I have seen some tiny ants and white mites in my hatchling enclosure. They came from the moss I got from the pet store.
Are the a danger to my hatchlings?
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Ants and mites in my enclosure
phishnuts
Dec 31, 2005 07:53 AM
Replies (1)
PHRatz
Dec 31, 2005 09:27 AM
>>I have seen some tiny ants and white mites in my hatchling enclosure. They came from the moss I got from the pet store.
>>Are the a danger to my hatchlings?
It's possible that these bugs can be a danger, ants can sting, depending on what type of mites these are they could possibly cause harm too. If they're white I'd think they're some type of plant pest. I'm sure somebody here has had experience with them.
Whatever the case..
I'd get the whole enclosure cleaned out right away if it were mine.
There are several ways to prevent this from happening again.
When you buy moss you could keep it in the freezer for a few days to kill off any pests. You could bake it in the oven at around 250F for 30-60 minutes before using it. You could soak it in 1 part bleach to 9 parts water then rinse well, soak it in more water with fish aquarium anti-chlor added then let it dry.
You could throw it in a pot then boil it in water on top of the stove for a while.
I never use moss or soil in any of my enclosures that I haven't either cleaned or cooked first.
Can you find a different store to buy supplies in? You should tell the store keepers that you're having a problem because it's possible that this moss became infested while sitting on the shelf at the store. There's a good chance that they need to clean up.
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PHRatz
