Mites things?

I recently used a fresh bag of reptibark and today when I spot cleaned these tiny tiny white bugs scattered from where I parted the substrate. Any experience with what these are? they're too small to get a picture of. They kind of flash light that bounces off them when they move.

Search & compare them with "wood mites", that would be my guess. ;)

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Search & compare them with "wood mites", that would be my guess. ;)

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That looks like it could be them thanks... I didn't realize reptibark comes damp. It's always 100% humidity in the viv now. Don't know if they came in the bag or showed up. Guess I'll dump it all and order dry substrate.

Probably wood mites. They are harmless and will go away on their own as long as conditions are not too damp if that's what they are. Not sure what you mean with the light thing though.

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Originally Posted by nikkubus

Probably wood mites. They are harmless and will go away on their own as long as conditions are not too damp if that's what they are. Not sure what you mean with the light thing though.

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Their backs are reflective is all I mean. So I was guessing their backs were semi flat. I didn't know if that would help in identification. They are too small to make out defining features.

You could just bake the substrate for a while on a "slow" oven (150* for about 45 minutes), that would kill them & you don't have to waste it.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

You could just bake the substrate for a while on a "slow" oven (150* for about 45 minutes), that would kill them & you don't have to waste it.

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I'll try that. Thanks! I wasn't sure if it would be easier to bake it or toss it. It'd be a decent amount so I'd spend several hours rotating out pans to bake it and the extra substrate I have in a bin. I don't know if they're in the bin with the leftover reptibark but if I'm going to nuke it (throw out or bake) I should probably nuke it all.

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Originally Posted by Trinityblood

I'll try that. Thanks! I wasn't sure if it would be easier to bake it or toss it. It'd be a decent amount so I'd spend several hours rotating out pans to bake it and the extra substrate I have in a bin. I don't know if they're in the bin with the leftover reptibark but if I'm going to nuke it (throw out or bake) I should probably nuke it all.

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Personally, I'd bake it. Even though it takes a while to do multiple batches, you can just set your oven timer & watch the Olympics or do other things while it bakes- it's not "labor-intensive".
I would imagine they came in your bag of Repti-bark- you're not the first one this has happened to. ;)

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Personally, I'd bake it. Even though it takes a while to do multiple batches, you can just set your oven timer & watch the Olympics or do other things while it bakes- it's not "labor-intensive".
I would imagine they came in your bag of Repti-bark- you're not the first one this has happened to. ;)

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Not labor intensive, but time intensive. I have to find the time >.<. I won't leave the house with the oven on so I can only bake some if it. I didn't know they were common in reptibark. Sigh.

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Originally Posted by Trinityblood

Not labor intensive, but time intensive. I have to find the time >.<. I won't leave the house with the oven on. I didn't know they were common in reptibark. Sigh.

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I know, & in summer, I avoid running my oven too. Glad you don't leave with oven on- :gj: You definitely want to keep an eye on the stove/oven when it's on, whether food or baking substrate.

I didn't get any bugs in my Repti-Bark, but I just know others have posted about it, & not just this product specifically, but any similar ones that are "appealing" to the little buggers. It's not all the time, but it can happen. The bags have small air holes & then sometimes bugs find a "home".