Is it ok to leave the food like this?

[50centipede]

A worm carcass fell into Hysterocrates sling's little burrow.
T had a huge meal but the remaining worm has already attracted quite a few scavenger mites.
If they are really harmless as some keepers say is it ok to leave it like this?
The lid is plastic mesh and the enclosure is well ventilated.

 

[BoyFromLA]

I would usually take out the remains of it after 24hrs or so.

 

[50centipede]

I would usually take out the remains of it after 24hrs or so.

To do that I have to demolish the burrow so I'm wondering which is better for T. It is evident a carcass of that size of would result a huge swarm of mites but if they are really harmless as some say, maybe they'll just disperse after they're done with the worm?

 

[BoyFromLA]

To do that I have to demolish the burrow

It’s not really a big deal. Don’t stress over it.

 

[Asgiliath]

I’ve had this same issue with my new
slings. They drag the prey into the burrow and it’s super hard to get out without hurting them...

 

[50centipede]

I’ve had this same issue with my new
slings. They drag the prey into the burrow and it’s super hard to get out without hurting them...

People say "small number of mites are fine, they are harmless scavengers"...
but how about large numbers, given that ventilation and other conditions are green?
I once kept a funnel spider in a dirty enclosure... and it was totally covered with mites, yet hunted and grew normally.
Now I don't wanna see that happening to my Ts but curious to what degree does a large number of scavenger mites affect arthropods?

 

[Vanessa]

I would be more concerned about mould. Meal worms mould quickly - this was 24 hours later. And I don't like mould like this in spiderling enclosures. I have a thin, pointy pair of tweezers that I use to get into tiny spots like that.

 

[50centipede]

I would be more concerned about mould. Meal worms mould quickly - this was 24 hours later. And I don't like mould like this in spiderling enclosures. I have a thin, pointy pair of tweezers that I use to get into tiny spots like that.
View attachment 315588

I've never had fungi problems in my enclosures, maybe I should thank the mites

 

[Teal]

It is literally not a problem to leave it. It will be eaten by mites, it might mold, etc etc but then the fuel for those will run out and it will be just like it was before the carcass was there. If it really bothers the T, they will remove it from the burrow and then you could grab it if you wanted.

 

[Vanessa]

I've never had fungi problems in my enclosures, maybe I should thank the mites

I have soil mites too, but not enough to take care of that amount of mould so quickly.

 

[50centipede]

It is literally not a problem to leave it. It will be eaten by mites, it might mold, etc etc but then the fuel for those will run out and it will be just like it was before the carcass was there. If it really bothers the T, they will remove it from the burrow and then you could grab it if you wanted.

Makes sense, a lot of people seem to concern mites explode in large numbers tho.

 

[Polenth]

One of my spiderlings uses remains of feeders and moults to line their burrow. It's not been a big deal. There was some mould, so I tossed in a few springtails. The one time they decided they had too many body parts, they did toss out a bit of mealworm and some moult pieces. They're keeping the rest because that's how they roll.

People worry about mites because they have the idea that all mites are parasitic. Same issue with nematodes.

 

[50centipede]

I checked today and T removed it from the hole

 

[Teal]

Makes sense, a lot of people seem to concern mites explode in large numbers tho.

Mites "explode in large numbers" is the conditions are right - moist substrate and a steady food supply (meaning constantly having fresh dead feeders in there). And even then, a large number of mites - AT MOST - is simply irritating to a spider because they will clean food remnants off mouth parts when there are enough if them.

 

[NukaMedia Exotics]

View attachment 315627

I checked today and T removed it from the hole

Awesome made it easy to remove. Still would recommend removing it if it didn't move it as well though, rotting food should never be left in.