Tiny white fast bugs in sub

[executivebexley]

I pulled out a bolus from a t... Actually no i scooped out all the horrible substrate from the bottom of one of my Ts lairs when she finally moved enough for me to do so and didn't charge back in when I took the lid off!!

There were these little 1 - 1.5mm long little wormy maggoty (but not worms or maggots, just long as opposed to round mites) things in the substrate that moved really fast, and when I shine a light on them they instantly dive down into the substrate... Dive dive dive

They're so small and fast I can't get a picture of them I'm afraid! If I did they'd just look like little white dots anyway

Any ideas? A kind of mite? Gnat larvae as I have seen a few winter gnats about in my flat


I'm not overly concerned as there's only a few, and they're only in the gross patch that I mostly got rid of, but the T in question doesn't throw out boluses and it's not easy to get them out so I'm sure the little white things will be back!!

Would a clean-up crew help?? Even if it's just in the way that seeing small bugs in the enclosure can be put down to being the cleanup crew instead of a reason to panic. As I know it's just daft to think one can keep any kind of substrate totally free of all living things!!

Thank yooouu

 

[Poonjab]

Maybe a springtail?

 

[executivebexley]

Maybe a springtail?

Yeah maybe! They look more like that, they're very solid white and not translucent like maggots tend to be. They're so small I can't see if they have legs and antenna with my blurry eyes) and they're so fast I can't get them under the silly little jewellery magnifier I've got!

 

[RoachCoach]

Yeah maybe! They look more like that, they're very solid white and not translucent like maggots tend to be. They're so small I can't see if they have legs and antenna with my blurry eyes) and they're so fast I can't get them under the silly little jewellery magnifier I've got!

You can "sterilize" your substrate to keep any possible parasites out. i.e. nematodes can be very dangerous. Mites can be controlled easily with diatomaceous earth as well as nematodes. You can bake or freeze your substrate to kill off the majority of pests. Then just add some springtails later. Be sure you get the correct kind though. Temperate springtails can endure cooler temperatures, tropical springtails like it warmer. Both will need a bit of moisture and detritus to live though.

 

[Polenth]

Springtails will jump if you disturb them and the fast movement suggests it might be them. Fungus gnat larvae are long wiggly things with a black head. If it's not one of those, it is almost certainly some other critter there to eat snacks. This is your cleanup crew.

 

[Jumbie Spider]

Springtails I had to purchase and add... mites I got for free.