Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just posted this same message in the toads forum, but figured I may as well post it here also, since you guys with arrow frogs might have more experience with my problem!

I planted my firebelly toads' tank about 3-4 months ago and have just now started to notice gnats flying around inside. I have read that they are due to overwatered plants...however, I do not water the plants much. I think it is just getting damp inside due to the water side of the tank. Does anyone know how to get rid of the gnats without hurting the toads? I'm sure the toads do not mind them, although I don't think they eat them because the gnats are pretty tiny for firebellies. My main concern is thar I don't want the bugs to kill my plants. I believe I read that they eat the plants' roots...I'm not sure though. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
-----
~Heather~
3 German Shepherd Dogs (Tasha, Austin, & Kaiya)
1 Iguana (Irwin)
4 Firebelly Toads (Kirby, Gus, Pico, & Tiki)
1 Hypo Corn Snake (Egan- means "little fire")
3 Red-Eared Slider Hatchlings (Otis, Jasper, & Jade)
1 Southern Painted Hatchling (Milo)
Check out my website with most of my pets!

Chances are, they will neither annoy your frogs nor harm your plants. They could be a number of different gnats that show up everywhere in summer. They could also be fruit flies. These are not a problem at all in a dart terrarium, because darts eat them, but of course, they are too small for firebellies to bother with. I wouldn't sweat about them, though. They will disappear in winter, unless you live in a tropical climate.
-----
Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
5 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
5 D. imitator
6 D. leucomelas
4 D. pumilio Bastimentos
4 D. fantasticus
4 P. terribilis
4 D. reticulatus
4 D. castaneoticus

Thanks for your reply! I wish my toads would eat them! Those little guys are annoying (the gnats)! But at least they aren't likely to kill my plants!

I figured arrow frogs would eat them (lucky for you all into arrow frogs) I thought you guys would be more familiar with those gnats because of the humid conditions needed for your arrow frogs.

Thanks again!
-----
~Heather~
3 German Shepherd Dogs (Tasha, Austin, & Kaiya)
1 Iguana (Irwin)
4 Firebelly Toads (Kirby, Gus, Pico, & Tiki)
1 Hypo Corn Snake (Egan- means "little fire")
3 Red-Eared Slider Hatchlings (Otis, Jasper, & Jade)
1 Southern Painted Hatchling (Milo)
Check out my website with most of my pets!

The darts eat gnats so fast we don't get a chance to study them much. I am always introducing leaves of aphids from the gardens. I know that these aphids I collect are pretty plant specific and unlikely to infest the terrarium plants, but even if they could, they'd have no chance. The darts gather around them like some decadent chocolate whipped cream desert the gang is sharing in a fancy restaurant.
-----
Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
5 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
5 D. imitator
6 D. leucomelas
4 D. pumilio Bastimentos
4 D. fantasticus
4 P. terribilis
4 D. reticulatus
4 D. castaneoticus

I had this same problem a few months ago when I set up some ten gallon tanks for dart frogs. The tanks have a screen section to prevent the glass from fogging up and the knats were able to squeeze through the screen and go from tank to tank. There were like 20 knatts buzzing around in each tank. I think they breed in the soil but I'm not sure. Well when I introduced my dart frogs into the terrariums the knats mysteriously disappeared. I don't think the knatts did any harm but I was happy to see my dart frogs eating them. Good luck.