Mites, Springtails or something else?

hired clams

New Member
Joined
Oct 17, 2015
Messages
2
Hello fellow tort owners!

I am brand new to this tortoise forum but it seems a lot more active than the last one I was involved with. I have just taken my little fellow out of his enclosure and moved some of his rocks around to see these little bugs crawling all over it!

I was wondering if any one could help me identify whether these are harmul to my little hermann?

Here is a link to some videos of the little bugs:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DDJZJQd_qGPwkQlEgRflVc8zOaexKR6gEA/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1D2VRDxq4xsPsg-wBanVB6WKobNRV8WyDEw/view?usp=sharing
 

Yvonne G

Old Timer
TFO Admin
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
93,390
Location (City and/or State)
Clovis, CA
I can't really tell, but probably springtails. They're irritating to have in an enclosure, but not harmful to the tortoises. If you want to be rid of them, you have to take the whole thing outside and dump it, then start over.
 

hired clams

New Member
Joined
Oct 17, 2015
Messages
2
Thanks for the quick response, it was about time I changed up his run any way but wanted to check that he wasn't being harmed by the bugs
 

ascott

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Apr 10, 2011
Messages
16,138
Location (City and/or State)
Apple Valley, California
Thanks for the quick response, it was about time I changed up his run any way but wanted to check that he wasn't being harmed by the bugs

Springtails are a sign of good soil...they are a decomposer of sorts...they will eventually cycle themselves out...I personally would leave them..perhaps add some pill bugs and offer up a healthy substrate..
 

New Posts

Top