Flies! >=/

[section8angel]

I have this problem in my room with my plants attracting tiny tiny flies. I -think- they're fruit flies but I really don't know. All I know is they're really tiny, and really annoying lol.

They ended up in my snail tank a few times, so I bought some mesh fabric to cover the ventilation holes so the snails could still breath but the flies couldn't get in.

Now, I've noticed lately that there haven't been as many flies, so I was wondering if I took the mesh off (it's not "stuck" to the lid properly so is annoying) and they went back into the snail tank, would it actually harm my snails at all?

[thegreatloofa]

I've had something similar after the soil gets too sodden and has been in the tubs for a while. Is it the flies with much bigger wings than their body and are about 2-3mm long?

I found it was not so much the flies being the problem but the wormy things in the soil that I'm guessing are related, as they are so disgusting! *shudder*

I recently swapped soil for capillary matting in the two tubs which have had flies in the past so hopefully this will sort them out. My other tubs have dryer soil so they shouldn't come in there.

[Arno]

The flies won't harm them if they are fruitflies,and yes they are annoying lol.Don't know if capillary matting will help as they are attracted by the food but at least they are easier to catch.

[section8angel]

As far as I can seen when I squish the buggers lol, the wings are the same size as their body but they are that small yes. Fruit flies are the only ones I ever rememeber haha. We've had them downstairs before also because of plants and I think my mum thinks they're fruit flies too. Come to think of it we've had them in our little tub we put the bits and bobs of veggies and fruit in till we take it outside and they've been in there before.. must be fruit flies with that theory then?

I've not had any wormy things in there though... eww lol

I'm in the process of swapping to the matting, so will see how it goes. As I said I haven't seen any in a while.. strange really as all I've done is re do my room and add even MORE plants! And the snails tank has been covered for ages so I know they weren't still coming round 'cause of that. And I haven't seen them in the tanks since I covered them.

Come to think of it (again haha)... the baby tank isn't covered and the flies still aren't around.. I wonder if I've finally got rid of them?!!? *Shushes incase the flies hear her* haha

[Paul]

The flies probably originate from the tank, not your plants. I think the flies have a breeding cycle of over a week so at the first sign of them, sterilising or replacing the substrate should get rid of them.

[section8angel]

But if they were from the tanks, why would they not be going everywhere else? They're only in my room and downstairs occasionally, and my tanks haven't been down there before or after we spot them. And why have I still had them after the tank was covered with mesh so they couldn't get in? That's the main reason I think they're from the plants.

They haven't been in the actual tank at all since I covered it. So they must be nesting somewhere else and I always see them on my plants that's why I said about them. And now that I've been watering my plants less and now it's getting colder, the flies seem to have dissapeared.

[Stacey]

Ive found in my case, banana seems to attract them to your tank, with my millipede tank anyway. Not had any trouble with the snails so far but when I feed banana I only leave it in the tank for a few hours, where as any other stuff like cucumber they get to snack on all night.
Worked for me and I havent seen those little pesky flies around since! hehe
I think its because the banana is really quite sweet smelling and they use banana when breeding fruit flies to sell in reptile shops etc.
So its a possible cause.

[section8angel]

Well mine don't get banana. I hate the smell of it lol So no nana for my slimers. Thankfully they didn't like strawberry so I don't have to smell that again either.

I still haven't seen anymore.. and I still have no idea why they've dissapeared. The tanks are still covered, and I've added more plants. It's very strange..

They must be hiding... hatching a plan lol.

[Stacey]

plotting to take over the world, like pinky and the brain

[section8angel]

Hahah they're pinky.... they're pinky and the brain brain brain brain brain..

*coughs*

Dangermouse will stop them!!