Little flies in soil...arrgghhh!

[Jace]

One of my African Bullfrog tanks (10 gallon aquarium) seems to be the breeding ground for these little black flies. I have also found these flies in the soil of some of my houseplants. I'm treating the houseplants with a spray, but I was wondering if there was a safe way to treat them in my frogs' enclosure? I plan on taking her out and giving her fresh soil, but is there any way to treat such an infestation that is safe for my frog but deadly for the flies?? Thanks in advance!

[Kurt]

Aside from replacing the substrate? Not really. These flies are compost flies and they are annoying, but harmless. I have put fly paper up and that does catch quite a few.

[PsionicRat]

If you have to replace it you could try baking the soil before using it to prevent another infestation. 180 F for half an hour should do the trick. Just be prepared for a heavy dirt smell. It shouldn't adversely affect your oven or anything baked in it afterward. That's what I do to keep the gnats from overtaking the house when I use organic soils.

[Jace]

Okay, thanks for the suggestions! I'm just going to replace Obi's susbstrate and then maybe hang some fly strips around. They don't seem to bother her, but they sure annoy me!!

[Kurt]

Don't you love it when they buzz around your face and fly up your nose? Yeah, me neither.

[scribbles]

I get these flies in my White's Treefrog and hermit crab tanks sometimes. I agree, very annoying.