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Post by purplestar on Oct 26, 2010 9:42:42 GMT
right ok.. i no my big jade came with Hypoaspis and springtails. But last nite i noiced a tiny fly in the tank. so i tryed to woft it out.. and i noiced there is tons of mights everywhere. so ive cleaned the tank out. but there where more flys.. where are these flys from? and can they cause harm and with these mites can they come out the tank and infest the house? what are theses?  |
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Post by stixandsnailsyork on Oct 26, 2010 10:21:04 GMT
I don't think they can infest your house. The flys are a common problem, I had problems with them in the summer and still get the odd one from time to time in my rodatzi tank but none of the others, alot of other users have suggested using a mesh on the top of the tank small enough that the flys cant get through.
Hope this helps
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Post by purplestar on Oct 26, 2010 10:25:37 GMT
ah thats cool. i feel really itchy. just cleaned them out. they where covered. i managed to get a pic.  are these good. n is it common to have loads on them? |
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Post by AlienSnail on Oct 26, 2010 10:52:14 GMT
Ah they're definitely tropical springtails, no need to worry. They do breed fast, most of us just skim the tops of the soil every so often to reduce the numbers down to a more manageable level, but all in all they are beneficial creatures.  There is also a harmless mite in the top picture next to the springtail. It looks like a hypoaspis miles which is likely as you mentioned the snails came with the two species, and these do feed on fly lava. The tiny flies are probably fungus gnats (sciarid fly), they're harmless and eat left-over vegetation, but do end up flying around the room. They don't particularly bother me but they get on my hubby's nerves! All in all though your little critters are nothing to worry about.  |
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Post by purplestar on Oct 26, 2010 10:56:35 GMT
ahhh few. i was soo scared. they where all up the side of the tank and stuff.. so like ya said they need to be kept under control.. so skimmin the top layer.
cool cheers. i just felt really sorry for them.
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Post by AlienSnail on Oct 26, 2010 11:09:24 GMT
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Post by purplestar on Oct 26, 2010 11:12:38 GMT
how do you kill off spring tails in genral?
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Post by AlienSnail on Oct 26, 2010 11:24:31 GMT
You could try a complete soil change, thoroughly washing everything, washing the snails and putting them back, but to be honest even when you've done that they'll almost certainly reappear, their eggs are so tiny.
We just tend to keep the numbers in check rather than try to eradicate them. replacing the soil and cleaning everything too often isn't good for the snails. Snails need some dirt - or rather the bacteria in old food and poop - in order to help them digest their food. Springtails help to eat old food and poop while allowing the good bacteria to exist in the soil, thus helping to maintain a balance for the snails.
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Post by purplestar on Oct 26, 2010 12:11:09 GMT
oh thats fine. the tank needed changing really. so i did a change. but hey, eggs are small.. but i'll no now to keep them in hand
cheers
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Post by stixandsnailsyork on Oct 26, 2010 13:58:09 GMT
I have tried the full clean out but i have them in other tanks and they made their way back to the tank that i wanted them out of.
They are good they help eat left over food ect so save on cleaning.
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Post by AlienSnail on Oct 27, 2010 11:01:10 GMT
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Post by muddydragon on Oct 27, 2010 15:26:12 GMT
good idea, i did get the feeling i was rather hijacking the subject |
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