Getting a pet Millipede but afraid of potential fungal nat infestation.

[MattCreed]

Hi, I have recently been considering getting a pet Millipede, they are beautiful creatures and seem like they would be truly awesome pets. I would most likely be getting either a bumblebee millipede or the African giant millipede.

But recently I have been having major concerns after reading about the potential fungus and other issues relating to their enclosures. The idea of a fungal gnat infestation really does not sound fun, especially since these millipedes would be kept in my bedroom!!! So, essentially my question boils down to are these infestations avoidable or are they something that’ll inevitably occur? Are they as horrifying as they sound and a reason to avoid a pet millipede? (I hope not, I just really hate gnats) Are there any millipede species that are not prone to these issues?

I have heard however that springtails could be useful in combatting the flying menaces but I do have some questions regarding that.

Are they effective at combating fungal gnats and other issues relating to that?

How do you clean a bio active enclosure? Does the substrate need changing?

Is having a pet millipede in a bedroom with a bio active enclosure a recipe for disaster?

Sorry for any spelling or format errors, it is late where I live. Thank you for reading and I hope you can help me.

 

[Poonjab]

That’ll do.

 

[Matts inverts]

Springtails are good but some gnats may be left. Bio actives are fun if you have other animals but since the millipedes are decomposers, you need to clean. You clean if there is more frass and bad than normal soil. Basically just remove the frass or take all out and pick out and use the good wood chunks and leaves or you just add more soil and stuff. The millipedes in your room are no problem. May attract some pests though. Not as bad as when I accidentally ripped a hole in a fruit fly cup though. A good thing to do is take old food out because if you don’t. It attracts flyes and pests. True bio actives won’t work because you can’t breed them because the isopods might attack. Having springtails and maybe some fruit beetles might work though.

 

[iguanasaurus]

I have been keeping a millipede terrarium in my bedroom for 2 years without a pest problem. But a few months ago I brought home a houseplant with a fungus gnat infestation, and it eventually spread to the rest of my plants and into the millipede terrarium. I've since used Gnatrol (biological larvicide) to control the problem in the houseplants, but am afraid to use it in the millipede tank ,worried about harming the millipede, isopods, and springtails in there.

My terrarium started off with an established springtail and dwarf isopod population, but I have not been seeing springtails for months now and the fungus gnats keep multiplying. It's possible I'm just not looking carefully enough. But I tried to dry out the top substrate in an attempt to deter the gnats, and wonder if that made the springtails move deeper to damper substrate? I'm planning on adding more springtails in an attempt to combat the gnats.

 

[JustAWalkingFish]

Fungus and fungal gnats do really well when you keep it humid, which is unfortunately how most millipedes prefer too. That said, I keep a bioactive tank with O. ornatus desert millipedes, and I've never had any problems since it's pretty dry compared to most millipede enclosures.

Are they effective at combating fungal gnats and other issues relating to that?

Springtails are usually pretty good to help reduce fungus. Same with isopods. Try not to leave food in there too long because that can also lead to fungus outgrowth. Also, if there is a fungal gnat explosion, there's some other options. You can get some deli cups, put some honey in it, and poke tiny holes in it. Then you could place it somewhere springtails can't get to. That's a pretty easy fly trap that I've heard can be effective.

How do you clean a bio active enclosure? Does the substrate need changing?

Rarely ever. I recently cleaned after having it for about a year, but that was mostly so I could add more substrate for my pedes to burrow. Some people never clean bioactive invert enclosures.

Is having a pet millipede in a bedroom with a bio active enclosure a recipe for disaster?

Nah, I've done it for almost a year and haven't had any problems

 

[darkness975]

Has anyone tried keeping saran wrap on the lid to keep gnats out? Where I currently am is prone to gnat issues even without any humid enclosures at present.

I'm getting something soon that does like it a tad humid though.

 

[TooManyCooks]

Just try not to use anything you found on the floor, and if you do, make sure to thoroughly clean it. I find that lightly misting any wood or leaves before wrapping it up in tinfoil, then tossing it in the oven for 1-2 hours at 150-200 degrees does the trick. Misting seems to stop the wood/leaves from burning and/or charring.