Little white bugs

[TurtleTime]

One of my vivs had these little white bugs in it. I dont think they are spring tails or pill bugs. They almost look like gnats but are not flying. Just crawling and walking. Anyone know what they could be? thanks.

[lillyviv]

TurtleTime,
I'm so glad that you posted this, I logged onto the forum today specifically to ask for help/advice with little white bugs in my newly set up viv too.
I don't want to hijack your post, but it seemed silly for me to do a parallel post on the exact same topic. The bugs in my tank are more round than long so I don't think they're springtails, which look a little longer than round. These bugs are super tiny-- as small, or smaller than a period-sized dot. So I think that they might be spider mites-- the horticulturists bane.
I tried Marty's excellent c02 bomb found here:

Eliminating terrarium pests - Orchid Board

Mites

but, like him, the darn things are still kicking afterward... Does anyone have any ideas or advice?
I'm thinking about trying to get my hands on some ladybugs or something but I don't know if spider mites are on the ladybug's menu. I can't use chemicals because I'm cycling the viv for dart frogs (eventually).
TurtleTime, I hope some of this info is helpful, here’s hoping someone can give us some good (greatly appreciated) advice!

[JimO]

The dart frogs will likely eat them and solve the problem for you. My darts are always hunting tiny insects and larvae between feedings. I sometimes see tiny mite-like critters and tiny worm-like larvae on the glass that even my largest darts will to back flips to catch. So, unless they're harming your plants, and since you intend to put darts in the viv, I wouldn't do anything other than the CO2 bomb.

Also, CO2 gas is heavier than air, so before you put darts in the viv, make sure it is fully ventilated. Otherwise a layer could persist at the bottom of the viv and kill the frogs.

Originally Posted by lillyviv

TurtleTime,
I'm so glad that you posted this, I logged onto the forum today specifically to ask for help/advice with little white bugs in my newly set up viv too.
I don't want to hijack your post, but it seemed silly for me to do a parallel post on the exact same topic. The bugs in my tank are more round than long so I don't think they're springtails, which look a little longer than round. These bugs are super tiny-- as small, or smaller than a period-sized dot. So I think that they might be spider mites-- the horticulturists bane.
I tried Marty's excellent c02 bomb found here:

Eliminating terrarium pests - Orchid Board

Mites
but, like him, the darn things are still kicking afterward... Does anyone have any ideas or advice?
I'm thinking about trying to get my hands on some ladybugs or something but I don't know if spider mites are on the ladybug's menu. I can't use chemicals because I'm cycling the viv for dart frogs (eventually).
TurtleTime, I hope some of this info is helpful, here’s hoping someone can give us some good (greatly appreciated) advice!

[JimO]

Originally Posted by TurtleTime

One of my vivs had these little white bugs in it. I dont think they are spring tails or pill bugs. They almost look like gnats but are not flying. Just crawling and walking. Anyone know what they could be? thanks.

There are two groups of springtails, based on body shape. Some are elongated and would have bodies shaped like a piece of rice. Others are more rounded (referred to as globular springtails). There are thousands of species in both groups and they feed on fungus.

Is your viv only plants or do you have any animals? Dart frogs would make quick work of them.

[JimO]

Here are pictures of a white globular springtail, a white regular springtail, and some springtails next to a penny for size comparison.

[JoeG]

My very non-scientific test is to gently blow on them...if they jump...they are springtails.

[lillyviv]

Jim O,
Thanks so much for your help, especially for those fantastic pictures! They were really helpful! I looked all over the web but could not find anything so useful.
I think my bugs might be (sure hope they are) the globular springtails. Their population has exploded; they are all over the viv. I tried not to freak out about it, but once they started crawling outside the viv and onto my sweet little orchid Haraela Odorata, that was it, it was war (if they were mites). I'll be able to sleep a lot more soundly if they are the globular springtails-- good thing too since the c02 bomb didn't touch them.
Thanks too, for the good advice about the frogs. Luckily, I set the viv up right before starting grad school, so I'm planning on letting the viv cycle for at least a year while I'm busy, before adding the little darts. I'd like to post a pic of the viv, but it's only been set up for about 3 weeks now, and it still needs to fill in a bit before I'm ready to show it to the pro's.
Thanks again for your help, I really appreciate it!

[JimO]

Newly set up vivaria typically have a lot of fungus, which is probably what caused the springtail population explosion. They'll eat it up and then die back to a stable population. It's funny because I just spent $30 to have several types of springtails shipped to me so that I can get them started in a couple of vivs since I recently acquired some thumbnail dart frogs. I never needed them before because I've always had larger species. And, without trying, you have accomplished that for free!

Originally Posted by lillyviv

Jim O,
Thanks so much for your help, especially for those fantastic pictures! They were really helpful! I looked all over the web but could not find anything so useful.
I think my bugs might be (sure hope they are) the globular springtails. Their population has exploded; they are all over the viv. I tried not to freak out about it, but once they started crawling outside the viv and onto my sweet little orchid Haraela Odorata, that was it, it was war (if they were mites). I'll be able to sleep a lot more soundly if they are the globular springtails-- good thing too since the c02 bomb didn't touch them.
Thanks too, for the good advice about the frogs. Luckily, I set the viv up right before starting grad school, so I'm planning on letting the viv cycle for at least a year while I'm busy, before adding the little darts. I'd like to post a pic of the viv, but it's only been set up for about 3 weeks now, and it still needs to fill in a bit before I'm ready to show it to the pro's.
Thanks again for your help, I really appreciate it!

[TurtleTime]

Im not sure if those little SOBs are those or not. To me they look like gnats but another part of me says they look like the springtails.

[JimO]

Try giving Joe's test a go.

Originally Posted by TurtleTime

Im not sure if those little SOBs are those or not. To me they look like gnats but another part of me says they look like the springtails.