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Fly Infestation

airenlow

airenlow

hope is not a strategy
Over the past month, my snake rack has slowly been taken over by tiny flies. I noticed them just days after getting a new batch of moss for humid hides. I'm assuming they either came in the moss or were attracted to it. Note to self: bake moss thoroughly next time! They are definitely some sort of fly or gnat...not mites. I have changed out the aspen and disinfected every inch of the rack, but these little guys are pretty resilient. Fly strips, also, were not very effective. I'm worried that my only hope is that they will die off as the weather gets cooler...

Any ideas on how to get rid of these pesky little guys? :shrugs:
 
Remove the moss and bake it now cleaning the tubs really well. If not they will continue to hatch and lay eggs, hatch, and lay eggs...such a great cycle,lol They may die off as the weather cools and it gets drier, but considering I assume part of your cages are heated you may have no such luck:(
 
The moss actually got thrown away shortly after I noticed the flies, so that's not a problem. I will clean out all the tubs again tomorrow while everybody is eating. They do have heat, but I let that room get pretty cool in the winter...keep your fingers crossed for me. Thanks Danielle!
 
I had some (fill in descriptive curse word) knats that drove me up the wall. Sounds like something similar. I cleaned the tanks with a bleach solution and rinsed really well. Then removed the snakes from the room and sprayed the room. Then repeated step one. This got rid of mine. The $#@^%^$ knats I had seemed to like the more humid cages.... Good luck
 
I think they are Phorid flies. It looks like the only way to control them (without pesticides) is to keep the tubs completely dry and clean. I'll have to stay on top of the poop patrol for a while. Friday is going to be another busy cleaning and aspen change day...
 
They are fungus gnats that feed on fungus. The will also infest your houseplants. Getting rid of anything humid is the way to control them. They will make you absolutely crazy.
 
airenlow said:
I think they are Phorid flies. It looks like the only way to control them (without pesticides) is to keep the tubs completely dry and clean. I'll have to stay on top of the poop patrol for a while. Friday is going to be another busy cleaning and aspen change day...
Click to expand...

That is correct. They love poop and anything wet in general. Fly strips, hot shot pest strips, and rotting fruit (1/2 submerged) in a cup of olive oil are some best methods. Poop and water spills should be cleaned up as soon as you can. Best of luck to you....they are a true pain is the rear!
 
I used sphagnum moss for the first time this year, for incubation. The eggs in the incubator had to be moved about half way through, to fresh boxes filled with vermiculite, because of an outbreak of these pesky flies! Next year if I decide to use the moss again, I will be zapping it in the microwave first ;)

Hope you manage to get rid of the little doo-dahs without too much trouble! :)
 
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