What Are These Red Worms?

[ZimZum]

Good Morning,

I have been noticing since the last three weeks that there appears to be red-worm like organisms appearing in the waterdish in my Ephebopus murinus’s enclosure.

I make sure to clean out the red worms each time I do my weekly maintenance. Have you seen anything like this before? Should I be concerned about these red works?
Thank you.

-Jason

 

[me and my Ts]

I don’t really know what they are but they sort of look like baby millipedes to me

 

[spideyspinneret78]

To me they look like midge larvae.

 

[ZimZum]

To me they look like midge larvae.

I had to google that. It does appear to match in appearance.
Thank you.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

Good Morning,

I have been noticing since the last three weeks that there appears to be red-worm like organisms appearing in the waterdish in my Ephebopus murinus’s enclosure.

I make sure to clean out the red worms each time I do my weekly maintenance. Have you seen anything like this before? Should I be concerned about these red works?
Thank you.

-Jason

What are you using for substrate?

 

[ZimZum]

What are you using for substrate?

I use Biodude substrate.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

Ok I don't believe they came from that sub then. Alot of people use that sub and never reported those type of larvae before.

Trying to narrow things down in the enclosure that was introduced.

Might not be anything in the enclosure. They could of entered the enclosure on their own, not sure.

 

[ZimZum]

Ok I don't believe they came from that sub then. Alot of people use that sub and never reported those type of larvae before.

Trying to narrow things down in the enclosure that was introduced.

Might not be anything in the enclosure. They could of entered the enclosure on their own, not sure.

I would be narrowing down to very minimal things like feeders. I’m very careful about ensuring any water dish or tongs I use for maintenance are washed thoroughly before introducing to the enclosure.

Any new life would have had to hitchhike on my Dubia roach. I’m sure there’s some degree of a mite population in that enclosure, too. I only notice them when I am taking videos of my E. murinus and see little white specs moving around. I imagine the red larvae could have also made their appearance in a similar fashion.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

I would be narrowing down to very minimal things like feeders. I’m very careful about ensuring any water dish or tongs I use for maintenance are washed thoroughly before introducing to the enclosure.

Any new life would have had to hitchhike on my Dubia roach. I’m sure there’s some degree of a mite population in that enclosure, too. I only notice them when I am taking videos of my E. murinus and see little white specs moving around. I imagine the red larvae could have also made their appearance in a similar fashion.

More than likely coming from the feeders.

As far as mites they are always ever present but easy to manage.

Let your sub dry out some. When your sub starts drying at some point the mites wind up congregating in the water dish.

Eventually you'll be rid of them. You can also bait the mites with a small piece of fruit then throw that away. Hope that helps at least with the mites.

The other invaders I've never seen before.

 

[ZimZum]

More than likely coming from the feeders.

As far as mites they are always ever present but easy to manage.

Let your sub dry out some. When your sub starts drying at some point the mites wind up congregating in the water dish.

Eventually you'll be rid of them. You can also bait the mites with a small piece of fruit then throw that away. Hope that helps at least with the mites.

The other invaders I've never seen before.

I will use your advice. Thanks. I agree, the mites are barely noticeable and don’t cause any concern.

 

[spideyspinneret78]

If they are midge larvae, then the small flies are probably already present in the environment and are attracted to/ have been laying eggs in the water. Where I used to live we had those little buggers EVERYWHERE in the spring/ summer and some of them would always get in the house no matter what we did.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

I don’t really know what they are but they sort of look like baby millipedes to me

They do look like that !