Bugs in Repti Bark?

[TRL94]

Ok well I was cleaning my cage like right now lol and I saw a little white fly on my ball. I thought maybe it got inside my house, but to be safe a stared at the tank and saw these two real tiny white looking things crawling on the side of the cage? What are they do I need to completely empty the cage and put new substrate? And what are the tincy wincy lil bugs.

[joshn6805]

wood mites or aphiads. throw the rest of the bark in the oven at 130 degrees for 30 minutes and replace the substrate in the enclosure with the sterile substrate.

[TRL94]

Well I decided to swift threw the repti bark. He pooped two days ago in his hide and the pee from it must of went down to the bottom of the tank cause I found a whole lot more of white bugs and now black bugs same size.

[bsd13]

Well I decided to swift threw the repti bark. He pooped two days ago in his hide and the pee from it must of went down to the bottom of the tank cause I found a whole lot more of white bugs and now black bugs same size.

I've managed to buy more than my share of bug infested bedding, especially repti-bark. I figure it comes with the territory. First few times I made an issue out of it but it got to be too much of a hassle trying to get my money back. Now I either bake it, or dump it and stick with newspaper and/or paper towels.

[joshn6805]

Well I decided to swift threw the repti bark. He pooped two days ago in his hide and the pee from it must of went down to the bottom of the tank cause I found a whole lot more of white bugs and now black bugs same size.

They are attracted to moisture, are you sure they are small black bugs and not brown or red ones? has your snake been soaking? im trying to make sure you dont have mites either.

[TRL94]

Yeah to morrow im going to my local reptile shop- Underground Reptiles -and im just going to buy cage carpet. Yes they were only white but I saw a tiny black one. I can't do any cleaning right now since my parents are asleep and my alarm is loud as a train horn lol. So I just wrapped the top of the cage up so no bugs get out. Luckly I have a nice large tub I already made for my ball when I bring him to my friends house. Should I be worried about if anything happened to my snake?

[joshn6805]

I would stay away from the cage carpet, its a horrible substrate that is a breeding ground for bacteria. I would recommend aspen, or newspaper. no the bugs dont harm your snake they were just attracted to the moisture.

[TRL94]

Yeah just harmless eaters of wood waste. Since thats what I saw under the repti bark pee and fecal-matter. But im still just going to go get cage carpet so I don't need to freak out again lol

[joshn6805]

Im just trying to tell you that the cage carpet is hard to maintain, even after washing it, it can still have bacteria on it, aspen or newspaper is the best choice but its your snake so I cant tell you what to do. The humidity is going to be very hard to maintain also.

[TRL94]

What about aspen? Also when I got to clean the cage out tomorrow how should I clean it? Should I bleach it out? Just put really hot water?