Fungus gnat issue and tips on baking substrate

[sweetsnail]

Hi,

My Helix Aspersa tank is getting fungus gnats issue again.  The last time was in Feb and I did a complete change of substrate.  I use coco coir peat substrate.

Now I can see fungus gnats fly out each time I open the tank, a few each time which I get rid of.

I am going to close out the lid with the insect net so no gnats can’t get through.

I really don’t want to change the substrate for my garden snail wellbeing since I just change it end of Feb.

Questions:
1. Can I bake the substrate to kill off any eggs and larvae? Can anybody share their method?

2. Do these larvae harm my adult snails (Helix aspersa)? 

Thank you kindly.

[snaileyhammy]

Hello! these do not harm your snail, they are just very very annoying. Here is what you can do..
air out your tank, get rid of any moldy food and larvae you see, bake your substrate, put your insect net over the tank, and put fungi gnat traps near your tank.
I know it sounds like a lot. Those are just some options of what you could do. If you don't want to buy fungi gnat traps, you can put apple cider vinegar in a bowl and it may help.
I hope this helps!

[sweetsnail]

Hello,

Sounds like a plan. I will give that sticky thing a go too. The apple cider doesn’t seem to work as I have tried few times.

Thank you kindly

[snaileyhammy]

No problem! And yes, the apple cider vinegar doesn’t work to well lol! I hope all goes well!

[morningcoffee]

I'd honestly recommend just doing a full soil change again, and taking steps to prevent the gnats getting back in. Baking the substrate is going to be time-consuming and messy and will kill the "good" bacteria in the soil anyway, or if it's not done thoroughly could leave some larvae in the substrate to start the whole cycle again. If the soil was changed in Feb, it'll be fine to change it again now, just let the snail poop and old food sit in the tank for a few days at a time afterwards to help get soil flora going again.
Until you take steps to stop the gnats getting in in the first place, they're going to just keep getting back into the tank and you'll keep having the same problem - I've also been having the same issue recently as I have a lot of houseplants, and it's extremely annoying!

A cheap / quick solution is stretching a pair of tights/pantyhose over the tank lid to prevent them getting in - doesn't look very pretty but as long as there's no holes, it works.

If you're any good with plants then carnivorous plants near the tank can help catch any pesky gnats before they get in - sundews (Drosera) and butterworts (Pinguicula) are very good for fungus gnats.
Apple cider vinegar supposedly works for fruit flies but it won't work for fungus gnats as they are not attracted to sweet/fruity things in the same way.