I think my WTF have parasites!

[Owler]

Hello, just wondering if you guys can help me out.

Found a turd in the tank today that was crawling with small white bugs, they look like white aphids.

What's the process for getting this sorted and is there anything I can do to help prevent it in the future?

Thanks in advance.

[DonLisk]

Check your soil, under any ground covering such as under wood in the tank. I am guessing you have springtails in the tank.

Pics of the tank and the insects you are seeing will help ID them.

Here is a list of things that you could answer that will help someone figure out what is occuring: http://www.frogforum.net/tree-frogs/...enclosure.html

[Owler]

I'm guessing so, the terrarium's starting to hold humidity a lot better and there are small shoots of what I'm guessing is moss coming through. I guess it's more worth me waiting until they've recently "dropped the kids off at the pool" and checking it then. I hope I have springtails! Do they match my description?

Sorry mate, didn't see that:

1-size of enclosure - 18x18x18 exo terra
2-# on inhabitants - 2 White's - juvenile
3-humidity - 60-85% 70-75% average.
4-temp day temp 24c - 31c - night temp - 20c-26c
5-water - type - dechlorinated tap water
6-materials used for substrate - ground coconut husk
7-enclosure set up i.e. plants - live plants - bromeliad, parlour palm
8-main food source - dubias, locusts, earthworms, crickets, caterpillars, mealworms for a treat.
9-vitamins and calcium ? I dust about 60% of feedings.
10-lighting - 2 exo terra sun glo bulbs
11-what is, specifically, being used to maintain the temperature of the enclosure - exo terra bulbs and a heatmat on the side.
12-when is the last time he ate - last night
13-have you found poop lately - today, riddled with white aphid like bugs.
14-a pic would be great ( including the frog ) any little cell phone pic is fine
15- how old is the frog - two, one about 12 months, the other 10.
16-how long have you owned him - 3 months.
17- is the frog wild caught or captive bred - CB
18- frog food- how often and if its diverse what other feeders are used as treats - every night, they're both very healthy eaters and can never eat enough. Fed on a wide variety of bugs.
19- about how often the frog is handled 3-4 times a week, mainly to move him around and never for more than a few minutes really.
20-is the enclosure is kept in a high or low traffic area - medium traffic i'd say - they're in the corner of my lounge which is huge.

[DonLisk]

You can easily find out by putting 2 or three pieces of white rice somewhere in the soil to see if the insects go to it. It is very common to bring in some type of insect with live plants and sometimes you can rinse and rinse and still find something sneak out months later and make its home in the tank.

[Owler]

Aaaah some kind of Drosophilidae are breeding in my tank, thanks for the help guys - crisis averted