- Messages
- 600
- Location
- Nebraska
Are fungus gnats harmful to tarantulas? We recently had a fight with them in our house plants and I assume some may have found their way into my ts substrate. Should I worry?
-
Are you a Tarantula hobbyist? If so, we invite you to join our community! Once you join you'll be able to post messages, upload pictures of your pets and enclosures and chat with other Tarantula enthusiasts. Sign up today!
Fungus gnats
- Thread starter Aracnoenthusiast
- Start date
E
ExMember
Guest
How damp is the enclosure? What species?
- Messages
- 600
- Location
- Nebraska
The enclosure is only lightly misted once a week since it's a B.hamorii the gnats were originally in some house plants we got. I'm not sure they are in the enclosure. Just wanted to act preemptively if they are harmful to tarantulas
E
ExMember
Guest
From what I read the adult gnats don't bite so they wouldn't pose a huge problem. Babies (or whatever you call them) might pose a problem if they got on your spider. I am not an expert by any means but I would guess the babies would be in the plants and as long as the spiders aren't kept really close you should be good. If you do find gnats in your enclosure just wash it and change the substrate. This problem is way more prevalent in bio active enclosures or with theraphosa species that need to be kept damp.
Take this with a grain of salt though...I read some posts about it from the guy who wrote the tarantula keepers guide. I have not encountered this before so I have no real world experience in this matter.
Take this with a grain of salt though...I read some posts about it from the guy who wrote the tarantula keepers guide. I have not encountered this before so I have no real world experience in this matter.
Last edited by a moderator:
- Messages
- 600
- Location
- Nebraska
Thanks, I'm keeping an eye on it. I'm hoping they stay away from the t enclosures since mine are all dry species
- Messages
- 6,382
- Location
- The Oregon rain forest
Stop misting...they lay their eggs in the moist substate. Let it dry out for a while and they will disappear.
- Messages
- 6,382
- Location
- The Oregon rain forest
They sell a product that is volcanic glass to put on your plant...looks like perlite. It actually cuts the reproductive organs somehow on the gnats and they cant breed anymore.
- Messages
- 600
- Location
- Nebraska
It's safe for the tarantula?
- Messages
- 6,382
- Location
- The Oregon rain forest
No...dont put it in with your tarantulas. It's glass. It sounded like you had house plants. It's not poison...its glass so it cuts up the gnats trying to get to the moist soil. It destroys their reproductive parts. For Your enclosures just dry out and move your water dishes to a dry spot and dont over fill your dishes for a while.
- Messages
- 6,382
- Location
- The Oregon rain forest
Amazon.com : The Hydroponic City Buddystone Gnat Barrier, Fungus Gnat Control - 2 Liter Bag + Stakes : Garden & Outdoor
Amazon.com : The Hydroponic City Buddystone Gnat Barrier, Fungus Gnat Control - 2 Liter Bag + Stakes : Garden & Outdoor
www.amazon.com
They use it in hydroponic growing. I've used it before and it works great.
- Messages
- 600
- Location
- Nebraska
Thanks!
@Arachnoclown is it like this?
cant see volcanic 'glass' in amazon search (in UK anyway)
Can it be in the same room if for example a really damp tray was set up with this stuff to stop the egg laying cycle?
Gardening-Naturally Volcanic Rock Dust 1kg Pack For Borders, Hanging Baskets and Wormeries https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07YZGKGPN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_ZpdvEbAWY4DDS
cant see volcanic 'glass' in amazon search (in UK anyway)
Can it be in the same room if for example a really damp tray was set up with this stuff to stop the egg laying cycle?
Gardening-Naturally Volcanic Rock Dust 1kg Pack For Borders, Hanging Baskets and Wormeries https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07YZGKGPN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_ZpdvEbAWY4DDS
- Messages
- 6,382
- Location
- The Oregon rain forest
No...they use to use volcanic glass but I think its recycled glass now.
Heres what I use in my house and out in my planters on my patio. It has awesome drainage.
- Messages
- 1,197
- Location
- South Wales
Is it that diatomaceous earth stuff?
- Messages
- 600
- Location
- Nebraska
No, diatomaceous earth is more of a powder. Thus is a recycled glass, kinda like pebbles
- Messages
- 1,197
- Location
- South Wales
thanks @Arachnoclown , looks like a UK available equivalent?
same question.. can this be used on top of a very damp layer of substrate to attract all the gnats within my spider room (but not directly in the spider enclosure)?
LAVA-LITE NO GNATS! Fungus Gnat Control https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0827XP86B/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_hSwvEbVEXPAFX
same question.. can this be used on top of a very damp layer of substrate to attract all the gnats within my spider room (but not directly in the spider enclosure)?
LAVA-LITE NO GNATS! Fungus Gnat Control https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0827XP86B/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_hSwvEbVEXPAFX
- Messages
- 6,382
- Location
- The Oregon rain forest
Yes...its non toxic. It's just glass. Dont want to mistake it up with vermiculite though.
cheers buddy. Appreciate the reply
- Messages
- 216
- Location
- Clackamas Oregon
Clown has a fix for everything !!!
