Springtails

[Loopyg17]

Hi everyone! I am having a huge bug infestation in my hermann tortoise enclosure. They look like springtails, but there’s also gnats everywhere and I’m worried the springtails are actually some kind of larvae that are turning into gnats?? I’ve tried EVERYTHING. I replaced the substrate with orchid bark that i cleaned beforehand. I cleaned the entire inside and outside of the enclosure. I’ve sprayed the enclosure with zoomed wipeout. Ive used diatomaceous earth on the outside. The bugs are still there, i think they are inside the wood of the enclosure itself. I can’t think of anything short of replacing the enclosure. The bugs are moving to things under the enclosure, like my cat’s toys and some extra tortoise materials I store underneath. Please please give any advice you have, it’s driving me insane and i don’t know what to do.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Hello!
Springtails and gnats are different insects, but love similar conditions (wet and dark spots) and feed on similar foods (decaying organics and mold/fungi). Both are harmless, but gnats are annoying

Springtails are elongated, very fast moving and jump around when disturbed. Larvae certainly don't do that.

If you want to limit their population, you need to reduce moisture in the environment: if you lay substrate directly on the bottom of the enclosure, consider placing pond liner or shower curtain underneath (let wood to dry first). Reduce amount of misting/water added to substrate for a while. Do substrate turn-overs from time to time, don't leave food and water bowls at night. You can also use sticky traps to catch adult fungus gnats.

 

[tempest979]

Hi everyone! I am having a huge bug infestation in my hermann tortoise enclosure. They look like springtails, but there’s also gnats everywhere and I’m worried the springtails are actually some kind of larvae that are turning into gnats?? I’ve tried EVERYTHING. I replaced the substrate with orchid bark that i cleaned beforehand. I cleaned the entire inside and outside of the enclosure. I’ve sprayed the enclosure with zoomed wipeout. Ive used diatomaceous earth on the outside. The bugs are still there, i think they are inside the wood of the enclosure itself. I can’t think of anything short of replacing the enclosure. The bugs are moving to things under the enclosure, like my cat’s toys and some extra tortoise materials I store underneath. Please please give any advice you have, it’s driving me insane and i don’t know what to do.

I've gotten rid of them. First you have to throw out everything and really wash things like plastic plants, bowls, hides etc. They will hide inside little crevices of those things so u have to really clean every crack of those fixtures. Put new substrate in and put back everything after fully sanitizing. Most important of all to keep them away, don't leave food or poop in there. It doesn't matter how well you clean everything if you're gonna have food and poop in there, they will come back for that. I feed my tortoise in a separate container when it comes to pellets or prepared meals, I only leave weeds and veggies in the enclosure and remove them at night. My tortoise also only poops in soaks every morning, so I don't have to look for poop. If you leave pellets in there, you'll keep having springtails.