Bugs in tank but NOT mites?

[ShadowRep]

So I recently moved my baby python's water dish to the heated side of the tank to raise the humidity a bit(he's getting ready to molt! So excited) and this morning I went to refill it, and saw these wee little bugs crawling away from the edge, some heading back to the mulch, others actually trapped on the surface of the water, and all a tad but fast to be mites. I've dealt with mites before, I've had reptile mites on a gecko I adopted, have had wood mites on a colony of pill bugs from my biology teacher gave me(which later spread to my tarantula tanks- boy that was a disaster) and trust me when I say these little dudes are not mites.

Being my paranoid self I had to get a closer look and make sure, so I snagged one out of the water using a q-tip. They're wingless, elongated with a slight curve, segmented, and sand colored. It looked like it had short antennae but I can't be certain, considering I got about 2.5 seconds to inspect it before the bugger jumped away on me. It literally jumped right off the q-tip, like a fricken flea, and I hate fleas. Fleas mites and ticks are the three arthropods I cannot do, but these little guys are neither of the three, though likely to be added to my list.

I will be cleaning out the tank tonight after work, possibly giving my baby a rinse in the tub since whatever they are seem to like the moister but fail at swimming. I just want to know if any of you have had the same problem, and if it's something I should be whipping out the bug repelant for, and possible a vet trip. This is my first snake and I've only had him a month now, I'd hate to already have him in bad health.

[bcr229]

What are you using for substrate?

[ShadowRep]

Cypress mulch. It's the same thing his previous owner used, I use it for the more natural look. I purchased both the snake and mulch on the same day during a Reptile Expo down in Denver. Made sure it was heat treated, checked it just in case before I bought it just to make sure. I check his tank nearly every day for feces and such, but the past few days I've left him alone since he's getting ready to shed.

[bcr229]

Ah. Sounds like either the heat treat didn't get everything, or something laid eggs in it after it was treated but before it was packaged. I use cypress also, it's wonderful stuff.

[ShadowRep]

Do you think it's anything too serious, like percautions I should take other then a good clean out? I know it's not mites but it's small and annoying and I'm not sure if they'd pose any threat to my python regularly, but I'm not educated on whether they're more vulnerable to such things when they're molting. I

[bcr229]

No idea. I did find ants attempting to nest under a water bowl once; the ants were coming in from outside though. The enclosure got the PAM treatment and I used Torro bait at the entry point to kill off the main colony.

[ShadowRep]

Oh gosh, what's the PAM treatment? o.o

[6spdrt]

Provent-a-mite you can buy it at LLLREPTILE or thebeanfarm.Com

[ShadowRep]

Rock on! I'll have to check it out. You said PAM and I immediately thought of PAM cooking spray, sitting here like "there is no way that actually works." Thank you guys so much though. Really wish I knew what the buggers were, but so long as I get them out I'll be pretty content.

[Pythonfriend]

if its not mites, why treat for mites?

if they are really small and really fast then it could be springtails. in that case i would just ignore them. some springtails can be really beneficial.