Nasty flies....

[Jace]

I wanted to set my scorpions up on more natural turf than reptile carpet, so I gave their 5 gallon tanks a nice layer of soil (the kind that comes in bricks that expand with water). They love digging and moving it around, but I have suddenly noticed these tiny black flies in their setups. It's beginning to get annoying. Does anyone know of anything to get rid of them, or a different, natural substrate I could use that the flies wouldn't like? Any help would be great-I am very new to owning scorpions! Thanks!

[mdtalley22]

I had flies like that in the soil of my house plants and I learned that if u mix in a little sand into the soil it will tear up the eggs and large so that they die...but I don't know anything about scorpions and if the sand will irritate them...just a thought

[Jace]

Thanks! I will look more into it and maybe give it a shot. Thanks!

[Zathura]

If you're talking about the compressed blocks of coconut fiber, try Eco-Earth. I'm pretty sure theirs is sterilized before packaging.

You can also try Repti-bark, which is sterile and holds humidity well, which your scorpions need. (I'm assuming you have Emperors)

For a different insect, I have a mix of Repti-bark and sterile peat moss, which is a nice, soil-like substrate.