springtails or mites?

chestermymunchkin

Hatchling Member
Beardie name(s)
chester
Does anybody know what these types of bugs are? they are everywhere in my 120-gallon tile/bioactive tank. Uvb is Arcadia 12% 30" replaced two weeks ago and my uva is his basking spot which is 100watts replaced around the same time. they don't seem to be bothering Chester but I found quite a few on top of him last night which worried me. I think they are springtails or fruitflies without wings but they are a grayish brownish color and don't seem to have a larva stage, only egg I believe, plus they don't have wings. I found a video of them on another forum that wasn't responded to: that is the video URL
 

Asper

Member
Beardie name(s)
Harry
Does anybody know what these types of bugs are? they are everywhere in my 120-gallon tile/bioactive tank. Uvb is Arcadia 12% 30" replaced two weeks ago and my uva is his basking spot which is 100watts replaced around the same time. they don't seem to be bothering Chester but I found quite a few on top of him last night which worried me. I think they are springtails or fruitflies without wings but they are a grayish brownish color and don't seem to have a larva stage, only egg I believe, plus they don't have wings. I found a video of them on another forum that wasn't responded to: that is the video URL
😢 Such little bugs are hard to identify.

But I’m going to do my best to help you !

Reptile mites are most easily spread from another reptile that’s contaminated, so make sure any reptiles you have are separated please. (If that is what they end up being.)

Remove all dirt substrate and switch to tile or reptile carpet, it’ll be easier to clean and helps you catch any bugs sooner. (Tile is going to be your best bet honestly.)

Deep clean your entire terrarium with hot water and make sure all bugs and eggs are removed. Do not use soap, and don’t use cleaning products that aren’t specifically made for bearded dragon terrariums !

Wash your bearded dragon, use a cup to rinse off the bugs, most will die pretty quickly after being submerged.

As a precaution, use a reptile safe insecticide to treat your beardie of these bugs, you can find these in your local reptile / pet stores as well as Amazon. Make 100% sure it is reptile safe !!

At this point, it’s better for you remove all bugs and their eggs rather than try and identify, as the treatment is usually pretty similar regardless.

Put some of the bugs / eggs on a paper towel in a small Tupperware container and place it in a freezer. This way, incase Chester is showing signs of illness, such as red bumps, lethargy, lack of appetite, watery / bloody stools, etc… you can bring the bugs in for proper identification.

I hope this gives at least some help ! Wishing lots of luck to you and Chester
 

xp29

BD.org Addict
Photo Comp Winner
Beardie name(s)
Zen , Ruby ,Snicker Doodles, Sweet Pea, Sinatra
Very good advice.
 

chestermymunchkin

Hatchling Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
chester
Reptile mites are most easily spread from another reptile that’s contaminated, so make sure any reptiles you have are separated please. (If that is what they end up being.)
Luckily i do not have another reptile yet, ill be getting one soon!
Remove all dirt substrate and switch to tile or reptile carpet, it’ll be easier to clean and helps you catch any bugs sooner. (Tile is going to be your best bet honestly.)
Alright, I can do that do you have any enrichment suggestions?

Deep clean your entire terrarium with hot water and make sure all bugs and eggs are removed. Do not use soap, and don’t use cleaning products that aren’t specifically made for bearded dragon terrariums!
Can i use viniger water sulution? It helps get debrees off the side of the tank.
Wash your bearded dragon, and use a cup to rinse off the bugs, most will die pretty quickly after being submerged.
Alright!
As a precaution, use a reptile safe insecticide to treat your beardie of these bugs, you can find these in your local reptile / pet stores as well as Amazon. Make 100% sure it is reptile safe !!
I'm going to a semi-local reptile store this weekend I can grab those!
At this point, it’s better for you remove all bugs and their eggs rather than try and identify, as the treatment is usually pretty similar regardless.

Put some of the bugs / eggs on a paper towel in a small Tupperware container and place it in a freezer. This way, incase Chester is showing signs of illness, such as red bumps, lethargy, lack of appetite, watery / bloody stools, etc… you can bring the bugs in for proper identification.
Chester has delt with major coccidia in the past, he got those treated and he tested negative for evrything, and my vet said the blood in his stool should slowly stop occurring, but he has had one or two drops of blood in his stool every other day or a few days for a while now. but he's been acting normally. and the vet said not to worry about it. should I go in for another stool sample/check-up?
I hope this gives at least some help! Wishing lots of luck to you and Chester
 

chestermymunchkin

Hatchling Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
chester
I think I might have a microscope I could use to identify them. also, I believe they are brown springtails! their body shape is slim and they have distinctive heads! other than mites wich i found to look like tiny ticks. i can insert a close-up pic of what they look like!
1663381359099.jpg
 

xp29

BD.org Addict
Photo Comp Winner
Beardie name(s)
Zen , Ruby ,Snicker Doodles, Sweet Pea, Sinatra
Im not sure what they are. I'll flag someone that might.
@AHBD
 

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