Springtails questions

[Rittdk01]

Have two stirmi now, doing fine. Have them on coconut husk sub with moss mixed in. No mite or mold problems at all so far, but was wanting to be proactive. Few questions I have. Would it be fine to put springtails in without any mold or anything present? Can springtails cause any problems in the enclosures? Any certain springtail I should be looking for? How much to put In the terrariums? And any ebay seller i should buy from (maybe a member here)? Thanks, Guys

 

[basin79]

Have two stirmi now, doing fine. Have them on coconut husk sub with moss mixed in. No mite or mold problems at all so far, but was wanting to be proactive. Few questions I have. Would it be fine to put springtails in without any mold or anything present? Can springtails cause any problems in the enclosures? Any certain springtail I should be looking for? How much to put In the terrariums? And any ebay seller i should buy from (maybe a member here)? Thanks, Guys

The springtails will do absolutely fine eating the leftovers off your T's. That's what mine eat in with my inverts. My Scolopendra Hardwickei tub has loads of the little buggers. As does my Psytalla Horrida tub and all they feed on is the left overs and excretions at a guess.

 

[14pokies]

Psytalla Horrida

I have to be completely honest. I hate you because you have these and I don't.. A small part of me hopes you choke on a golf ball..

 

[Andrea82]

Recently started using springtails for my E.murinus enclosure, I thought they would die due to not enough food, and I would have to buy new ones. But, nope! They're surviving and thriving off the leftovers and boli left by the T. There are even more springtails in the enclosure now than when I put them in.
I must admit though, it still kind of sets me off, seeing little white beasties around my precious T...

 

[Rittdk01]

^^^thats why I'm hesitant to put them in. I saw pink variety on ebay

 

[Rittdk01]

Isopods are something else I was looking into. There are a bunch of different kinda on ebay??? If anyone with experience knows What kind and how many to put in, the info would be appreciated.

 

[Rittdk01]

Ok bought 50 dwarf white isopods. Gonna put half in each stirmi enclosure. Do I need springtails or are the isopods enough to control mold and mites?

 

[Andrea82]

Ok bought 50 dwarf white isopods. Gonna put half in each stirmi enclosure. Do I need springtails or are the isopods enough to control mold and mites?

I've heard of people using them both for best results. But you could drop the isopods in and see how that goes. If you see tiny specks of mold rising, maybe then go for springtails as well. Some other cleaning issue from what i've heard are the waterdishes when keeping this species. They make foul pits of poo/boli/nuclear waste of them, so be sure to keep an eye on those.

 

[Rittdk01]

Yeah I've been told.by two keepers.tha t u almost have to add pill bugs to control mites in the moist dirt. Actually bought 100 will still toss half in each tank. Hopefully they hide and don't look gross crawling on everything