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Thread: Tiny hopping bugs that aren't silvertails?

  1. #1

    Default Tiny hopping bugs that aren't silvertails?

    Hi, I've baked all the substrate in my tegu's cage before, which got rid of all the silvertails for about a month. Now I'm seeing a large amount of very very tiny black bugs, like tiny slivers of black, and it just seems like there is a swarm of them hopping around under the heat lamp. I have a mixture of Douglas fir orchard bark and sphagnum moss. I'm dreading baking all the substrate again because it is a mega pain, but would anyone know what these tiniest of buggies are, and if they are potentially harmful?
    Thank you!

  2. #2

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    Quote Originally Posted by ercussio View Post
    Hi, I've baked all the substrate in my tegu's cage before, which got rid of all the silvertails for about a month. Now I'm seeing a large amount of very very tiny black bugs, like tiny slivers of black, and it just seems like there is a swarm of them hopping around under the heat lamp. I have a mixture of Douglas fir orchard bark and sphagnum moss. I'm dreading baking all the substrate again because it is a mega pain, but would anyone know what these tiniest of buggies are, and if they are potentially harmful?
    Thank you!
    I should note that they aren't actively going after the tegster but if he's basking they jump all over, sometimes on him. They are not round, just basically like the tiniest black line your eye can see. But there are a ton of them under the heat lamp.

  3. #3

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    Quote Originally Posted by ercussio View Post
    I should note that they aren't actively going after the tegster but if he's basking they jump all over, sometimes on him. They are not round, just basically like the tiniest black line your eye can see. But there are a ton of them under the heat lamp.
    Also, they seem to show up in the morning and seem to leave by late afternoon. Or at least, they must be spending a good chunk of their time underground or something.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    southern california
    Posts
    22

    Default

    Ok so I am fairly new at owning a tegu but I am gonna try and give the best advice that I can. I baked all of my substrate, "orchid bark" from home depot, in my oven and still had tiny little black bugs, that didnt jump like yours, on the bottom of the enclosure. I immediately took all of the substrate out and microwaved those little insect bastards straight to hell. Just use a microwave safe container and fill it up with your substrate, not too much cuz you wanna be able to mix it up and microwave it again after mixing. I have a standard microwave and microwaved each batch for a 90 seconds, mixed up like cold pasta, then another 90 seconds (3 minutes total). each batch will be a little steamy but thats fine. it is way quicker than baking each one for half an hour and much more effective too. "Microwaves" are better at killing bacteria than just pure heat so I assume this is also true for insects. I did this back in october 2012 and havent seen an insect yet. be sure to sanitize the hell out of the enclosure because insects lay eggs. Use a bunch of hot water and soap and you should be good. I also microwave my water dish before putting it back in with betelgeuse on days I change his water so it doesnt spread bacteria. hit me up if you got any questions
    jesus owned a tegu

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    southern california
    Posts
    22

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    and yes, any insects can be harmful if your tegu is in an enclosed area and cannot escape. They can carry bacteria and can effect them physically but they can also have adverse psychological affects on reptiles too. Get rid of them immediately!
    jesus owned a tegu

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    San Antonio,TX
    Posts
    9,505

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    Have you tried to use a different mulch ? I used some eucalyptus mulch before that had some small black bugs in it. I never bake my mulch. When I went back to using the cypress mulch I didn't had any problems. Here is some information for you to check out if you like. Hope this helps. Please keep us posted. Thank you.

    http://www.anapsid.org/mites.html
    Rich is not how much you have, or where you are going, or what you are.Rich is who you have beside you.

    Our videos :

    http://www.youtube.com/user/txrepgirl

  7. #7

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    Well I'm glad to say that I haven't seen these litter critters in a good week or so. I've heard that there are "bad" and "good" bugs you can find in tegu enclosures. I plan on cooking my substrate about twice a year, and the suggestion of microwaving sounds SO MUCH EASIER than baking; I can't believe I haven't thought of it!!
    I'm fairly sure the bugs weren't mites. And when I built the enclosure I searched far and wide for cypress mulch, but the only bit I found was online and CRAZY expensive (shipping, too).

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    San Antonio,TX
    Posts
    9,505

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    Have you checked out Wallmart, Home Depot or Lowes ? This is where I get the mulch from. I pay almost $3 sometimes almost $4 for a bag ( link below ). I never do anything with it. I just put it into the enclosure ( for the past five years ) and never had a problem. If you get it at the places that I recommended please make sure it's 100% cypress mulch and not a blend.

    http://s734.photobucket.com/user/txr...90341.jpg.html

    http://s734.photobucket.com/user/txr...2bead.jpg.html

    http://s734.photobucket.com/user/txr...c9f5f.jpg.html
    Rich is not how much you have, or where you are going, or what you are.Rich is who you have beside you.

    Our videos :

    http://www.youtube.com/user/txrepgirl

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