Small gnats infestation.

Romeo Serback

Active Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2015
Messages
270
Location (City and/or State)
New Jersey
I've noticed that I have these little tiny gnats/flies in my enclosure. I'm going to change the substrate out, but was wondering how I could prevent this in the future. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you in advance!
 

JoesMum

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Oct 26, 2011
Messages
21,606
Location (City and/or State)
Kent, South East England
The flies are detrivores - feasting on rotting vegetable matter and poop. They are completely harmless and an inevitability in the warm, humid environment essential for tortoise health.

Spot clean poop out of the enclosure as soon as you find it. Remove old food - don’t leave bits lying round for days.

Some people add a few pill bugs to the enclosure to help control the flies. (Look under rocks and wood to find then outside)
 

Romeo Serback

Active Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2015
Messages
270
Location (City and/or State)
New Jersey
The flies are detrivores - feasting on rotting vegetable matter and poop. They are completely harmless and an inevitability in the warm, humid environment essential for tortoise health.

Spot clean poop out of the enclosure as soon as you find it. Remove old food - don’t leave bits lying round for days.

Some people add a few pill bugs to the enclosure to help control the flies. (Look under rocks and wood to find then outside)
That's a great idea! How would I go about obtaining these pill bugs? And thank you! Very helpful!
 

Maro2Bear

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
May 29, 2014
Messages
14,712
Location (City and/or State)
Glenn Dale, Maryland, USA

JoesMum

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Oct 26, 2011
Messages
21,606
Location (City and/or State)
Kent, South East England

EllieMay

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2018
Messages
9,603
Location (City and/or State)
East Texas
I’m glad I read this... I had to google “pill bug” but we call them Rollie pollies here and they are very common in my area.. I will be acquiring a few this afternoon!!!
 

Romeo Serback

Active Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2015
Messages
270
Location (City and/or State)
New Jersey
Thank you for the info again! I will definitely order those pill bug rollie pollies. I think that was a weird yellow cartoon when my sons were younger. Lol
 

Romeo Serback

Active Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2015
Messages
270
Location (City and/or State)
New Jersey
I was reading about springtails as well. Which is more beneficial? Springtails or pill bugs? And if I grow grass and weeds in there, will it eat it?
 

EllieMay

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2018
Messages
9,603
Location (City and/or State)
East Texas
I think the springtails / gnats clean up after tortoise and the pill bugs keep the springtails under control. A tortoise enclosure ecosystem if you will:) I did in fact catch me some Rollie pollies this evening and put 4 in one enclosure and 5 in another..[emoji16] I am anxious to see how it affects the springtails population!
 

Romeo Serback

Active Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2015
Messages
270
Location (City and/or State)
New Jersey
I would like to see the results as well. Please keep me informed. Thank you! If it works well for you, I'll do the same. Mind you, I only changed her enclosure once in 3 months. I think I'll make it a monthly changing unless your plan works. And if that is successful, I'll fully change it once every two months!
 

JanelP

Member
Joined
May 6, 2018
Messages
82
Location (City and/or State)
Idaho
I was having a problem with little gnats as well, and as I know they weren't harmful persay, they were rather irritating. I hung a fly strip up by my light and it seemed to control the number buzzing around. I only did this cause I started finding them buzzing in my kitchen, and around my live plants, fruits and veggies.
 

Romeo Serback

Active Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2015
Messages
270
Location (City and/or State)
New Jersey
I figure that I'll make it a conscious effort to change the enclosure at least once every 2 months and I'll even buy pill bugs (aka roly polies, sow bugs, isipods) and by changing them, I'll control the pill bug population.
 
Top