Python & Aphids, Problem, Major HELP

[pink_zombie]

Ok, so i know there are a few threads about mites, but i do not have mites, i have aphids, and they are in my tank, i have no house plants, but here is my story as short as i could make it:

I am having a problem, with my(ball python) snake tank.. To keep it short, i had tomatoe plants that were brought inside my house, had aphids, seen and got rid. however they seem to have went into my tank (big tank (4 ft x 1.5ft x 2ft(h)), i realized this, and shortly after baked the soil, wood etc, on 180F for 35mins, i have no idea if that was long enough as its "lots" of soil it was about two big trays in my oven, then two logs, the rest plastic plants, dish etc i washed throughly. After two months, i havent seen any aphids in my house (i have no house plants except lucky bamboo, which doesnt carry aphids), and now i see them again all over the tank. I am worried if i buy new soil and it happens that there is an aphid in the house it will fly in there and start again, but i truely believe the aphids are already in the tank and laid eggs, and thats where it is starting again(as they werent killed from the oven) from as there are tiny tiny aphids in there. so any advice? or known amount of temp, and time for baking the bark (wood) and the amount of soil i have? or natural stuff i can buy to kill aphids rather then mites, or would it work on aphids even though its for mites... help please....

Thank you

[Swingline0.0.1]

I would try using paper towels or newspaper, and get rid of anything wooden in the cage, or even nearby.

[pink_zombie]

so news paper instead of soil? i am sorta new to this so im not sure what is ok or not ok lol.. so then how do you keep the humidity up? i have a dry house being in canada, its winter here, so the soil keeps the moisture in when i spray the tank down, etc. also when she is going to shed she uses the log cave(arch) i have for her so she can use that to help her shed, without that im not sure what i could use... but please keep any advice coming lol..if i can keep the humidity up and have something for her to help her shed, without wood or soil i will forsure try it.

[Darkice]

Run all your cage furniture through the dishwasher. Toss out all your substrate. Spray down the cage with a 10% bleach solution. Make sure it is dry and clean of all the bleach smell. Use several sheets of newspaper for the substrate for a couple weeks to make sure there is no reoccurrence. Then replace with some aspen bedding.

[Darkice]

What works for me with the humidity is:when the snake starts getting cloudy eyes before shedding. I dump half a cup of water into the aspen bedding right above the under tank heating. It keeps the humidity high just during shedding. In a week when the snake is done shedding the humidity goes back to normal.
If you have a glass aquarium its hard keeping the humidity up. You can cover the top of the aquarium with plastic about 85% more or less as needed to cut off all the airflow. If you dont want to cover the tank just add a little water aboave the under tank heater right in the substrate. This system works great with aspen or cypress bedding. I would reccomend aspen though.

[pink_zombie]

ok and just to make sure, when you say newspaper, is that code for a special type of bought newspaper bedding for a tank, or just newspaper that comes in the mail? haah sorry if that sounds stupid but i like to make sure..

i dont have a dishwasher, so thats a no go, would baking the wood ( really dont want to get rid of it) help at all? wood meaning the wood arch, and two wood logs from the pet store. the rest i can soak in a tub with bleach solution and wash etc..

the soil yes i will get rid of, once i know i can just use regular old news paper..

[pink_zombie]

well i spray my tank every day just to keep the hum. at 50%, and also pour water in the subtrait to dampn the soil and then it drys out by evening and more so when shes about to shed. My house is super dry, older home. I do already have the plastic overtop of the tank.. and i have no idea what kind of subtrait i have.. but i have taken some pictures to give you a better idea.. hope this can help and pick out what soil i do have already and if i should just get some more after a couple of weeks of using newspaper.. thank you

[pink_zombie]

dark-winged fungus gnat

is what i found out it actually is.. so i guess im throwing out all the wood haha.. thanks for the help everyone

[Swingline0.0.1]

BTW i do mean regular old newspaper! It is easy!

[pink_zombie]

BTW i do mean regular old newspaper! It is easy!

awesome thank you..

i just know theres that "yesterdays news" for cats but you can buy that lol..