GreenFire719
Member
Hello friends! This isn't so much as an issue, I just thought I should spread this information
Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is such a wonderful thing to have around. It's made up of fossilized silica shells from diatoms, a type of microalgae, and it's known as a natural insecticide! How does this work exactly is still kinda debated, but the basic idea is that the tiny silica shells are razor-sharp to small insects and parasites and kills them off by cutting into their exoskeletons and drying them out. It will NOT kill eggs, just the crawlies.
With this in mind, it is not toxic for animals and it's commonly used with livestock and in gardens as a natural mechanical pesticide. As far as I am aware, it IS safe for torts as long as they aren't constantly huffing the dust and they can even consume it on occasion without ill effects.
How do you use DE you may ask? Quite simply, however, it is important that you use FOOD-GRADE DE. Food-grade is safe for animals and is only pure DE vs the pest-control variety that often has additives inside it. And if you are like me and have your tort's enclosure doubling as an earthworm bin, DE does not harm Earthworms so you don't have to worry about sacrificing some wrigglers to get rid of pesky gnats.
The reason I decided to share this is that I believe my dirt in one of my bioactive enclosures was infected with pinworms and I was not looking forward to dumping all my baby wrigglers out in the yard. And don't worry, the turtle whos enclosure I will be treating is going to the vet next week with her tortoise brother to get fecal tested and possibly treated (they are both otherwise eating and pooping just fine).
Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is such a wonderful thing to have around. It's made up of fossilized silica shells from diatoms, a type of microalgae, and it's known as a natural insecticide! How does this work exactly is still kinda debated, but the basic idea is that the tiny silica shells are razor-sharp to small insects and parasites and kills them off by cutting into their exoskeletons and drying them out. It will NOT kill eggs, just the crawlies.
With this in mind, it is not toxic for animals and it's commonly used with livestock and in gardens as a natural mechanical pesticide. As far as I am aware, it IS safe for torts as long as they aren't constantly huffing the dust and they can even consume it on occasion without ill effects.
How do you use DE you may ask? Quite simply, however, it is important that you use FOOD-GRADE DE. Food-grade is safe for animals and is only pure DE vs the pest-control variety that often has additives inside it. And if you are like me and have your tort's enclosure doubling as an earthworm bin, DE does not harm Earthworms so you don't have to worry about sacrificing some wrigglers to get rid of pesky gnats.
The reason I decided to share this is that I believe my dirt in one of my bioactive enclosures was infected with pinworms and I was not looking forward to dumping all my baby wrigglers out in the yard. And don't worry, the turtle whos enclosure I will be treating is going to the vet next week with her tortoise brother to get fecal tested and possibly treated (they are both otherwise eating and pooping just fine).
