|
Pests
Oct 15, 2014 23:38:35 GMT
Post by cliath on Oct 15, 2014 23:38:35 GMT
I was handling one of my gals and I found this little worm: imageshack.com/a/img661/2321/TWvbhx.jpgI think I've identified it as a fruit fly larvae? Is it harmful to the snails? It was on his shell. How do I get rid of them (I assume there's more) Thanks, Cliath.
|
|
snailed
Achatina achatina
Posts: 106
|
Pests
Oct 16, 2014 4:23:41 GMT
via mobile
Post by snailed on Oct 16, 2014 4:23:41 GMT
I had what I thought was fruit fly larvae as well. I cleaned the snails terrarium really well, scrubbed everything with hot water and a toothbrush. I gave the snails a Luke warm green tea bath before putting them in their new tank. I was also worried that the bug may have been something else, so I have been freezing the dirt I use in my freezer over night, since some organic dirt can have bugs in it. Have you ever had a fruit fly problem?
|
|
|
Pests
Oct 16, 2014 6:06:56 GMT
Post by cliath on Oct 16, 2014 6:06:56 GMT
Never a problem, there's been done or two in the tanks. The snails themselfs aren't dirty, they only had a green tea bath last Sunday, so I'll freeze the substrate and clean the tank. And I'm sure the snails won't complain about getting another green tea a bath! They love them! Thanks.
|
|
|
Pests
Oct 16, 2014 6:29:50 GMT
Post by etana on Oct 16, 2014 6:29:50 GMT
Hmm, apparently I have those too. I think they're fruit fly larvae. I don't think they'd bite the snails or anything like that, but they seem to tickle the snails, and either way I'm not a big fan of the adult kind anyway (and neither are the snails when the flies land on their eyes). Also I would suppose that a larva like that accidentally getting inside a snail's breathing hole is an unpleasant experience for the snail (well, why not the larva too...), even if the larva doesn't bite the snail. Anyway, just to be sure, it looks like it's tea time & big tank cleanup for my snails too. It's been way too long since my snails last had green tea anyway.
|
|
snailed
Achatina achatina
Posts: 106
|
Pests
Oct 16, 2014 13:12:47 GMT
via mobile
Post by snailed on Oct 16, 2014 13:12:47 GMT
I recently bought an aquarium with a lid that rests/snaps down on top of it. I bought double sided tape and taped sheer chiffon over the lid, taping it down on the inside lip of it. This really cut back on my fruit fly infestation.
|
|
|
Pests
Oct 16, 2014 15:28:46 GMT
Post by etana on Oct 16, 2014 15:28:46 GMT
That's good to hear. There was another user here (I think Sparrow) who used pantyhose material for a similar purpose. My bigger tank's sliding doors aren't fit for this kind of thing, but I might buy new tanks at some point anyway and consider this when I'm at it.
|
|
|
Pests
Oct 16, 2014 15:43:46 GMT
Post by cliath on Oct 16, 2014 15:43:46 GMT
I hate tiny worms! I don't mind the flys too much but I had a freak out when I saw the maggot....
I use tights to cover my cepaea tank, I've only used it for a few days but so far so good. I'm thinking of splitting the gals into pairs and putting them in smaller tanks, ones that I can put tights on.. Lol
|
|
|
Pests
Oct 16, 2014 15:54:18 GMT
Post by etana on Oct 16, 2014 15:54:18 GMT
BTW, the other day Tauno, my baby Achatina, killed a fly. I don't know for sure if he really meant to do it, but the fly sat on his face, and Tauno retracted ultra quickly and went deep in. When he came back out a couple minutes later, the fly was all squished up because it'd ended up in between Tauno's skin folds. If I really knew that he meant to kill the fly (instead of just freaking out), I'd call it a genious way to do it.
|
|
|
Pests
Oct 16, 2014 16:15:08 GMT
Post by cliath on Oct 16, 2014 16:15:08 GMT
Haha! Are you sure Tauno is a snail? He sounds more like one of those Venus fly traps! He is a very clever snail indeed!
|
|
|
Pests
Oct 16, 2014 17:51:16 GMT
Post by etana on Oct 16, 2014 17:51:16 GMT
Lol, yes, according to my knowledge, Tauno is as snaily as a snail gets. Snails have surprised me many times with what they can do, though!
|
|
Zorst
Achatina tincta
Posts: 734
|
Pests
Oct 16, 2014 17:54:50 GMT
Post by Zorst on Oct 16, 2014 17:54:50 GMT
lol good for Tauno. I also get flies from time to time n yes that looks like one of there larvae. I hate the darn things. Ive just had to change all the peat in my tanks again due to a sudden spring tail infestation. I also hate those things UGH. Think they came in on some veg despite me washing it.
Zorst
|
|
|
Pests
Oct 17, 2014 8:26:25 GMT
Post by morningcoffee on Oct 17, 2014 8:26:25 GMT
lol good for Tauno. I also get flies from time to time n yes that looks like one of there larvae. I hate the darn things. Ive just had to change all the peat in my tanks again due to a sudden spring tail infestation. I also hate those things UGH. Think they came in on some veg despite me washing it. Zorst It's a pretty expensive way of dealing with them, but if you're plagued by fungus gnats or fruit flies you can buy Hypoaspis miles predatory mites for the tank - they'll eat the larvae. This is what they are actually sold for Once you've got a fly infestation under control, if you're good at looking after plants you can put a couple of insectivorous plants on top of your tank - I recommend sundews. They'll do a great job of catching any flies that are trying to get in!
|
|
Zorst
Achatina tincta
Posts: 734
|
Pests
Oct 17, 2014 8:31:46 GMT
Post by Zorst on Oct 17, 2014 8:31:46 GMT
Thanks for that info morning coffee, I'll look into getting some and the sun dews.
Zorst
|
|
|
Pests
Oct 17, 2014 11:14:03 GMT
Post by etana on Oct 17, 2014 11:14:03 GMT
Ohh, indeed, thanks for the reminder! See I've wanted an insectivorous plant for years but I always doubted that they'd get enough flies to eat in my home, and didn't want them malnutrified. Well, now I can give one a fine and good home on top of my snail tank's vent holes. You can make a quite functional fly trap out of vinegar, a piece of a rotting apple (optional), apple juice or some other naturally sugary juice, and a drop of...uh, hand dish washing liquid (sorry, I can't remember the word). Pour them in a glass, you can cover it with plastic/clingfilm and punch fly-sized holes in it with a thick needle if you want. I had to make one myself, those flies breed super quickly if they get the chance, and I had to do something. I'll rather have a plant eating them though.
The plant would get adult gnats too, right? That'd be great if it did. Prior to having snails, I've had gnat infestations in my houseplants that were a true PITA. A surprise solution walked in though, literally - a small spider got into my living room and caught every single adult gnat in his web that he wove around the plant that had the worst gnat problem. Once they were all gone, he collected his web and I never saw him again, lol. I worry that snail keeping brings in gnats again, though.
|
|
|
Pests
Oct 17, 2014 11:38:37 GMT
Post by morningcoffee on Oct 17, 2014 11:38:37 GMT
The plant would get adult gnats too, right? That'd be great if it did. Prior to having snails, I've had gnat infestations in my houseplants that were a true PITA. A surprise solution walked in though, literally - a small spider got into my living room and caught every single adult gnat in his web that he wove around the plant that had the worst gnat problem. Once they were all gone, he collected his web and I never saw him again, lol. I worry that snail keeping brings in gnats again, though. Yep - I actually keep two sundews and a butterwort next to my houseplants, they get fed extremely well from the fungus gnats that like to hang around the plants
|
|
Zorst
Achatina tincta
Posts: 734
|
Pests
Oct 17, 2014 13:08:21 GMT
Post by Zorst on Oct 17, 2014 13:08:21 GMT
Daft mare I am, I've got butterwort plants growing wild all over this farm lol! Ok first job when I'm off the crutches is go n get some to put in the snail tanks. Just one question though, the snails should be ok with them in there tanks especially the hatchlings? Zorst
|
|
|
Pests
Oct 17, 2014 15:27:16 GMT
Post by morningcoffee on Oct 17, 2014 15:27:16 GMT
Daft mare I am, I've got butterwort plants growing wild all over this farm lol! Ok first job when I'm off the crutches is go n get some to put in the snail tanks. Just one question though, the snails should be ok with them in there tanks especially the hatchlings? Zorst The snails should be OK in that the plant wouldn't harm them, but they could ruin the ability of the plant to catch bugs by sliming all over it. You'd be better off potting a couple and putting them next to or on top of the tank.
|
|
Zorst
Achatina tincta
Posts: 734
|
Pests
Oct 17, 2014 15:52:27 GMT
Post by Zorst on Oct 17, 2014 15:52:27 GMT
Grand thanks Morningcoffee.
Zorst
|
|
|
Pests
Oct 17, 2014 21:35:45 GMT
Post by cliath on Oct 17, 2014 21:35:45 GMT
I'm gonna try some butterwort too! Thanks!
|
|
|
Pests
Oct 18, 2014 7:15:47 GMT
via mobile
Post by etana on Oct 18, 2014 7:15:47 GMT
Awesome, thanks for all the info and ideas, Morningcoffee & Zorst.
|
|
|
Pests
Oct 20, 2014 11:45:47 GMT
Post by morningcoffee on Oct 20, 2014 11:45:47 GMT
My butterwort sits next to a couple of houseplants that are prone to having fungus gnats in the soil, here's what it looks like atm: As you can see, they're pretty effective gnat-catchers!
|
|
Zorst
Achatina tincta
Posts: 734
|
Pests
Oct 20, 2014 12:28:15 GMT
Post by Zorst on Oct 20, 2014 12:28:15 GMT
Def is I'm going up the mountain in the jeep as soon as the land dries out enough for me to with a bucket n trowel to gather some plants.
Zorst
|
|
|
Pests
Oct 20, 2014 13:15:42 GMT
Post by morningcoffee on Oct 20, 2014 13:15:42 GMT
Def is I'm going up the mountain in the jeep as soon as the land dries out enough for me to with a bucket n trowel to gather some plants. Zorst Don't forget that you should only water butterworts with rain water or distilled water, and make sure you pot them into appropriate nutrient-poor soil Most butterworts have very shallow roots, so they don't need deep pots, but you'll need to plant them in firmly with plenty of soil around the base to keep them anchored into the pot. Also, this means you should water them from the top so that the shallow roots can get the water. I use a plastic syringe (with no needle) to get the water into the centre of the plant without it all running off the leaves away from the soil
|
|
Zorst
Achatina tincta
Posts: 734
|
Pests
Oct 20, 2014 14:53:06 GMT
Post by Zorst on Oct 20, 2014 14:53:06 GMT
Great thanks, we have them growing up by our spring n that's our house water its tested up as mineral water and filters through the rocks of the mountain.
I figured to take soil from this area as there already used to it n its naturally poor also to use that water but yr idea of an empty syringe is a great one so thanks for that gem of info.
Zorst
|
|
|
Pests
Oct 20, 2014 15:53:24 GMT
Post by cliath on Oct 20, 2014 15:53:24 GMT
Wow... That's a lot of flys. I just gotta find some now
|
|