very tiny bugs in my vivarium

kevin · #1 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 07:23 PM

I have these very very very tiny bugs in my vivarium w/ my RETF's. They seem to be white round shaped with antenna's & they are beneath the surface on the side walls. I see like 4-5 of them, just running around. I have LECA, Organic Soil, Cocofiber, and Spaghnum moss. Should I be worried about them hurting my RETF's? I have no idea what they are.

hmm.. looked at it more closely. There def. seems to be more then 5. They aren't on the top layer, they are between the leca/soil. Least I can't see them on the top layer.

froggsong · #2 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 08:08 PM

they're probably springtails. if so, they are an essential part of your ecosystem. they help break down waste.

kevin · #3 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by froggsong

they're probably springtails. if so, they are an essential part of your ecosystem. they help break down waste.

I've read about spring tails, but these guys seem to be round. Spring tails are more football shape.

I'm thinking the bugs in my tank are mites. I'm still researching..

kevin · #4 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 08:16 PM

They don't seem to be anywhere else but below the substrate. Their antenna's are significantly longer then them. I can't seem to see a tail.. but their so tiny it strains my eyes

kevin · #5 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 09:27 PM

I bought a magnifying glass. It's still hard to see, but I actually can see skinny long larva squiggling around in the water. They also seem to be eating a dead cricket that is down in the substrate. The thing that is keeping me sane is there not coming above the substrate.. just staying below it.
they are fast moving too

they look liek these soil mites

or the picture of the aphid

beckdg · #6 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009, 02:02 AM

that's no aphid in that first photo... that's for sure!

kevin · #7 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beckdg

that's no aphid in that first photo... that's for sure!

yeah, well, they are that shape. I can't see them being hairy & having pinchers in front. They just seem to be staying underneath the substrate. As long as they don't kill my plants or frogs, and stay underneath, stay all you'd like!

Bamboo Dart Frog · #8 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009, 05:26 PM

I don't think those are much of a problem. I believe there were some mites that of your description in my dart frogs cage. He ate them and was fine. But you still should do some more resarch just to be on the safe side. One thing's forsure though, they are definently not aphid. Aphids to my knowledge tend to be on the stems of plants.

kevin · #9 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bamboo Dart Frog

I don't think those are much of a problem. I believe there were some mites that of your description in my dart frogs cage. He ate them and was fine. But you still should do some more resarch just to be on the safe side. One thing's forsure though, they are definently not aphid. Aphids to my knowledge tend to be on the stems of plants.

I'm looking around really closely and now I see little guys with wings(wings kinda look blueish) flying on top of the substrate. Not flying higher then maybe 2inches.

I ordered another cage to get rid of all these pests. I don't know if there good or not, but there going. Exo terra 24x18x24 w/ stand($350 later). it will replace my 18x18x24. I know what i'm getting into this time, so least thats good. I really want to keep my plants, so I'm going to try to rinse them out as well as possible. How do I clean the new soil?

They also don't seem to be doing harm to anything. Just moving fast/flying around. I'm sure my frogs will like them as a treat. My plants are also thriving, so I'm real confused. LOL.

If it starts to get real infested, I will move everything ASAP. Otherwise, I will take my time with the new setup

Also replaced my filter, it was pretty dirty. Woke up one frog while changing it. Was surprised because I've moved tons of stuff before and they never woke up. He got quite the scare and scrambled to the top of the cage, lol.

kevin · #10 (**permalink**) Today, 12:41 AM

Well, I woke up this morning to 2 dead frogs. It's the frogs I just got on Tuesday. The other 2 that I got a few weeks ago are still alive. After work, I made a quick little cage w/ paper towls and fake plants and put my remaining 2 RETF's in that tank.

I tore the old tank down, and discovered worm like larvae, tiny little white bugs, then little gnat/flies... mostly just flapping there wings very fast, but not flying. I've been working on it cleaning it since 5:30pm & now it's 12:38am.

I made a new design for my cage to make things easier this time around. I was about to put the soil in, when I dumped it in a container to see if the bugs are in the new soil. YEP, they are. I'm using Organic Soil... I don't know if it's a bad patch of soil, or maybe all of the soils have them. Obviously have to wait till tomorrow now to get more soil.

I don't know whether the bugs killed my frogs, which I really don't think they did. They moved too fast for mights, and seemed like they would turn into gnat/flies anyway. That's if they would have a larvae, then tiny white bug, then bug with wings, heh.

Either way, it made me very uneasy, so I tore it all down. I have a headache, and I haven't eaten since lunch. I suppose I should have a snack. FML