Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So I switched, as you guys know, to soil and its about 12in deep for the baby whitethroat.

I fed it today, drenched the soil as it was getting a little dry and I come back later tonight to find a dozens of small white maggot like worms.

I just found a moth in there so I assume they are moth larvae.

Has anyone else had probs with soil and moths or other insect critters?

Also, I thought about diluting in water some of the same chemicals you worm the lizard since it is relatively nontoxic and would kill most parasites.

what do you think?

Are there any other substrates that would be less prone to insects as this is in my house and this isn't too appealing to the eye?

Thanks

It's hard to tell from that photo, but it looks more like worms left from a defecation. They quickly die after being "dumped" out of the host animal.

It's nothing to worry about, good husbandry is the best form of parasite control. Keep him well fed, hydrated, and proper temps and basking temps, and the monitor's system will regain control and keep the parastie level under control.
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Mike Heinrich,
Mike@amazontreeboa.org
www.amazontreeboa.org

I thought that as well but it's odd. They are not around any of the fecal matter. They are actually burrowing and consuming the moist organic matter in the soil. Normally maggots won't do such things housefly, etc, you know?

I'm trying to think of nontoxic insect natural repellants.

Can't really make out your picture.
How big are they, have you tried to match up with images of worms.
They don't look like roundworms, maybe hookworms. or just maybe some worms from the soil. How big are they?
The other thought is that they are a type of fly larva.
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WWW.LIZARDRC.COM

Ok, so I saw two tiny gnats yesterday. No biggie. Then tonight for feeding time there are a few dozen what looks like those green bottle flies all at the canopy. There are others whIch I thought they were dying or dead but others on other sides of the tank are alive and you can clearly see the maggots eating the liquid around the bark.

I'm afraid the soil change will bring more flies in. Again this is in my house and although he feels great I don't want to compromise the integrity of my home. I said I could dilute wormer and go from there but no answers on that.

I may switch and leave a nice size soil area in a low cut rubbermaid so he can dig. The rest would be a different substrate to which nothing would fester. You wanna dig, fine, flies, parasites in the home, not really my cup of tea...

Hello Snakey,
By the pic they look more like maggots than any parasite I have seen in monitor poo. I would leave the set up alone and not do any chemical treatments, etc. Also, about the rubbermaid and the soil, keep in mind that your monitor is looking to dig a home not play in the dirt so the more useable space the better. Best to you- Mike S