Good or bad bugs?

[thetortoiselady]

I went to soak my baby today and when I sent him in the water, I noticed all of these bugs. Are these good or bad bugs? What can I do? I worry because when I sent him down like eight came from underneath his belly into the water. I spot clean every day and never leave food overnight

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

View attachment 383572View attachment 383574View attachment 383575 I went to soak my baby today and when I sent him in the water, I noticed all of these bugs. Are these good or bad bugs? What can I do? I worry because when I sent him down like eight came from underneath his belly into the water. I spot clean every day and never leave food overnight

These bugs look like one of the springtails species. They are harmless and feed on poop/food leftovers, mold and other small insects (like fungus gnats larvae and eggs). Usually, they don't bother tortoises in any way unless you have an extremely blooming population of them.

They thrive in high humidity, so probably substrate is too wet at the bottom. You can do a "turn-over" - mix bottom and top layers. In a couple of weeks their population should diminish.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

These bugs look like one of the springtails species. They are harmless and feed on poop/food leftovers, mold and other small insects (like fungus gnats larvae and eggs). Usually, they don't bother tortoises in any way unless you have an extremely blooming population of them.

They thrive in high humidity, so probably substrate is too wet at the bottom. You can do a "turn-over" - mix bottom and top layers. In a couple of weeks their population should diminish.

Yep I think they are too, our enclosure used to be swarming with them! It had me nervous at the time because of the sheer numbers! But keep going turn overs and in time they do die out so don’t stress, it may take a few monthsthey aren’t anything to worry about anyway and certainly cause no harm!

 

[thetortoiselady]

Thank you guys sooo much !!!