Bugs!

Hi
I once again have a large infestation of small insects in my ball's tank. They look like flies about the size of a pin head. About a month ago i noticed them at first and i completely cleaned out the tank, replaced the substrate, used a bleach and water mix to clean everything, and let it dry. Now i noticed them starting again, there are hundreds of them!! they are all gathering around the water dish, i have cleaned it out 2-3 times a day killing many of them, but they keep comming back. Does anyone know any tricks to kill these pesty things? I know they arn't feeding on any fecies from my snake, she hasn't eaten in 6 weeks and the last time she "went" was before i cleaned the tank. I don't know what they are feeding on... I am wondering if they are comming in the substrate. Its winter right now and the warmest day we have had in a long while has been -5 'C, and there are no insects like this flying around the place, they are convined to the tank. please any insite would help.

Kyle

They are mites. The only way I have properly gotten rid of them is with a product called Provent a mite.

http://www.pro-products.com/miteandtemp.html

Follow the instructions on the can and you will be mite free forever.

They might be coming from the substrate... what substrate are you using? You can try replacing it with newspaper to see if they go away. What else do you have in the tank?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Brimstone111888

They are mites. The only way I have properly gotten rid of them is with a product called Provent a mite.

---

Hmm... I'm pretty sure mites don't fly, but that was my first thought too.

Those sound like gnats. Taking out the substrate a replacing it with newsprint or paper towels should help. Provent a mite will probably kill them since it kills by dehydration

If it came in with the substrate then they may not actually be on your snake. Have you seen them on the snake or just in the tank? They could be wood mites which I believe have no desire to attack your snake. I would change to newspaper or paper towel after cleaning to see if they go away.

Sorry I didn't read the last line. If they are flying it could be from substrate.

i don't think they are mites, i looked at a lot of photos of different mites, i think the flies or gnats, i will replace the substrate with something else. I have dried drift wood, and plastic plants in there. The substrate is Exo Terra forest bark.

there are none on my snake :)

ok i got a closer look i don't think they have wings, i am going to see if i can get a picture of them and post it.

I am 100% sure from my own experience that if they are small, white and fly, they are knats. Yes they do come from the substrate or any near by plants. They like soil and wood so if you are using something like cypress mulch that would be likely where they came from. That also explains why changing the substrate didn't help. The PAM will kill them off for sure (provent-a-mite) or you can bake or microwave your substrate. Changing to newspaper is also a great idea. I got the same thing with cypress mulch and I just baked it for a bit, just be sure to keep a close eye on the oven if that is what you chose to do. If you microwave it, put it in a bowl, spray it damp with water and put it in there for 2 minutes or until it is quite hot to the touch. If you chose the oven, 15 minutes at 200 degrees should do it. This is what I have done in the past so this is just my own opinion.

Either way I'd look at Provent A mite. Even if they're not mites it'll still take care of them and be safe for your snake. I use provent a mite to take care of those giant crickets in our laundry room too.

Thanks everyone, i will pick up some of the prevent a mite stuff, i took a few picts of them just to be sure I will put them in my gallery. They are called Bug picts

Strange looking bug, but it doesn't look like a gnat.

I'm sure the Provent-a-mite and/or changing out the substrate will get rid of them, though. You might also want to bake the driftwood. I know wood has a tendency to harbor bugs in its crevices.

Good luck!

thanks