Scorpion cleaning crew

[brolloks]

Hi everyone,

I came across a few instances where individuals would use Woodlice to clean their high humidity scorpion enclosures. The woodlice would eat feeder leftovers and such.
Do any of you have experience with this, and if so would you recommend it?

Thanks!

 

[G. Carnell]

Hey

Yes I've used woodlice in the past, and they are good cleaners! I now use spring tails which are a bit less aesthetic but seem to clear up any mite infestations too!

Also I've noticed woodlice get quite unhealthy in my enclosures and sometimes end up eaten

 

[brolloks]

Interesting, thanks for the info!

 

[CABIV]

Do you guys order woodlice, or are the kind in my back yard generally safe?

 

[brolloks]

I have not been able to find anyone selling woodlice here in South Africa.
Wild woodlice are plentiful BUT I would discourage from using wild as they could have pesticides or other nasties lurking within.

 

[pannaking22]

Let the WC isopods breed for a generation or two and then they're good to go to be added to enclosures. I did that for my Tityus stigmurus and everything seems to be going well (at least for the isopods that didn't get eaten...I recommend small ones). Combine isopods with springtails and you're pretty much good to go! Dry enclosures can be a bit harder, but there are isopods that do well in dry settings and I believe that bark lice (order Psocoptera) can work as a cleanup crew too.

 

[brolloks]

Thanks pannaking22, will give it a try.

 

[pannaking22]

Forgot to add with dry isopods, they'll need a humid retreat to re-hydrate. A piece of bark or something that you mist under on occasion will do the trick.

 

[NathanWillaim]

I always use springtails. Good against mites, and most of all MOLD!

 

[brolloks]

Springtails might be an option, I might have some in pot plants, will just need to check.

 

[MatthewM1]

Woodlice(Isopods) are fantastic in humid/semi humid set ups. I use dwarf white isopods in boy my Heterometrus petersii and Babycurus jacksoni enclosures. They don't do well in arid environments as they breath through gills and require moisture to do so.

 

[chanda]

Let the WC isopods breed for a generation or two and then they're good to go to be added to enclosures. I did that for my Tityus stigmurus and everything seems to be going well (at least for the isopods that didn't get eaten...I recommend small ones). Combine isopods with springtails and you're pretty much good to go! Dry enclosures can be a bit harder, but there are isopods that do well in dry settings and I believe that bark lice (order Psocoptera) can work as a cleanup crew too.

In a dry enclosure (like for H. arizonensis) you can also use death feigning beetles as a clean up crew. The scorpions usually leave them alone because they're too heavily armored to be good prey.

 

[brolloks]

@chanda I have actually seen a few video's on Youtube about these little guys and how awesome they clean. Seeing as they are native to Southwestern United States I doubt I would find anyone selling them here, but we have got an expo comping up this weekend so will keep an eye open. I could sure use them in my LQ enclosures.

 

[pannaking22]

In a dry enclosure (like for H. arizonensis) you can also use death feigning beetles as a clean up crew. The scorpions usually leave them alone because they're too heavily armored to be good prey.

That's right, I forgot about those! Good call!

@chanda I have actually seen a few video's on Youtube about these little guys and how awesome they clean. Seeing as they are native to Southwestern United States I doubt I would find anyone selling them here, but we have got an expo comping up this weekend so will keep an eye open. I could sure use them in my LQ enclosures.

If you can't get that species you may be able to find another tenebrionid that can do the cleaning for you and is native to your area.

 

[brolloks]

There is Stenocara dentata, but will see if anything else pops up that is close to my area.
Thanks all!