Author Topic: Fruit flies  (Read 254 times)

bllauben

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Fruit flies
« on: September 01, 2010, 08:36:04 AM »
I am going to start this post by saying this: I am NEVER asking advice from the local pet stop.  I called the vet to verify what the owner said, and I was told I could have killed Boris and Sonya by following her advice.  She recommended an all natural flea spray with rosemary and cedar oils (I was hestitant about the cedar).

My problem: I have fruit flies.  I have fruit flies in my plants and in the tortoise enclosure.  I just did a complete change in the enclosure last month.  The vet technician I was talking to said to do another one and use a 1 part to 10 part bleach to water solution to clean out the enclosure.  For extra procaution, I am going to thoroughly rinse it out after I'm done.  I am doing this by this weekend.

My question: is there anything natural that I can use to keep the flies from coming back?  I have a soon to be 1 year old kitten who absolutely adores Boris and Sonya (and they don't seem to mind her).  I don't want the three of them getting sick from any product that I decide to use.

I did a search on fruit flies and someone recommended a product called "Knock out Gnats."  I am hestitant to use it because I cannot find an ingredient list for it.  Can someone tell me what's in it and where to find it?  I'd rather not order online if possible.

Thanks!

--Beth
Proud "mama" of Boris and Soyna (russian tortoises), Patches (calico kitten) and Mooch (black torty cat)

Joe H

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Re: Fruit flies
« Reply #1 on: September 01, 2010, 08:44:39 AM »
Hi Beth
Those are fungus gnats.

This stuff works great !
http://www.gardensalive.com/article.asp?ai=129

Be sure to treat all potted house plants too

bllauben

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Re: Fruit flies
« Reply #2 on: September 01, 2010, 08:47:51 AM »
Thanks.  That's probably what killed my Dwarf Madagascar Rubber tree.

I'll order it.

--Beth
Proud "mama" of Boris and Soyna (russian tortoises), Patches (calico kitten) and Mooch (black torty cat)

bohbohb

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Re: Fruit flies
« Reply #3 on: September 01, 2010, 06:39:34 PM »
Just a note on using the bleach, the dilution of 10:1 is good. But after you do it, let it air out for about 24 hours before you add anything over the bleached area.

Jay.j

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Re: Fruit flies
« Reply #4 on: September 01, 2010, 11:57:50 PM »
In my experience you should ALWAYS double check everything a pet shop tells you, unfortunately, when it comes to reptiles, the the vast majority have absolutely no idea what they are talking about! The amount of well meaning people I've spoken to/heard of who have ended up with sick torts because they've been told a load of rubbish (took me a while to find a polite word there) by a pet shop!

Anyway rant over :D good luck with your clean.
U.k. part time Zoology student & full time lover of all things tortoise.
Five horsfields, Athena, Mr Phoebs, Mighty Aphrodite, Hebe & The Little One...
Three cats, Pillywiggin, George & Ginny...

bllauben

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Re: Fruit flies
« Reply #5 on: September 03, 2010, 05:23:56 AM »
I ended up doing a complete enclosure change.  Used a 10 parts water to 1 part bleach solution to wash out the enclosure.  Then I thoroughly rinsed out the enclosure (I have a very interested 11 month old kitten who gets into EVERYTHING).  I went to Lowes and they recommended to use sticky fly tape traps.  Told me to wait until my plants were almost completely dry and to water them with the same bleach solution to kill the eggs.  By the time the spider plant I plan on putting in the enclosure is big enough, the bleach would have been broken down and completely harmless. So far, the tape traps have trapped over a dozen gnats!

When I went to go clean the enclosure, I boiled some water and took some of the old substrate out and put it in a large rubber made tote. Poured the boiling water over it and let it cool.  Then I put Boris and Soyna in that (which they did not seem to like).

When I put the new substrate in, I used much less water.  It is a bit dry right now.  However, I want it to be unattractive to the gnats.  I'll bathe my tortoises a few extra times this week.  Once the gnat situation is under control, I'll add some more water.  Of course, they still have a container of water to bathe in.

I really do not want to use any pesticide.  I don't want it in the apartment.  I honestly did not want to use bleach (again, I have a very cute but naughty kitten).
Proud "mama" of Boris and Soyna (russian tortoises), Patches (calico kitten) and Mooch (black torty cat)

Joe H

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Re: Fruit flies
« Reply #6 on: September 03, 2010, 08:28:37 AM »
Knock-Out Gnats is not a pesticide.

bllauben

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Re: Fruit flies
« Reply #7 on: September 03, 2010, 09:19:37 AM »
Okay.  I was afraid it was.  Heading out the door right now for work.  Will order it tomorrow.  I really do not like having these bugs in the apartment.  Gives me the creeps.  Cannot possibly be good for the torts either.

It seems like getting rid of these gnats is just as hard as getting rid of fleas (which, thankfully, I have not had to do).

--Beth
Proud "mama" of Boris and Soyna (russian tortoises), Patches (calico kitten) and Mooch (black torty cat)

Jules

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Re: Fruit flies
« Reply #8 on: September 03, 2010, 04:47:04 PM »
I used Knock out Gnats- worked great! no problem for torts or plants.
Jules
Chicago