Platymeris biguttatus tank maintenance question

[MiaPow]

I love my Platymeris biguttatus colony it is absolutely thriving everything from eggs to adults but they are messy as far as the corpses of the feeders go. I try to spot clean as best as possible but I still consider my maintenance of the Platymeris biguttatus colony not up to par. I keep them on sand so I don’t think I will be able to use springtails and isopods to assist. Anyone with large colonies have tips on maintenance clean up?

 

[chanda]

Dermestid beetles make a pretty good clean-up crew, and are tolerant of dry conditions. I just dropped in those little fuzzy larvae that sometimes come in the cricket bags, and they blossomed into a thriving dermestid colony. As an added bonus, the larvae also serve as feeders for the Platymeris hatchlings.

On the other hand, there is the chance that the beetle larvae may eat some of the hatchlings or molting nymphs. I haven't personally seen them doing so, but I've noticed that I have fewer nymphs in the tanks with the dermestids. (It's also possible that hungry siblings are cannibalizing some of the assassin nymphs and the beetles may be blameless.) In either case, I have an abundance of assassin bugs, so even if the dermestid beetles are restricting their reproduction or reducing their population somewhat, they're in no danger of being wiped out.

 

[MiaPow]

Will the beetles and and larva eat the left over carcasses?

 

[Ponerinecat]

Certain isopods and springtails can work. For example some species of Porcellionides often thrive in arid habitats and there are many active surface dwelling entomobryomorphs in arid habitats that come out at night if you're able to get your hands on some.