Oh crap! Possible contamination problem!?

[Ryan Simons]

Last night before heading off to work, i see something running across my bedroom floor, It looked exactly like a large black cricket, and because i have had a couple escape, i didn't even think twice that it was one. So i caught it and threw it in my Chile rose's tank as she hasnt eaten in a few days anyway, then went to work.

This morning when i got home, i found the "cricket" burried in the substrate hiding.. i dug it out, and thats when i realised it wasnt a Cricket!! it was a wild black beetle! and it bloody stank when i picked it up!

Now im worried that i could have 'infected' my Chile Rose's tank? will it be ok? or should i consider changing the substrate etc? It would be a shame to disturb her now as she has only really just got used to her enclosure.

Thanks for the help

Ryan

[James Box]

sounds like a meal worm matured!! that is a fairly common occurance. they stink a bit but it's not a big deal as far as i know.

[Ryan Simons]

Yes! it does look like one of them -going by google that is. Wow, never knew meal worms turned into beetles! i thought they become moths! amazing!

But it does worry me now how a mealworm got out in my room? they dont hop like crickets!!

Or, are meal worms quite common in the back garden? perhaps it was wild?

[Thomas Pitchford]

If you order your crickets, it may have come in the box with them - there are always two or three other creepy-crawlies in every tub I have ever received - strangely never with locusts (?)