Little flys on my Ts tank

[armando]

While I was misting my tank I notice a little fly flying around looked like a fruit fly , I know for a fact that it came with the peat moss because its winter where i live and there is no flying insects to be seen since the summer, now is this little fly dangerous to my T or harmless?

 

[metzgerzoo]

I don't know if the fly would be harmful as I don't really know what kind of fly it is. If you wanted to eleminate worry however you could sterilize you moss by putting it into the microwave for about 5-15 mins or you can do it in the oven, but be forewarned, this will stink up your house with a very earthy odor, but it cleans the moss of all things harmful. Hope it helps and good luck.
By the way microwwave is probably safer.

 

[KidMunti]

Those could be Fungus Fly/Gnat. Eggs and larva of this fly thrive in damp soil or compost.
Heating your substrate in microwave oven is a good idea too. It will kill the eggs and larva.
Also, Pathmark sells sterilized compost for $1.50 a bag in their Florist/Garden section. I've been using this compost for almost a year now. Chalmer

 

[Alias]

just a side note - peat moss has natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungi qualities, which are however lost by that so-popular boiling or microwaving.

 

[brachymad]

If these flies run in a jerky motion they could be phorids. These flies breed in decaying matter such as food scraps. make sure you remove all food leftovers and reducing the humidity of the tank for a while could also be benificial. You didnt say what spider they were in with but Goliath blondies seem to attract these .

 

[armando]

Originally posted by brachymad
If these flies run in a jerky motion they could be phorids. These flies breed in decaying matter such as food scraps. make sure you remove all food leftovers and reducing the humidity of the tank for a while could also be benificial. You didnt say what spider they were in with but Goliath blondies seem to attract these .

Yep, youre right on target, there in my t blondies enclosure,its going to be a difficult task reducing the humidity because as u know T blondis thrive on humidity.

 

[brachymad]

The phorid fly has been blamed for the spread on nematoad infections though collections in the past, this link has more info
http://www.giantspiders.com/article10.html