[ryank458]

I've got some kind of almost microscopic insect taking over my Cobalt viv. They are to small for pictures. The only time you can see them is when you mist. It drives them crazy and they all scurry around. The Cobalt doesn't seem to mind much but, I'm going to have to break down the viv just in case unless someone has an idea what they are.

Thanks in advance.

 

[ryank458]

I've never seeded anything in my vivs. They must gave piggybacked in on something else. I've never seen one of the insects large enough for a frog to see and eat. My uneducated guess is that they may be an isopod. I wonder if they crawl on the frog and cause it stress. I've read on the dry ice method and I may give it a shot. It seems like there would be a few survivors though and you would find yourself back in the same boat. I wish I could figure out what they were.

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[ryank458]

I appreciate the insight from everyone! I think I will try to capture a few tonight somehow and get a real close look at them. I'm hoping for springtails but, I'm afraid they might be mites. I think I can grab the coconut hut and get it over by the light where I can maybe see their color and shape. If I can discern anymore info from them when I look I will post it here.

Thanks!

 

[ryank458]

I second the mites thing... these are roundish (looking) type bugs. In the past I warned someone who was feeding their prized galacs right from the old fruit fly container not to do it. They said the galacs love to pick up the mites as well as the flies. The frog went into the open container and inside and was found the next day dead with mites covering more than 90% of the body. Sad story, but yeah beware if these are mites. A few mites may be a supplement for your frogs, just be on the lookout to see if there numbers are growing. They are especially fond of younger frogs, but in greater numbers can take down any size frog.

Peter Keane

That's crazy! Poor frog!

 

[ryank458]

That's a very interesting article. I believe they are describing a different mite than what I may have. They describe it as "ovoid" or egg shaped. I think mine are more elongated. Also, I do not have any sores on my frog (thank god). The mite in the picture posted is huge in comparison to my insect infestation. I don't think they grow big enough for my frog to eat. At least I've never seen one that big. Seeing the way they cover my coconut hut makes me think they may be crawling all over my Cobalt. It would be a shame to break down my viv for no reason. I need to figure this out. If I can't I will have to do it just to be safe.

Thanks to all!

In cases like this the mites should be identified as I've had cases like this when I've found a freshly dead frog covered in mites only to have those mites turn out to be free living detrivore mites that are commonly found in the enclosures. In those cases, the mites don't kill the frog, they are simply the first decomposers on the scene. If there were/are blood sucking mites in the enclosure then you should find them attached to the frog(s) while the frogs are still up and active or lesions showing where they are embedded in the skin of the frogs.

See this abstract for an example of the issue JSTOR: An Error Occurred Setting Your User Cookie
Pathology of cutaneous trombidiosis caused by larval trombiculid mites in a wild Lesueur's tree frog (Litoria wilcoxii) - [email protected]

 

[ryank458]

Could this be what you are talking about?

(center of pic)
They are what you describe and have been in my viv for a while, though there are no forgs in it. Ive always thought they were aphids though they might be mites.

That's a lot larger and pear shaped. This bug is supper tiny and shaped a bit different. They are fairly quick moving. Thanks for trying to help!

 

[ryank458]

That depends entirely on the mites in the enclosure. Mites inhabit a wide range of conditions from fully aquatic to full terrestrial.. as an example check out YouTube - ‪Big Red Water Mites, Trombidiformes?‬‏ (I have to admit, I've only seen them a few times and never in that kind of numbers..(but I'm also still looking for the famous freshwater jellyfish..))

Ed

I've seen those jelly fish here in Indiana Scuba diving at a Rock Quarry! Very cool and worth finding.

 

[ryank458]

So, I've decided they are springtails because they jump when you touch them. But, I wonder if there are too many? And I wonder why I've never spotted an adult one? They are to small to be eaten by a tinc. I still worry they might be crawling over the frog causing it stress. Not sure what to do with them.

 

[ryank458]

Since I wasn't exactly sure what they were, they were to tiny to eat, there where hundreds of them, and my frog has been hiding more then what's normal...... I decided to kill them little critters! It went really well and it was surprisingly easy and cheap. Other than having to move a frog out of it's home its a peice of cake using CO2 method. It cost about $2 bucks for dry ice at Meijer. Threw it in two cups and put those cups in the viv and dumped hot water on it. Death to all micro fauna! Hopefully when they make their reappearance it will be on a more controlled basis.

Thanks to all that lent there knowledge. Here's a link to the article I followed if someone else needs to give this method a whirl.

Dart Frog Forum on Husbandry and Habitat Information - Eliminating Vivarium Pests Using the CO2 method

Thanks!

 

[ryank458]

Yes, I understand what springtails are and what they do. My concern was for the quanity of them. There were hundreds if not thousands covering every surface of the viv including the frog.