Habitat - Indoor :: Bugs on cork bark - how to clean?

[Tucker13]

I've got a few things going on in my tank and I'm not sure if they are all related... feel free to let me know what you think!

1- I got a new piece of cork bark for the basking dock in March. In the past, I let the cork bark dock dry out every 2 months or so, and give it a good scrub to remove any algae. BUT, this piece was wedged in so perfectly that it actually cracked a little bit down the center in the installation process, I was afraid that removing it frequently would split it in two, so I would scrub it down while it was still in the tank, but never let it dry out completely.

2- It seems that every year in September/October my turtle gets a little 'weird' and will eat less, bask less, and be very hyperactive for a month or so, and then goes back to normal. I always just thought his internal clock was getting ready to hibernate, and when he realized he was going to stay up all winter, he goes back to normal. This fall, his strange behaviour is now going on month #3!
Yes - water temps, basking temps, lighting set up etc... is all checked and correct!

3- In the past week, I have noticed him basking more than he has in the last 2 months - BUT, while on his cork bark dock and seems to always be flicking his legs and arms constantly. I've never seen him behave like this and thought it was very strange. He swims normally in the water, so I don't think it's a motor control issue.

4- So tonight I carefully inspected his cork bark dock and see it is covered in teeny tiny little bugs!!! YIKES! I've never had these on cork bark in the past. I have removed the buggy piece of bark and put an old, clean piece in for now.

My questions now are:
1- What are these bugs?
2- How do I get rid of them?
3- Could they be harming my turtle?
4- How do I clean the cork bark? Or does it have to be thrown out? It's so hard to find a big enough piece for a dock!

Any feedback would be appreciated! Thank you!!

[VeipaCray]

1. Could you post a picture of them? Also see this topic for a possible ID viewtopic.php?f=5&t=25780

2. Are they only on the cork bark or are they everywhere in the tank. Knowing what they are should help in figuring out how to get rid of them. Worst case, take everything apart, sterilize and put back together. Steam works well.

3. Most likely no harm BUT we can't be 100% certain without knowing what they are. First step is to ID them.

4. Take the cork bark out. Steam it. Hot steam SHOULD kill the bugs and sterilize the cork bark.

[Tucker13]

1 - Thanks for that link. Unfortunately, my bugs are not on there. I don't have live plants, fish or use live food in the tank, so I guess that limits some possible methods of entry for these bugs.

The bugs are way too small (and quick!) to photograph. You'd never notice them if you weren't staring at the bark waiting for them to scurry from ridge to ridge on the bark. They are dark in colour (I'd say black/dark brown) and so very tiny, the size of pin head, oval shaped.

2- I have only seen them on the cork bark. It doesn't appear that they are on the tank sides, or floating on the surface of the water, or in the water itself. Again, they are so small it would be hard to tell if they were elsewhere in the tank, but I've looked as carefully as I can and don't see them.

4- In terms of cleaning, I don't think I have the appropriate tools (AKA big enough pots) to steam it as it is a very large piece - 17" x 11". Do you think baking it in hot oven would have a similar effect? I could lay it on a cookie sheet with water in the bottom of it, that could create some steam perhaps?

Thanks so much for your help!

[steve]

The bark probably has bits of food, waste and algae on it. Add a wet environment and it will draw things to it. You probably can't clean it too well in tank and when you do, you probably get all that stuff into the water. I would consider occasionally taking it out to clean. I normally just scrub and rinse (using something like this: http://www.target.com/p/evercare-iron-s ... A-13793582)

Since there are crevices, you can try soaking it in diluted bleach.

[devilduck]

Could you try boiling it in a large pot, maybe put a rock on it to sink it?

[Tucker13]

Although I think a diluted bleach solution soak/scrub would be effective in eliminating the bugs, I worry that the residue would leach back in to the tank once I put the cork bark back in, even after a thorough rinse. Has anyone had luck soaking cork bark in diluted bleach? What ratio of bleach to water would you recommend?

Thanks!

[steve]

A weak solution would be 2 oz. of bleach to one gallon of water, which is approximately 1.5% bleach. Afterward rinse well with clean water repeatedly and air dry for at least 24 hours or longer.