Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

I tried posting this before but it didn't go through completely. Anyway, my hatchlings have been living in a terrarirum for some time now and I have planted various temperate woodland plants in there along with dirt from the forest where I gathered the plants. I baked the dirt before putting it in for the initial setup, but after 2 months there have been an increasingly large population of tiny (< 1mm bugs)that are swarming all over the tank. AT first I thought they may be parasitic but I noticed them eating leftover food that the turtles drop as well as their droppings. Should I be worried about these bugs? They don't seem to be harming the turtles and the turtles don't notice them. The whole terrarium seems to be growing well just like a natural habitat. Thanks.

Johnny

I've had similar infestations in my roach colonies before, the only way to get rid of them was to remove all the uneaten food, completely replace the substrate and reduce the temperature for two weeks so that the beetles would be able to go without food and just a little water until the infestation had ceased--I couldn't get the little bugs off the hundreds of roaches I have any other way.

The next step was to search a nearby forest for a few dozen wood lice who I feel are doing the job of keeping the infestation from coming back. Your tutle won't mind a few wood lice in its enclosure either if you want to employ some for the same purpose.

Randy
DeadFish Herpetological