Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have 3 giant african millipedes and although I have changed the peat moss and plants and completly cleaned out the tank using bleach, for the 2nd time I seem to find fleas in their tank. I have a cat that lives inside and shows no signs of fleas and no one that lives here has them, is it possible that the millipedes are carrying fleas? I don't notice them in the tank until I put cucumber in there, then after a while they flock all over the cucumber, but seem to be leaving the millipedes alone, if someone could help me out here, I've called all over and no one knows enough about them. Thanks!

Sarah

Those may be springtails,maybe?
http://tolweb.org/tree?group=Collembola&contgroup=Hexapoda
http://www.pestproducts.com/springtails.htm
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2070.html

I read all those pages and I couldn't find anything on there saying they would/could bite or sting, I've had a dog who had fleas and I'd have to say that I definately think there are fleas in the millipede tank, although there is a good chance it might be the spring tails and no one knows that they bite or sting. Thank you very much for your help though.

>>I read all those pages and I couldn't find anything on there saying they would/could bite or sting, I've had a dog who had fleas and I'd have to say that I definately think there are fleas in the millipede tank, although there is a good chance it might be the spring tails and no one knows that they bite or sting. Thank you very much for your help though.

Springtails are harmless. They eat decomposing vegetation much like the millipede itself. Springtails are a ghostly white color and much smaller in size compared to a flea. You really don't notice springtails unless there are enough of them around for their jumping to grab your attention.
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Wyvern