Bugs in his water dish, should I be worried?

So, it's my first summer in my new home and of course a new location (same town). I've noticed pretty much since summer started that Crowley has been getting little bugs in his water dishes. I keep his enclosure clean, his java perches and bamboo are all clean and stay dry. I have reptile carpet as bedding so it can't be coming from the substrate. I have not seen these bugs anywhere else in the house, only in Crowley's water bowls. Is this something I should be worried about or is this just normal bugs going and drowning themselves in Crowley's water for the summer? I change his water every 2nd day, I'd change it daily but I use well water which I have to go to my parents place to get and don't want to bother them too much, my parrot and I also drink that water. City water here is just gross and well water is much better than store bought spring water and it's also free. The bugs I find are always dead/drowned and I assume they come in from the screen on top the enclosure as the bugs are small enough to fit there. I keep the humidity at 55% or 70% while Crowley is shedding. Here are a few pictures of the bug I found this morning.

Here it is without the zoom so you can see how small it is, this happened to be the biggest one I've found so far.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/yjrLuay.jpg

Here it is with zoom so you can maybe tell what kind of bug it is.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/s8veNCg.jpg

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Originally Posted by Valyndris

So, it's my first summer in my new home and of course a new location (same town). I've noticed pretty much since summer started that Crowley has been getting little bugs in his water dishes. I keep his enclosure clean, his java perches and bamboo are all clean and stay dry. I have reptile carpet as bedding so it can't be coming from the substrate. I have not seen these bugs anywhere else in the house, only in Crowley's water bowls. Is this something I should be worried about or is this just normal bugs going and drowning themselves in Crowley's water for the summer? I change his water every 2nd day, I'd change it daily but I use well water which I have to go to my parents place to get and don't want to bother them too much, my parrot and I also drink that water. City water here is just gross and well water is much better than store bought spring water and it's also free. The bugs I find are always dead/drowned and I assume they come in from the screen on top the enclosure as the bugs are small enough to fit there. I keep the humidity at 55% or 70% while Crowley is shedding. Here are a few pictures of the bug I found this morning.

Here it is without the zoom so you can see how small it is, this happened to be the biggest one I've found so far.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/yjrLuay.jpg

Here it is with zoom so you can maybe tell what kind of bug it is.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/s8veNCg.jpg

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If you have noticed these little bugs in other places in your house then it’s probably a bug from the surrounding area that was attracted to the water then died there.


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Originally Posted by NewmanLovesSnakes

If you have noticed these little bugs in other places in your house then it’s probably a bug from the surrounding area that was attracted to the water then died there.


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I've only seen this kind of bug in his water dish and nowhere else in the house or around the house outside.

I would call it up to just little buggies in the house this time of year. Just keep an eye on it.

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Originally Posted by Craiga 01453

I would call it up to just little buggies in the house this time of year. Just keep an eye on it.

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That's what I figured but I worry about everything so might as well ask. Weird that they don't end up in my bird's water, I guess a tank is easier to climb than a cage.

Are they fruit flies? It's hard to tell from pics. If they're fruit flies you can set "traps" for them. We have a few in my house right now. You can just put a little bit of apple cider vinegar in a glass, open jar, etc. and add a drop of dish soap to break the surface tension. Some people also cover it with a piece of plastic wrap and poke holes in it, but I don't really see the point of that since they drown in the vinegar and can't get out anyway. If they are / could be fruit flies you could put one of those little traps near the enclosure so they're attracted to that instead of the water dish? Even if they're some other kind of bug that kind of trap might be worth a shot.

That looks like a fungus gnat. They often breed in potted plants when you overwater them. Do you have any plants in the house? They may be migrating to your enclosure and breeding there as well.

Do get rid of them I would temporarily move any plants outside to dry for a few weeks and thoroughly clean the enclosure and reduce humidity as much as possible for a while to keep them away.

You can put a towel over the screen to prevent them from getting in.

Pretty sure it's harmless & just part of the "seasonal invasion"....no extra charge for the protein, as they say. ;)

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Originally Posted by royalreilly

Are they fruit flies? It's hard to tell from pics. If they're fruit flies you can set "traps" for them. We have a few in my house right now. You can just put a little bit of apple cider vinegar in a glass, open jar, etc. and add a drop of dish soap to break the surface tension. Some people also cover it with a piece of plastic wrap and poke holes in it, but I don't really see the point of that since they drown in the vinegar and can't get out anyway. If they are / could be fruit flies you could put one of those little traps near the enclosure so they're attracted to that instead of the water dish? Even if they're some other kind of bug that kind of trap might be worth a shot.

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I will try this and see how it goes, thanks for the advice. I don't think they are fruit flies but I will try this method regardless.

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Originally Posted by GoatBoy

That looks like a fungus gnat. They often breed in potted plants when you overwater them. Do you have any plants in the house? They may be migrating to your enclosure and breeding there as well.

Do get rid of them I would temporarily move any plants outside to dry for a few weeks and thoroughly clean the enclosure and reduce humidity as much as possible for a while to keep them away.

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I had potted plants downstairs in May but now they are outside in the garden. I will try royalreilly's suggestion first.

Me personally where I live is bug heaven. I’ve seen so many crazy bugs in my house it’s been unreal, that being said I see some things more regularly like flys and the little winged bugs like you have pictured here. Also take into consideration where the enclosure is might also be close to where they are getting in from the outside. That could also be a reason why you are only seeing them in the water. Something in the enclosure might be the only thing in the house attracting them. That being said I would monitor or try to prevent them from getting in if possible but I would not take up major concern that they will hurt your pet. I’m sure you baby will be fine, they deal with way more annoying bugs in the wild I’m sure.


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Well I did the vinegar in a couple cups trick, I haven't had bugs in Crowley's water bowls since then but the funny thing is there's no bugs in the vinegar mix either. Will give it more time and update you all on how it works out.

Just an update for you all and for anyone that may be having the same issue. I haven't seen a single bug in Crowley's water dish since I put 2 cups with the vinegar mix behind his tank. Weird thing is the cups still also have no bugs. Maybe it was just a coincidence that the bug season ended for that kind of bug I was getting as I put the cups or maybe the smell of vinegar deters them, no idea but I'm just glad Crowley no longer has bugs in his water bowls. :)

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Originally Posted by Valyndris

Just an update for you all and for anyone that may be having the same issue. I haven't seen a single bug in Crowley's water dish since I put 2 cups with the vinegar mix behind his tank. Weird thing is the cups still also have no bugs. Maybe it was just a coincidence that the bug season ended for that kind of bug I was getting as I put the cups or maybe the smell of vinegar deters them, no idea but I'm just glad Crowley no longer has bugs in his water bowls. :)

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Let me get the recipe for that vinegar mix if you don’t mind? I could sure use that around this big infested place lol


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Originally Posted by NewmanLovesSnakes

Let me get the recipe for that vinegar mix if you don’t mind? I could sure use that around this big infested place lol


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https://www.organiclesson.com/6-ways...gnats-at-home/

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Originally Posted by NewmanLovesSnakes

Let me get the recipe for that vinegar mix if you don’t mind? I could sure use that around this big infested place lol


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All I did was put a bit of apple cider vinegar and a hint of dish soap in a few solo cups, put plastic wrap on it and poked holes in it. :)