Small grey insects found on substrate- ID please

Crestie Chris

New member
Hi guys, I was feeding one of the geckos last night when I spotted one of these little buggers:

DSC_4839.jpg


On further inspection I found loads of the sods! I'm going to clean the viv out and disinfect it but I'd like to know what species they are.

A little info:
Size: About 1mm long
Legs: approx 6 (I couldn't see enough detail to be sure)
Behavior: Seen on Corkbark and on substrate (kitchen roll). Very fast when compared to other arthropods of a similar size.
Colour: Grey/Brown.
Affinity with gecko: Not seen on gecko or faeces.
Country: UK

Some pics:
DSC_4840.jpg

DSC_4841.jpg

DSC_4844.jpg

DSC_4847.jpg


Thanks for any help you guys can offer me,

Chris
 

Hilde

Administrator
Staff member
They look like springtails -Collembola- to me.
As long as there's a food source and enough humidity, they'll survive, even on paper towel. The CGD will work as a food source.

Some pictures of the ones I've had over the years, quite similar looking to what you have:
sprngrs2.jpg


sprngrs3.jpg


sprngrs4.jpg


sprngrs1.jpg


They're nothing much to worry about, good scavengers for cleaning up left-overs. If they get too plentiful, just wipe them up. Once you have them, they're almost impossible to get rid of without completely removing and cleaning everything in the tank and starting with fresh substrate. Might as well leave them be and take advantage of their usefulness.
 

Crestie Chris

New member
Thanks for that, put my mind at ease... After a recent infestation of Booklice I have the urge to nuke any little tiny creatures that appear :roll:
 
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