I just noticed hundreds of little white bugs in my terrarium. Before now, I would only see a few, but now they are everywhere. I have a baby redfoot tortoise that had them on him. How do I get rid of them? HELP
I would change the substrate. Bake or boil any new substrate. Bake 200-250 for about 2-3 hours. Or you can boil it. Of course let cool completely before using.
The mites will not harm your tortoise so you can relax a bit! They are detrivores that thrive in the warmth and humidity of the viv and feed on food waste and poop.
Spot cleaning the substrate to get rid of poop and rotting plant matter promptly helps.
Changing the substrate will reduce their number, but unless you steam clean the viv too you will not eradicate them.
Some people use roly polies as natural control. Pick up rocks outdoors and they'll be underneath and drop half a dozen in the viv