Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'VE HAD ENOUGH! If these #@*O&$)#@$ fruit flies don't start simultaneously spontaneously combusting I'm going to lose my friggin mind, and so is Puck! Does anyone here think it isn't safe to let the poop build up for a day or two, take him out, let them swarm it, and spray the little monsters with Raid? I'd have to scrub it I guess, but this has gone TOO far. I can't stand the disgusting little beasts, and he shouldn't have to worry about them crawling around in his bedding and biting him when he goes near them. Ugh, they're so wretched! I hate these things!

If you spray, I'd keep him out of the room for a day after washing it down. That's me....I sometimes get paranoid when it comes to my 'kids'. Ask my hubby! LOL! These flies probably have laid eggs. You may have to do this a few times to get rid of them after the eggs have hatched.
I wish you luck. I feel so sorry for your little guy. I hope it works!

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Kat
Ferret mom to Jasmine and Daffy
A Cheesehead from Wisconsin

We have to grow fruit flies for our frogs (we have a wingless strain so they are more like fruit crawlers) Anyway, I have a few suggestions for you.

1) Instead of raid, you may want to use something w/ less residue - One that I have found works great on little pests is to set a cigarette in a little pot of sand so that it is standing striaght up and light it. Put it in the cage and seal the whole thing off w/ a plastic bag. The nicotene in the smoke will kill just 'bout anything w/ a nervouse system. And to think - people actually intentionally put that in their bodies.

2) fruit fly eggs could be a problem, but they are only eggs for 1 day and they can't withstand freezing. so you can either let the cage sit in the sun for 24 hours - say as it is airing out from it's cigarette fumagation and then wash it down, or stick everything in the freezer (if you have that much space) 'till everything is frozen.

3) The larvae take a little over a week to mature to flies, so a good weekly cleaning of the cage AND surrounding area will keep the adult flies out of the picture (the flies will lay thier eggs above what they consider to be food so focus on the wall/furniture above and around the cage)

4) they are prolific breeders, so if you miss any - you will know it.

hope that is helpfull.

Russ

Boy Russ, that's some interesting info. I hope that can help her out. I know I'd hate to have to use a spray in my girls' room.
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Kat
Ferret mom to Jasmine and Daffy
A Cheesehead from Wisconsin

I know it's old fashioned, but I have used those sticky fly strips with much success for all kinds of flying bugs. They're non toxic, can be hung outside the cage wher the ferrets cannot get hurt by them and you can use as many as you want without fear of chemicals. You can usually find them in hardware stores and definitely in fed & grain places.
Nancy

whne i had fly problems with my turtles i just hung some of those fly strips in and around the cage. I don't think you can put them in his cage, but around should be good. took care of them, no problem and best of all, its non toxic. I also remember there beign a product that you could put in a cup with a lid and little slits that they were attracted to, you may ask a reptile shop.

I'm gonna try that out, good thinking, reptiles are sure to have this kind of problem... there must be something there! Yes!