I GOT BUGS (and not the good kind)

[AbranV]

Tonight I found a bunch of TINY white/beige bugs in my vivarium. They are 1/2 to 3/4 the size of a melo fruit fly. I over 300 pictures, and after cropping them down a bit I have about three that turned out OK.

Any thoughts?

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[Cliygh and Mia 2]

Springtails. And they actually are good, they help decompose waste products and decaying items. They love moisture, so if you were to kill them put your frogs in another set-up and dry out the other tank. I personally wouldn't though

[AbranV]

Springtails, really? Will they just appear out of nowhere?

The ABG mix is fairly fresh. The plants were thoroughly cleaned, and are also from cuttings from other plants that were previously cleaned and replanted in ABG

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[AbranV]

Sorry, I slipped and hit the send button, stupid touch screens and big thumbs!

Anyways, like I was saying, the ABG is new, and the plants are all cuttings. The only other thing in the viv is some frog moss by Zoo Med.

I haven't seeded the viv with any micro fauna yet, which coincidentally is my next step. I haven't gotten my spring tails or isopods yet.

IF they ARE springtails(how cool would that be) how would I go about capturing them to start a culture? I've got charcoal and can easily set something up, but I never thought I would be taking them OUT of the vivarium to start a culture.

Also, if they aren't springtails, what other possibilities are there?

Thanks ,

-av

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[deranged chipmunk]

Most likely springtails that were hitch hikers on some plants, or in their soil, if they had any. Possibly, there were dormant eggs in the ABG, waiting for conditions to be right.

To make a culture, grab some soil that has springtails in it, put in a small container, add water, the springs will float. Then you can add them to your charcoal culture.


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[AbranV]

I never thought I'd be happy about a bug infestation.

Are these the same type of springtails that the dart frogs feed on?

Is this fairly normal to have happen in a newly set up vivarium?

Did I just save money and don't have to buy a culture?

Is it OK for me to tell my wife "the only way to get rid of the bugs is to buy some frogs?

Am I asking too many questions?[emoji39]

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[deranged chipmunk]

Yup. There are 2 main species we use in vivs, temperate and tropical springs, odds are they are temperate.

Normal, is a relative term, so let's just say it's not uncommon.

No, buy a culture or two anyway. The darts WILL munch away on them and they'll need to be replenished often I keep 6 cultures currently and 4 isopod cultures.

If that will get the approval for a frog purchase, go for it!! Lol

Nope


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[AbranV]

I'll still end up buying some cultures in the end. This was just a pleasant surprise. Since these are more than likely the temperate version. Is there any harm in adding tropical springtails?(just curious) Also, is there a benefit to having one vs. the other?

Thanks for all of the replies and easing my mind. I've seen random bugs in my other tanks and figured that it was normal, but nothing to this extent. Now that I'm thinking about it, I bet my chorus frog tank is freaking loaded with these.

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[deranged chipmunk]

There is no harm in mixing them. The main difference between the two is that temperate springs can withstand cooler temps. There really is no advantage to one or the other.


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