are the steps you can take to remove ants successfully.
Remove the food from the cage
Ants love fresh food from vegetables and fruits and sweet food, which attracts them the most to the hamster’s cage.
Therefore, if the hamsters do not eat all the food, remove it from the cage after 20 minutes.
Otherwise, ants may appear, and it will be much more challenging to clean the place from them; you will have to clean the cage completely.
Read more: Why Is My Hamster Sleep More Then Usual? (Find Out Now)
Change of bedding
Changing the bedding in the hamster cage is necessary if ants appear in it. Ants are tiny, and you will not be able to remove them from the cage in any other way.
The bedding will have to be removed entirely and the entire cage disinfected along with the wheel, toys and all other items inside.
Although hamsters do not like such general cleaning of the cage, there is still no other solution and it must be done as soon as possible to clean the ants.
Ant removal with diatomaceous earth
Diatomaceous earth is a great way to remove ants from your hamster’s cage effectively.
Diatomaceous earth is a powder obtained from diatoms, microscopic fossilized aquatic organisms and algae shells.
This powder acts effectively on the exoskeleton of the ants, dehydrating and absorbing the water, fats and oils from the ants.
The good thing about diatomaceous earth is that it is not harmful to hamsters and their health.
First, take the hamster to another place outside the cage, put some of the powder in the cage and outside around the cage itself and leave it to work for several hours to kill the ants.
Then take a vacuum to pick up the dust, wipe the cage with disinfectant, put new bedding, and put the hamster back in the cage.
Prevention of ants in the cage of hamsters
Several ways prevent ants from appearing in a hamster’s cage.
Here are the best ways to prevent ants from attacking hamsters and their cage.
Move the cage to another location
Ants usually appear near windows and doors close to your home’s exit, so the cage should be placed further away.
Ants like a place where it is warm and the climate is humid, so the cage should be in a not too hot and humid place so that it is not an easy target for the ants.
The faster you move the cage, the better for the hamsters, otherwise they will settle inside and cause problems for both the hamster and the cage itself.
If you don’t remove the cage in time, you will have a lot more work to do, like changing the bedding, and the hamster will be nervous and under stress, which is bad for its health.
Natural ingredients to get rid of ants
Ants do not like some ingredients’ smell and will run away. Thus you will save the hamster from these pests.
Here are some of them that are very effective:
- lemon
- vinegar
- black pepper
- cinnamon
- peppermint oil
All these ingredients will stop the ants, because they will run away from the smell, but be careful not to put them too close to the cage so as not to irritate your hamsters and their respiratory system.
Regular cleaning of the cage
If you clean the cage regularly you don’t have to worry about the appearance of ants.
You don’t have to do it every day, but three times a week is quite enough to prevent the appearance of ants.
Ants always come when dirt or food remains and similar things attract them.
Read more: What Temperature Is Too Hot For Hamsters? (Let’s Discover)
Take care of your home
To reach the cage, the ants have their own route into your home. They usually enter through front doors or windows.
Sometimes a hamster cage is a collateral damage if the hamsters first got in because of food left elsewhere in your home.
Therefore, apart from cleaning the cage, the home should also be clean so there are no ants.
Conclusion
Ants are harmful to hamsters’ health and can cause various diseases because they transmit both toxigenic and pathogenic microorganisms.
Hamsters can eat the ants and use the protein, calcium and iron, but they should eat only a few ants.
Depending on their species, ants can bite hamsters, the most dangerous are harvester ants and fire ants, which can cause allergies and other side effects for the health of our pet.
The best ways to prevent the appearance of ants is to maintain cage hygiene, remove uneaten food and place the cage away from doors and windows.
Not all ants are harmful and dangerous for hamsters, but it is best not to come near the hamsters and their cage.
