Hermans and small bugs

[johnfin]

I keep hermans. 2 adults always get small bugs in their soil. Nothing seems to get rid of them. Smaller hermans dont have that problem. What could be the problem?

 

[144 Grandpa Turtle]

Hello John
I keep mine outside so I don't have that problem . But you came to the right place for answers !

 

[otisthetortoise]

Hi.
Bugs are completely normal in a humid, warm environment. They feed off the substrate and generally don't bother your tortoise. Do you know what kind of bugs they are? If it is getting to the point where there are so many that they are agitating your tortoise, then you can get sticky fly / gnat sheets that attract smaller insects and catch them. Another alternative, for a more permanent solution, is freezing or baking the soil (baking is best).
The size of Hermann's tortoises shouldn't affect the bugs in the said enclosure. It's something to do with your humidity / temperatures and where you're keeping the enclosures. Darker, damper, warmer places are perfect habitats for bugs to thrive.
Don't worry too much about it.
Olivia

 

[JoesMum]

The bugs are detrivores meaning they feed on waste. They eat the poop, food waste, substrate, etc.

They are harmless and inevitable in the humidity of a tort's enclosure.

Some people add roly-poly bugs to their enclosure to control them.