No matter where I live I always seem to get these bugs in my harlan. Cannot figure out why either. I buy a 33lb bag and this last time I never rebagged it, because I'm going through it so much & I'm trying to just use blocks instead of dog food. Even if I put them in ziplock bags I still get these darn bugs. Can anyone relate to this or am I the only one. They are the ones that will borrow in the block.
Harlan & Bug Problem
- Thread starter Ratmom
- Start date
Help Support The Rat Shack Forum:
jorats
Loving rats since 2002.
This is very alarming. I wonder if the bugs are getting in from the distributor warehouse? You really need to contact the person that you are buying the blocks from. I've have a few bags and no bugs at all here.
edited to add: when I used to buy my LabDiets I did find bugs in that big bag of food, but those bags were kept in a big barn where it was always damp.
edited to add: when I used to buy my LabDiets I did find bugs in that big bag of food, but those bags were kept in a big barn where it was always damp.
I got this last bag with a harlan run, but I bought a big bag of mazuri before from a feed store I ended up with the same bugs and that's when I was in a apartment. Even if I seal them up in plastic bags somehow the bugs get in there. I even found tiny holes in the bottom of the ziplock bags before. Maybe I just need to get one of those little freezers and just freeze them, because this is driving me nuts.
jorats
Loving rats since 2002.
My concern would be that the bugs are living inside the Harlan. If you are putting them in ziploc bags and they are showing up in there, they must have hatched from the block itself?
A freezer would definitely be beneficial.
A freezer would definitely be beneficial.
Yick and my bag is sealed when I bring it home. Maybe I'll contact harlan and ask them about it. Last night I bagged a couple gallon size zip lock bags and they looked fine now this morning I see bugs crawling around in there. I buy 20 lb bags of rabbit food too for my buns and I've never had problems with bugs in their food so it has to be the harlan.
PiedPiper
Well-Known Member
I have no idea if this would be of any help to you, but a number of years ago, I got a tip from one of the dog lists I'm on to "add a few bay leaves to your bag of kibble to prevent buggies." I wonder if this trick would work with lab blocks too? I'm not a kibble feeder so I can't honestly say that I have firsthand knowledge if this works or not, but I *do* throw a few bay leaves into any bag of biscuit type treats I buy and haven't seen nary a bug (and I'm a little tightfisted with the treats so we don't go through them quite as fast as the dogs would like too!) - so it *seems* to work.
Does anyone know of any reason why I shouldn't throw in a couple of bay leaves into our opened bag of Mazuri lab blocks as a preventative measure?
Does anyone know of any reason why I shouldn't throw in a couple of bay leaves into our opened bag of Mazuri lab blocks as a preventative measure?
jorats
Loving rats since 2002.
I've never read anything about bay leaves being bad... Might be something to try. I put all my rat food in the freezer so there's no worries of buggies for me.
Yeah, bugs don't like Bay Leaves and they are completely harmless (they are an herb, and I put them in food like spaghetti sauce). They are whole leaves, so very easy to pick out and replace.
They are a natural ant repellant as well.
They are a natural ant repellant as well.
PiedPiper
Well-Known Member
jorats said:
Thanks, Jo. I could easily put the unopened bags in the freezer until needed. Any issues with previously frozen food getting a little "damp" from being in the freezer?
jorats
Loving rats since 2002.
I get my food in big 40lb bags, then I separate into smaller 3lb bags and freeze them. I never had any go damp on me. If it does, I would be worried for mold to set in.
PiedPiper
Well-Known Member
Vanessa said:
Thanks, Vanessa! That's what I hoped to hear. If there's no harm in it, I'm going to give it a try. Nothing to lose, except for a few bay leaves!
Godmother
Well-Known Member
Looks like the bay leaves and the freezer are a must for you in a warm damp climate like Texas'. But Harlan should be notified so that they can take precautions. Sounds like their warehouse needs better air conditioning or dehumidifying... maybe they need to call in an exterminator.
jennifervb
Well-Known Member
Ratmom said:
That's not good Ratmom!!! I order Harlan through the Crafty Rat and, like your order, mine comes in a Ziploc Bag. I have seen no bugs in it. I even went and checked again to make sure. :shock:
I keep my Harlan Blocks in their original bag and have that bag inside a plastic bin. What do you keep your ziploc bags in?
It would be interesting to know what kind of bugs they are. From what I understand; Rats will eat bugs too when they get the chance. :sick2: UGH.... :sick2: ....
oh well... to each his own.... :laugh4:
MumsyRat
Well-Known Member
I've never had anything like that show up in my Harlan, not even in the summer!
The source must be in the Texas plant or warehouse & you really should contact your rep and find out! I bet your bugs are some kind of weevil. Yuck!
Here's a link that helps to identify bugs:
http://www.whatsthatbug.com/pantry.html
The source must be in the Texas plant or warehouse & you really should contact your rep and find out! I bet your bugs are some kind of weevil. Yuck!Here's a link that helps to identify bugs:
http://www.whatsthatbug.com/pantry.html
PiedPiper
Well-Known Member
I apologize for hijacking the thread, but MumsyRat, I just wanted to let you know how much we're lovin' our new boys (a.k.a. the demolition derby!)! Don't you worry, your boys are in good hands! We'll take very good care of them!
(sigh) I think I'm in love!
:shock: I covet my daughter's rats!
Now back to your regularly scheduled progamming!
(sigh) I think I'm in love!
:shock: I covet my daughter's rats!
Now back to your regularly scheduled progamming!
jennifervb
Well-Known Member
PiedPiper said:I apologize for hijacking the thread, but MumsyRat, I just wanted to let you know how much we're lovin' our new boys (a.k.a. the demolition derby!)! Don't you worry, your boys are in good hands! We'll take very good care of them!
(sigh) I think I'm in love!
:shock: I covet my daughter's rats!
Now back to your regularly scheduled progamming!
Isn't it fun hijacking threads Gina? :wink:
I have no doubt that your little "demolition derby" is having one fanRATstick time in your care!!! :rose:
Lise
Well-Known Member
Could it possibly be from your house somehow?
The way some people always get bugs in their potatoes and others can keep potatoes in the closet and get no bugs.
Regardless, I would freeze it if you can.
The way some people always get bugs in their potatoes and others can keep potatoes in the closet and get no bugs.
Regardless, I would freeze it if you can.
Hubby found out those are little beetles and they are common in texas, but I figured out that If we store them in those giant ziplock bags the thick blue ones they stay away. Now that I relocated back to michigan I probably won't have that problem either.
Bronwyn
Well-Known Member
So did we figure out if the bugs hatched from the lab blocks? I'm guessing freezing already infested buckets isn't going to help the food? I'd hate to waste it if it's still okay for them.
I see I'm not the only one here, I got my Harlan from the summer run as well and I have a rather large colony of insects that I thought looked a lot like lice. Anyway, just discovered the jackpot - they're all in the Harlan bucket which is always sealed.
I see I'm not the only one here, I got my Harlan from the summer run as well and I have a rather large colony of insects that I thought looked a lot like lice. Anyway, just discovered the jackpot - they're all in the Harlan bucket which is always sealed.
jorats
Loving rats since 2002.
You've got bugs in your bucket of Harlan?
