Fruit flies??? Maybe???

[s.]

Since we got our Salamanders (yellow spotted and a red back) it seems that we also have an infestation of fruit flies (or something that is small and irritating). My question to you is...what can I do to get rid of these without hurting the salamanders? there must be something non-toxic i can use as they are starting to become quite a problem in my otherwise BUG FREE house...LOL

 

[george]

I'm curious as to where do fruit flies come from? I have some in my tiger sals tank as of lately as well, and I had a huge infestation of them in my emperor scorpion tank before. Are they harmful?

 

[s.]

probably not harmful but really really irritating...LOL. i want to be rid of them but i want to make sure that i do it safely so that nothing is harmed. I think they come from the fact that the soil is moist, just a regular breeding ground for them.

 

[alan]

Most likely fungus gnats (Sciarid flies). There are biological controls commercially available, but the simplest solution is to keep the substrate on the dry side.

 

[jennifer]

The only way I've found to manage them is to completely change the substrate. Or just ignore them.

 

[edward]

If the substrate is moist it is usually fungus gnats but if the substrate is dry then you may have phorid flies. These look like fruit flies and run in short bursts. The best way to eliminate these is to keep the area clean (remove dead cricket bodies, etc).

Ed

 

[jesse]

well, wheni used to have small plethodontids the fungus mite were a very easy and free source of food for these guys, they would snap them up. same goes for the newly morphed cynops. so id have to say that they are not that bad.