vikingsnail
Achatina immaculata
Arnie the Fulica!
Posts: 245
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Post by vikingsnail on Dec 2, 2007 13:16:42 GMT
I went to feed my snail today, and when I took the lid of his tank there were two tiny black flies (like midges) in there. I got rid of them, but could these cause harm to my snail?
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Post by ness on Dec 2, 2007 13:49:29 GMT
These are probably Sciarid Flies, or Fungus gnats. These are sommon and harmless, liking to live in damp soil and the moggots feed on spoiled vegetation, fungi, and annoyingly for some - nice tender young seedlings growing indoors! Assuming these are indeed Sciarid, and assuming you don't intend grwoing seedlings, these flies will not cause any actual problems, but they can be got rid of, or at least greatly reduced, by buying Hypoaspis Miles predatory mites from www.defenders.co.uk (and other sites too), they have the benfit of keeping other pests down to, like little white mites that suck the blood of snails. Hope that helps x
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Rachel
Archachatina puylaerti
They see me snailin'
Posts: 1,183
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Post by Rachel on Dec 3, 2007 18:17:26 GMT
also clean out the tank, it'll help, and change all food daily for a bit.
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Post by cookilicious on Oct 13, 2009 22:48:25 GMT
i hav this problem too! They make me angry! grrrr if i get some hypoaspis will they be crawlin all over my room like? cos i love snails but other inverts im really not so crazy about?!!!
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coyote
Archachatina papyracea
Cochleas ego amo
Posts: 2,955
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Post by coyote on Oct 14, 2009 23:47:55 GMT
Hypoaspis will die off once their prey (snail mites, etc.) have been eaten up. They will not wander all over the room, they will stay in the tank to be close to their food source.
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Katie
Achatina tincta
Posts: 673
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Post by Katie on Oct 15, 2009 20:36:51 GMT
Is their any possibilities that these flies could hold any sort of parasites that could so any harm? Just found some flies running around the tank, and just wanted to make sure they wont spread anything, as i can't do any clean outs at the moment. Resort to just squishing them
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coyote
Archachatina papyracea
Cochleas ego amo
Posts: 2,955
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Post by coyote on Oct 15, 2009 21:27:30 GMT
I haven't heard of any connection between flies and parasites, but I can't guarantee that there isn't one.
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Katie
Achatina tincta
Posts: 673
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Post by Katie on Oct 16, 2009 6:12:08 GMT
Ok, thankyou
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Rachel
Archachatina puylaerti
They see me snailin'
Posts: 1,183
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Post by Rachel on Oct 16, 2009 13:46:49 GMT
Strangely enough lighting a citronella tea light near the tank drew these little wotsits, they flew right into the flame! Hypoasis is definately the best way to go, they really remove them fast.
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aerliss
Achatina immaculata
Posts: 281
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Post by aerliss on Oct 17, 2009 0:47:47 GMT
Now, don't quote me on this, but I believe citronella is commonly used as an insect repellent (we used it in the anti-mosquito stuff at the handmade soap company I worked for).
*wikis*
Yup, I remember this one; cymbopogon (say it, go on... let it roll around on your tongue; kim-boh-poh-gon, or perhaps you might prefer sim-boh-poh-gon) or lemongrass. Renowned for its insect repellent powers as well as being a great sleep aid; when my partner suffered a bout of insomnia, I experimented with different oils known for helping people get to sleep in massage balms... using lemongrass, I almost fell asleep giving the massage!
Anyway... why these flies should be attracted to lemongrass is bizarre. But if it works, it works.
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kanin
Achatina immaculata
Posts: 263
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Post by kanin on Oct 17, 2009 9:21:26 GMT
I have carnivorous plants - the trumpet ones, dont remember their names - on top of two of my larger tanks. they're quite small plants but still do the trick - kills them of quite fast as they've drawn to that goey sweet acid stuff within the trumpets and they're cheaper than getting hypoaspis and last longer aswell.
Rachel, I've seen them do this aswell but with unsented candles. Figured they where drawn to the light like a moth or something..
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Rachel
Archachatina puylaerti
They see me snailin'
Posts: 1,183
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Post by Rachel on Oct 17, 2009 12:37:58 GMT
probally, never had it with citronella one. mind you, it was cheapo, so that could be why.
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coyote
Archachatina papyracea
Cochleas ego amo
Posts: 2,955
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Post by coyote on Oct 19, 2009 0:18:17 GMT
Kanin, are your plants pitcher plants?
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