tiny white bugs

[ReddyFreddy]

Over the past week or so i`ve been finding little white bugs, lots of them, in my tortoises water dish when all the water has evaporated. I wash all of them out before refilling the dish, but I have no idea what they are or where the came from. Does anyone have any guesses?

 

[Tom]

Substrate flies. There are several species. I think springtails are the whitish/grayish ones, but don't quote me on that. All of them are harmless detrivores and won't bother your tortoise unless it dies… In which case the substrate flies and their larva will eat him/her… which is their job… removing detritus…

I just ignore them, and after a few months they seem to balance out, and their numbers greatly reduce.

To get rid of them you will need to boil, bake, freeze or replace your substrate every two weeks or so.