Springtails - too many?

[Spider937372]

So I've got a sling (B. Hamorii) that's doing fine as far as I can see. It's moulted once already and looks like it will again.
So either way this is more of a question about making something that works possibly better.

I've been keeping the substrate rather moist (maybe a bit too moist - a new enclosure is on its way which I'll set up a bit drier) which caused the few springtails I've put in there to absolutely flourish.
There's tons of them now, to the point where the cut-in-half crickets I put in for food are being swarmed with springtails within minutes.

I'm wondering if this is to become an issue in terms of food left over for the T after a while...
Should I ensure less of a population of springtails in the new enclosure?

 

[moricollins]

Springtails are unnecessary with this species is tarantula. The substrate shouldn't be wet enough to sustain a thriving population of springtails.

 

[Tarantuland]

B hamorii is dry- no springtails

 

[kingshockey]

really suggest you research the care of the t you have

 

[Sterls]

Given it's a sling, you don't want it bone dry. My very first tarantula was a hamorii that dessicated, because of how many times I read to "keep them bone dry" on here.

Adults/juvies are fine bone dry. Keep the sling slightly moist, just the bottom layer of sub. That way it can burrow if it needs more moisture, but it has a dry area as well. If springtails survive that cool, if not don't worry about them.

 

[Crazyarachnoguy]

No need for springtails in a hamoriis enclosure. Springtails should only be used with moisture dependent species.

 

[Spider937372]

Alright, thanks. Got it. Next enclosure will arrive soon and will set that up much drier

 

[Smotzer]

I’m not sure why we are getting some like prefabbed messages about it being dry Brachypelma’s have standard NW terrestrial care for, which as the OP indicated is a, sling, which should be slightly moist in at least the bottom layers of sub. @Sterls is correct. So you could use spring tails, is it necessary no. But that population means it’s too moist in there.

 

[The insect dude101]

Spring tails are optional plus I think they wont be a huge problem

 

[BoyFromLA]

So I've got a sling (B. Hamorii) that's doing fine as far as I can see.

Brachypelma hamorii is such a beautiful, yet easy to keep tarantula. Good to hear that you’ve got this one.

It's moulted once already and looks like it will again. So either way this is more of a question about making something that works possibly better.

I've been keeping the substrate rather moist (maybe a bit too moist - a new enclosure is on its way which I'll set up a bit drier) which caused the few springtails I've put in there to absolutely flourish.

As many other users said / mentioned / suggested / recommended, Brachypelma hamorii should be kept dry, I mean dry dry. This is highly debatable, but for this species, I keep it dry even as a sling, with a small water dish or dampen part of it’s substrates every other week or so. That being said, again, you probably want to rehouse it.

There's tons of them now, to the point where the cut-in-half crickets I put in for food are being swarmed with springtails within minutes.

Rehouse your tarantula into other enclosure with dry set up, and keep that springtail colony for other use.

I'm wondering if this is to become an issue in terms of food left over for the T after a while...

It will be an issue or two if you are planning to keep in that environment, sooner or later.

Should I ensure less of a population of springtails in the new enclosure?

You do not want any of them at all. Again, you want to keep Brachypelma hamorii dry, and no springtails will be required.

 

[Sterls]

I will add if you find a water dish of a suitable size, you can keep even a sling a little drier. I still prefer to just keep the sub a little moist while they're young though - until they get their waxy coating. Dessication is less likely that way, and (so long as it's not too moist) it doesn't hurt them.

People forget that in the wild they'll find cubbies or burrow where there is more moisture.

 

[l4nsky]

Springtail populations are really easy to control as they are highly moisture dependent. They actually breathe through their cuticle and as such, have a large surface area that they will lose moisture from due to respiration. That's why during drier conditions, you'll notice them congregating under rocks and other debris to conserve moisture. Just start drying down the enclosure and you should notice a large dip in their population quite soon. Or, as previously stated, you could rehouse and save the springtails as a culture for further use in the enclosures of moisture dependent tarantulas.

 

[The Grym Reaper]

Not sure why a bunch of people are telling the OP to keep a hamorii sling bone dry, slings are more prone to dessication/dehydration than juvies/adults so they should be kept on slightly moist sub until around 1.5", after that they can be kept on dry sub with a water dish. That said, if you're having a population explosion of springtails then you're overdoing it a bit with the moisture.

 

[Spider937372]

I realise that the description 'sling' might be a bit of a wide term... It's still very much a small sling without even any coloration other than shades of brown
I do feel like its too moist, and while I haven't really added any more water in a long time it seems to stay pretty wet, hence my doubts that I might have overdone it.

Pictures might help..

ps. Its normally chilling under the fake leaf so its not like he's actively drying to get off of the substrate. I just wanted it in the picture as well so lifted the leaf making him run away.
note the little guy on the corkbark

 

[sasker]

@Tbcshroom Instead of just disliking and disagreeing the heck out of this thread, perhaps you can enlighten us with your personal insights?

 

[cold blood]

I agree that a damp area is beneficial with nearly all NWs.....but that said, i will also say that because;

1. sling enclosures are temporary.

2. Sling boli are miniscule.

Combine those 2 and you have a situation where the sling will be re housed looooooong before one would need the benefits of springtails....IMO there is no point in adding them to any sling enclosure.

 

[8 legged]

I agree that a damp area is beneficial with nearly all NWs.....but that said, i will also say that because;

1. sling enclosures are temporary.

2. Sling boli are miniscule.

Combine those 2 and you have a situation where the sling will be re housed looooooong before one would need the benefits of springtails....IMO there is no point in adding them to any sling enclosure.

At least not on purpose. I now find springtails in Terras where I've never put them in.

 

[cold blood]

At least not on purpose. I now find springtails in Terras where I've never put them in.

Yeah, I am not saying they hurt anything or they cannot be used...just that there isnt a real benefit in a sling enclosure.....but if you want to use em and you can keep em alive you certainly can....but dont fool yourself into thinking they are of any great benefit in this situation.