bugs

[Morty the Torty]

I just poured water into Morty's substrate and all these tiny white/tan bugs came crawling out! Should I throw everything out or are they ok?

 

[WallieTheTortoise]

Can you take pictures?

 

[ascott]

Do you have soil as part of your substrate? Likely the little soil bugs...if so they more creep us out than anything.....

 

[Tom]

They are harmless. They are detrivores and eat up any old food or poops. Some people can't stand them, but they are a by-product of warmth, humidity and leftover "food".

 

[mattk]

i was wondering the same thing. i have them also at least they arent harmfull so thats good. i guess they can stay lol

 

[ascott]

Yeah the buggers find away in with the soil...IMHO anyways....I adopted a couple cute RFs...so that meant indoor enclosures (for years I have had torts that reside outside) so the adventure has been fun and the first time I noticed the bugs I was like OMG ewwwww ..so after getting past the girlie moment I researched all the likely bugger variables and came yo grips with the conclusion that the buggers are now part of life...lol...then I brought in a touch of dirt from our good ol desert and now there are a few worms in there too with the one..happy hunting little one

 

[dmarcus]

I have them in my box turtle enclosure, they dont seem to bother them so I leave them alone. I try to put things like pill bugs and worms in there enclosure but the chase them down and eat them...

 

[Morty the Torty]

OK good, after a moment I realized bugs are outside as well in their enclosures. As long as they don't sting all is well just gross

 

[lynnedit]

yeah, we have to get used to some gross, but harmless things in tort keeping...