Reptile & Amphibian Forums

About 3 months ago I planted a 2ft x 3ft container with grass seed that I attained thru turtle cafe a couple years ago. It has grown great but since it has warmed up a little I noticed a few little "nats" flying around. Upon closer examination of my grass try I found that there are a couple dozen of them living in there. The grass doesnt seem to be effected by them, but I want to get rid of them. Is there anything I can do in order to exterminate them without either a) throwing out the grass tray or b) using something that will contaminate the grass and make it harmful for the tortoises. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Grape

Get a "Pest Strip" and hang it near your plants. It will kill the bugs but not harm the tortoises. These are yellow plastic bars treated with chemicals which you hang in a holder in a given room or area. The chemical kills bugs. I have used these for 30 years to control bugs, flies, etc. in both snake and tortoise rooms with no ill effects on reptiles. These used to be called "No Pest Strips" and were made by Shell, but now different companies make them. I don't recommend hanging them directly over your tortoise enclosure, but 5-7 feet away is OK. They can be cut up into 1" or 2" lengths and put directly into or on top of snake cages to kill mites. One warning, if you keep chameleons or other lizards and have crickets on hand, these strips will kill the crickets, so you must move cricket bins to an untreated area. BILL ZOVICKIAN

if you get the gnats. I think the process of growing grasses
indoors in a tray will be a short-term project (you have a
sulcata right?), so you won't have this problem for long
anyways.