tinytortoise
Active Member
Here's a little splurge of an update; posting here as to be open to insights, criticisms, etc.
Okay where to begin,
Since day 1 my substrate has had some gnats, I'd kept calm as they're just gnats - but this weekend I decided IPM has to be addressed as I've approached my closed chamber with a bioactive mindset - theres lots of room to grow on this idea. With more research I realized how horrible the gnats really are for all the plants, and decided to take action.
I ordered food-grade DE (OMRI listed), Yellow Sticky Traps (non-toxic), and an indoor UV bug lamp.
Upon receiving, we removed Apis for an extensive soak, she was watched by my partner, who had a fun extra long soak time, while I lightly sprinkled and then "poofed" through the enclosure (blew it around from what I'd sprinkled on substrate. I did avoid Apis' hide, and didn't leave DE on the basking rock. I also avoided leaving lots on the foliage as to prevent her from eating it. After spreading thoroughly, I used a fork to rake some of the thicker areas into the substrate to avoid excess moving through the air as Apis roams.
The sticky traps have been applied to my indoor potted plants, as well as, I've been laying them on the substrate when Apis turns-in for the night - not many have been caught in my indoor planters, but tons have landed on the sticky trap in the enclosure (tonight I've doubled up, hoping to get the rest of them). I can't say if the DE effected the gnats much, as some are still flying (2 days later), but I hope some of the larvae have been dehydrated.
The bug lamp has been working hard as well, while not catching as many as the sticky traps, there is a good number that have met their end, hopefully this will help "guard" the enclosure from any coming or going.
Oddly, another type of... pest? has been spotted. I assume this is an effect of the DE, but each 8 hours after dusting I've found a small cluster of VERY tiny (can't see their shape) specks, that look to be trying to jump, but are stuck in the water. I assume they naturally would be able to get out, but since they're dehydrating, are sticking into the water, clustering. Any idea what this could be? These specks also seems to get stuck on my sticky traps, they look like dust.
There have also been some light, yellowish, Aphids (I think?), I'm not too worrid about them, as other treatment should work on them over time (DE).
I had been aware prior to dusting that there was a snail in my violets, but neglected to find her, luckily when I got home (1.5 days after dusting) she was on the water-bowl and seems to be doing well, I've removed her into a temporary snail enclosure until I moisten the substrate (once gnats have dwindled). She's been identified as an Amber snail who eat Fungus, algae, and such. I'm not to worried about her singularly, though am wary of snails reproducing inside.
I'm hoping to adopt a substrate cleanup crew, been planning to introduce Roly Polys (Pill Bugs), and have also considered Earthworms. People have said that Roly Polys will eat Gnat Eggs, in the soil, but it also seems they may eat eggs on foliage as well. The Earthworms interested me in hopes to keep the soil aerated and help to break down waste materials, which the Roly Poly should also help with. I'm hoping the two will help me prevent huge gnat problems in the future, as well as provide nutrient rich soil as new substrate develops. For the Aphids, maybe I could introduce a lady bug when the time comes (temporarily, haven't researched this much).
Prior to introducing more exoskeletons I'd obviously need to counteract the dusting of DE, which I hope to do once the gnats are under control by "tilling" the substrate, planting new seed mix, and then adding more moisture to the soil, misting for at-least a few days. Although my enclosure is very humid, so the DE is likely not too effective anymore, I want to be sure before I add new lives.
The seed mix is Tortoise Supply's "Testudo Seed Mix", I do plan to plant some inside my enclosure to see how it fairs, though I'll also be planting it outside in a planter to grow without a baby stomping all over it. I've had some success with grass thus-far, but my baby isn't really interested in grass, so I hope this broad leaf mix will be more suitable for her to graze on her own as it grows. An interesting part of this will be seeing what grows well in different parts over time.
Okay so there's a wall of text, hopefully someone finds this interested. Please let me know what you think!
Okay where to begin,
Since day 1 my substrate has had some gnats, I'd kept calm as they're just gnats - but this weekend I decided IPM has to be addressed as I've approached my closed chamber with a bioactive mindset - theres lots of room to grow on this idea. With more research I realized how horrible the gnats really are for all the plants, and decided to take action.
I ordered food-grade DE (OMRI listed), Yellow Sticky Traps (non-toxic), and an indoor UV bug lamp.
Upon receiving, we removed Apis for an extensive soak, she was watched by my partner, who had a fun extra long soak time, while I lightly sprinkled and then "poofed" through the enclosure (blew it around from what I'd sprinkled on substrate. I did avoid Apis' hide, and didn't leave DE on the basking rock. I also avoided leaving lots on the foliage as to prevent her from eating it. After spreading thoroughly, I used a fork to rake some of the thicker areas into the substrate to avoid excess moving through the air as Apis roams.
The sticky traps have been applied to my indoor potted plants, as well as, I've been laying them on the substrate when Apis turns-in for the night - not many have been caught in my indoor planters, but tons have landed on the sticky trap in the enclosure (tonight I've doubled up, hoping to get the rest of them). I can't say if the DE effected the gnats much, as some are still flying (2 days later), but I hope some of the larvae have been dehydrated.
The bug lamp has been working hard as well, while not catching as many as the sticky traps, there is a good number that have met their end, hopefully this will help "guard" the enclosure from any coming or going.
Oddly, another type of... pest? has been spotted. I assume this is an effect of the DE, but each 8 hours after dusting I've found a small cluster of VERY tiny (can't see their shape) specks, that look to be trying to jump, but are stuck in the water. I assume they naturally would be able to get out, but since they're dehydrating, are sticking into the water, clustering. Any idea what this could be? These specks also seems to get stuck on my sticky traps, they look like dust.
There have also been some light, yellowish, Aphids (I think?), I'm not too worrid about them, as other treatment should work on them over time (DE).
I had been aware prior to dusting that there was a snail in my violets, but neglected to find her, luckily when I got home (1.5 days after dusting) she was on the water-bowl and seems to be doing well, I've removed her into a temporary snail enclosure until I moisten the substrate (once gnats have dwindled). She's been identified as an Amber snail who eat Fungus, algae, and such. I'm not to worried about her singularly, though am wary of snails reproducing inside.
I'm hoping to adopt a substrate cleanup crew, been planning to introduce Roly Polys (Pill Bugs), and have also considered Earthworms. People have said that Roly Polys will eat Gnat Eggs, in the soil, but it also seems they may eat eggs on foliage as well. The Earthworms interested me in hopes to keep the soil aerated and help to break down waste materials, which the Roly Poly should also help with. I'm hoping the two will help me prevent huge gnat problems in the future, as well as provide nutrient rich soil as new substrate develops. For the Aphids, maybe I could introduce a lady bug when the time comes (temporarily, haven't researched this much).
Prior to introducing more exoskeletons I'd obviously need to counteract the dusting of DE, which I hope to do once the gnats are under control by "tilling" the substrate, planting new seed mix, and then adding more moisture to the soil, misting for at-least a few days. Although my enclosure is very humid, so the DE is likely not too effective anymore, I want to be sure before I add new lives.
The seed mix is Tortoise Supply's "Testudo Seed Mix", I do plan to plant some inside my enclosure to see how it fairs, though I'll also be planting it outside in a planter to grow without a baby stomping all over it. I've had some success with grass thus-far, but my baby isn't really interested in grass, so I hope this broad leaf mix will be more suitable for her to graze on her own as it grows. An interesting part of this will be seeing what grows well in different parts over time.
Okay so there's a wall of text, hopefully someone finds this interested. Please let me know what you think!