P.metallica sac safe (macro pics of bugs in hide)

[robc]

I managed to get some shots (not very good ones, didn't want to disturb her) of the bugs I thought might be mites. They don't look like mites to me - I'm thinking springtails, maybe even some isopods babies in there. In my experience, springtails won't mess with the sac...I don't think they can get through the webbing.

 

[JC]

aybe even some isopods babies in there. In my experience, springtails won't mess with the sac...I don't think they can get through the webbing.

Defiantly not isopods. These guys here all have six legs. Most likely springtails.

 

[robc]

Defiantly not isopods. These guys here all have six legs. Most likely springtails.

I figured most were springtails - one just looked kinda funny. LOL As long as they aren't mites, I'm good.

 

[Moltar]

Looks like springtails to me too. Do they hop?

 

[robc]

Looks like springtails to me too. Do they hop?

I didn't want to put a light on them to long because the female has the sac in the hide, I did notice they are being killed by the webbing.

 

[Big Red TJ]

I think she will be fine Rob.

 

[Moltar]

I did notice they are being killed by the webbing.

Really? That's crazy. I know their silk has certain antibiotic properties, I guess this must be related to that?

 

[andy375hh]

I am glad to hear that everythings o.k That is too pretty of a T to have anything happen to her or her babies.

 

[robc]

Really? That's crazy. I know their silk has certain antibiotic properties, I guess this must be related to that?

It is weird, but they are dying...looks like maby one or 2 is left!!

 

[Exo]

It is weird, but they are dying...looks like maby one or 2 is left!!

Good, no more mystery bugs.

 

[ZergFront]

Yup, collembola. I have a culture of them from Josh's Frogs.

If anything, they'd be nothing but a tiny morsel to baby spiders.

 

[TalonAWD]

Those eat (spring tails) mold specifically and I have considered buying a culture and putting them with moisture loving T's but they need high humidity to thrive.

 

[robc]

Those eat (spring tails) mold specifically and I have considered buying a culture and putting them with moisture loving T's but they need high humidity to thrive.

Some think they are bad, I personally like having them in a tank!!

 

[JDeRosa]

What exactly are springtails?

 

[Billru]

Rob,

I believe they are flour beetles, maybe confused flour beetles. If they are flour beetles they should be harmless to your Ts. I get them in rodent chow from the feed stores sometime and they look identical to them. I thought they were springtails at first but then a profesional told me they where flour beetles. I have pics of the ones I had if interested.

Good luck,
Bill R.

 

[violentblossom]

Metallica for me, but I'm biased.

 

[TalonAWD]

Rob,

I believe they are flour beetles, maybe confused flour beetles. If they are flour beetles they should be harmless to your Ts. I get them in rodent chow from the feed stores sometime and they look identical to them. I thought they were springtails at first but then a profesional told me they where flour beetles. I have pics of the ones I had if interested.

Good luck,
Bill R.

No they are definately not flour or confused beetles. I have them in my corn mash (only a few cause I kill them by freezing) and they are a brownish red. When they are babies they are a worm like nymph.

Heres a spring tail picture.
http://www.naturephoto-cz.com/springtail:thaumanura-carolii-photo-5860.html

And all the types.
http://www.picsearch.com/pictures/animals/insects/springtail.html.

A confused flour beetle info is found in my thread asking about them.
http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?t=163472
The one Rob has look like these...
http://www.naturephoto-cz.com/springtail:lepidocyrtus-curvicollis-photo-5864.html

And finally a quote.

Springtails are also considered the recyclers of the vivarium, by eating algae, fungi, and decaying vegetation reducing these down to 'soil'.

 

[micheldied]

see,nothing to worry about.
theyre springtails.
now focus on the sac!