Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hello I got a question its probably been answered before I have these little white bugs in my dart frog cages they almost look like fruit fly larva. I was wondering if these in anyway can harm my frogs or frogs eggs. thanks
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0.0.4 AZUREUS 1.1 pictus
0.0.3 KLEMMERI
0.0.1 GRANDIS
0.0.3 STANDINGI

Are they springtails? Do a google image search to see if they are springtails. If they are, springtails are a good food source.
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Homer W. Faucett III, esq.
Purveyor of Trivialities and Fine Nonsense

They are not springtails, they look more like a little white worm such as a fruit fly lavae,but noit as big.I found them on a dead cricket one time. If I look real close they are on the front glass, sometimes the frogs will eat them.If anyone has any ideas let me know thanks.
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0.0.4 AZUREUS 1.1 pictus
0.0.3 KLEMMERI
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Sorry, I wasn't trying to be patronizing. I just didn't recognize you here and thought that springtails might be a logical starting point.
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Homer W. Faucett III, esq.
Purveyor of Trivialities and Fine Nonsense

They are probably either soil or carrion fly larva. Since you said they are on the dead cricket it makes me think the second. I doubt they pose a threat. And the fact that your frog sometimes eats them makes me think that they are probably a healthy supplemental food source. In my opinion anything you have growing in your tank on its own that your frog eats is a good thing. It's also good if they are eating the dead crickets because it means they are taking some of the load that mold and possibly harmful bacteria would be doing. Rule of thumb the more steps there are to decomposition the better. animal eats an animal; animal eats that animals waste; then micro-organisms break that downthat waste; and finally bacteria should be the last step.

PROBABLY JUST SPRING TAILS, I HAVE TONS IN MY TANKS. HARMLESS AND A GOOD ADDITIONAL FOOD SOURCE !

Sounds like they are grindal or white worms. They are harmless. Much like springtails they are decomposers. They are cultured and fed by tropical fish breeders. They are good food for frogs but they find them particularly hard to eat because they stick to everything. I get them every once and a while climbing up the glass on my powder blue tank and I scrape them off with a razor and give em to my tads to eat. Either way, they are no worries.

Kevin Hoff

Thanks, they seem to be composers just was a little concerned about the safety of my frogs thanks again.
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