One of the most important aspects when caring for a turtle is their tank. You want to make sure that their environment stays healthy and free from any dirt, debris, or dangers that affect their health. Unfortunately, you may see some tiny black bugs in turtle tank or other insects that roam around.
But why do they appear and what can you do about it? Read on as I talk about insects appearing in your turtle tank and how to get rid of them!
Why Are There Tiny Black Bugs In Turtle Tank?
There are several bugs you can encounter in your turtle’s aquarium during cleaning. Or you can notice them roaming around as you spend some time with your pet!
The most common tiny black bugs you see in turtle tanks are either gnats or mites. Gnats are non-biting insects that usually stay in damp environments such as wetlands, ponds, or places in your home like gutters and birdbaths.
These insects can enter your homes and congregate around moisture to breed. That’s why you may find gnats in your turtle habitat, as they want to breed there!
Mites are also tiny insects and look like moving specks of dirt. These are common in indoor enclosures, especially when you have other pets or reptiles around. While they aren’t worrisome, too many of them are potentially dangerous for your turtle and their habitat.
Mites can cluster around your turtle’s skin, specifically around their eyes and nose, which can be unhealthy. They feed on blood, making your turtle anemic if you don’t get rid of them immediately. Plus, they may also be around the turtle and transfer to your hands after handling your pet!
Get Rid of Tiny Black Bugs In Turtle Tank
The obvious course of action is to get rid of the bugs immediately, so make sure to follow these tips:
1. Wash Your Turtle
You wouldn’t want bugs to be feasting on your turtle’s skin, causing various health conditions! The first thing to do once you see signs of bugs around the enclosure is to wash your turtle. Bugs like mites would drown in water, so baths are an effective step to reduce the bug population.
Scrub your turtle’s skin and shell using a soft toothbrush, making gentle strokes. Besides mild soap, you can use these for more treatment:
- Antibiotic ointment if your vet prescribes it to your tithe
- Oils smother bugs, with olive oil being generally safe for turtles
- Pyrethroids are synthetic pyrethrins, which is natural insecticide from chrysanthemum, which are safe for turtles
2. Clean the Aquarium
Clean the turtle tank and start off by removing all the substrate, then remove the accessories for cleaning. Scrub all the accessories with water and place outside a clean and dry area, allowing it to dry.
Dump all the water from the aquarium, replacing it with clean and fresh water after cleaning. When cleaning the tank, do NOT add or use any harmful cleaning products like bleach, but turtle-safe products you can find in pet stores. Scrub the tank and rinse all the cleaning product out thoroughly.
When the aquarium is clean and dry, add a new substrate, place the accessories back, and replace your old water filters, refilling the tank with water. Place your turtle back in the tank and you’re done! It’s best to clean the tank at least once a month to lessen the risk of bug infestations.
3. Add Protective Barriers
Adding protective barriers such as screen covers on your turtle tank are helpful in keeping out any bugs. However, you need to do your research to get the right type of screen cover and protective barrier!
Do NOT get solid covers made of plastic or glass, even louvered plastic isn’t effective. Instead, invest in a cover with tiny holes, like a metal screen, which you can find in pet stores.
Metal screens are strong and can promote air circulation while leaving out very tiny bugs. Holes are required because without it, the humidity and temperature increases, making it a dangerous environment for a turtle.
Read more: What Does It Mean When a Turtle Hisses? All About Their Hissing
4. Improve Your Upkeep
Besides proper and regular cleaning, you should also take other preventative measures to lessen the risk of insects setting up camp in your turtle tank. Follow these helpful tips:
- Remove and clean the substrates as required, even replacing items like plastic plants, pebbles, rocks, and/or floating turtle docks if needed.
- For those who have real plants in the turtle tank, remove and replace them if you see them begin to decompose.
- When feeding your turtle, I recommend a separate feeding tank. If you do feed them in their “main” tank, then remove any leftovers if he hasn’t eaten them within the hour to avoid attracted insects to eat up.
Learn more about getting rid of bugs and clean your turtle tank well with this helpful video:
Wrapping It Up
It’s not unusual to see tiny black bugs in turtle tank, but they shouldn’t stay for long! With the proper tank cleaning tips, you can ensure a clean and healthy environment your turtle can thrive in.
I hope that this article on tiny black bugs in turtle tank informed you on how to clean your tank properly. So start getting to the bottom of the bug infestation and remedy it with these tips now!