pretty much a noob here and had to deal with some smelly droppings today.. do the spring tails or any of these other clean up crew members ever find their way out of the tank and infest your living space? just have OCD and that seems scary
The vast majority of clean up crews require a humid, tropical environment to survive. Sometimes they might hitch a ride out if you're cleaning or removing waste from the enclosure, but they're not going to take over your home. Springtails and isopods are harmless in any case, they're not going to make you sick, or ruin your clothes or furniture, or bite you like other pests might. Isopods are actually very popular as pets too!
Spring tails prefer bit more of a tropical climate, if you have enough humid spots for them to hide and gather moisture (like a humid hide) you may be able to have some success, but not as much as a fully tropical tank
If doing a desert setup, we have found success with allowing some mealworms to roam loose. These worms and their beetles do well in dry environments, will eat/clean up feces, and typically try to hide away from your gecko. If they do get found by your pet- they usually make for a pretty good snack! We do advise also providing them proper "feeder" Mealworms, as you would want to provide them insects that have a healthy diet and that are gut loaded. If your Gecko were to rely on it's clean-up crew, that would be the equivalent to them eating their own waste to survive. Additional feeders such as small dubia roaches, crickets, hornwoms, ect- also make for a fantastic, varied diet! We hope this was helpful! 🐛🦎
Most of the ones you're going to find are simply listed as Collembola sp., we raise tropical white springtails, but they also come in a few different colors.
With a corn snake, just about any of them can be used if you're doing a bioactive setup. Unlike some gecko or frog species, they aren't going to see something like isopods as a snack. Springtails and isopods are probably the most common. We don't have any recommendations on exactly how many to add, it's going to depend on your enclosure size. The larger the enclosure, the longer it might take them to find each other and breed.
@@TyeDyedIguana I never even considered size. It's 4x4x2. He's over 6ft and loves climbing,, hopefully he'll be happy, and thank you so much for your help 🙂
Do tropical springtails, isopods, and red wigglers all regenerate? I’m going to make a bioactive enclosure and don’t know how often to refill the clean up crew. I just want to make sure if I have to even refill them or if they will have babies and make more
Under the right conditions, springtails and isopods will generally reproduce pretty easily. Red wigglers can be a little harder to breed. Many keepers will keep separate colonies of their cleanup crews and purposely breed them so if they don't reproduce fast enough or the group in the enclosure crashes, they have a backup.
We don't do arid bioactive often because it's a little harder to do, but there are some species of springtails and isopods that do better in dryer conditions. Most of them require humidity to survive, however. You'll have to make sure you leave them humid areas to go, providing moist hides with moss or damp soil.
Our go to clean up crews are typically springtails and isopods, with the caveat that sometimes isopods will become food for appropriately sized species. All of those animals might eat them, but it can usually be mitigated with enough hiding places for them.
would dairy milk isopods be okay with mourning geckos? I have a lot of orchid bark and almond leaf litter, just worried about the carnivorous thing. Any help would be appreciated
As long as your mourning geckos aren't prone to hanging out on the ground- you shouldn't have to worry about the isopods nipping at them. Sprinkling protein heavy isopod foods on the ground will also help keep them away from your geckos! Most powdered or dwarf species of isopods work wonderfully for them as well, but in-short, yes, dairy isopods are shouldn't be an issue. Many people report success with keeping them together just fine!
@@TyeDyedIguana Great, thanks for the help, they're very very arboreal so I think it'll be fine, and I'll make sure to get some high protein foods too.
Hey, so i recently got an iguana. What are some cleanup crews? Would you recommend that it wouldn't eat? The tank needs to be humid and hot (around 90 degrees and around 80% humidity)
Do you know how old/big and what type of an iguana it is and how large is the set-up? While some juveniles may enjoy bugs for treats, they are primarily herbivores. Eating an occasional cleaner as it walks by, shouldn't be a concern for loss of population. Was there a specific type of cleanup crew mentioned in the video that you would like to learn more about?
@TyeDyedIguana as I'm sure, making a guess here, by what I was told they are only around maybe 3 or 4 months old, can't give an exact estimate, it's only like hand length head to base of its tail, I found the springtails interesting though
I’m looking to get an african land snail and I’ve been seeing a lot that it’s best to get a clean up crew for them. I was thinking Isapod’s would be a better choice for me. It’s my first time having any type of pet like this and have no experience with bioactive enclosures, so I am quite worried about isapods having a population boom in my Exo Terra terrarium (not too big but not too small)… I’ve watched people mention in youtube videos that they became overrun with isapods quite quickly and that does worry me… As I’d only have the snail I wouldn’t know what to do if I did have a boom in isapods- This video was very informative and helpful and any tips would be so so appreciated 🥺
Hello! As wonderful as African land snails are, we do not have personal experience with them- as they are illegal in the US for being an invasive species, as well as it's reputation of containing a lot of parasites, and transfer illnesses to humans- such as meningitis. For many other general species of land snails- people have reported having success with small bodied clean up crews, such as springtails! We hope this information is helpful! 🐌🧹
hi saw a few comments about ball pythons I plan on getting one and doing a bioactive enclosure as to not have to clean and also for looks and snake enjoyment if any what clean up crew should I use to keep plants thriving waste to a minimum and not get over run by them I'm massively freaked out by bugs so the small springtails are a better seeming option would they alone suffice?
With bioactives, you will still need to spot clean. clean up crews are wonderful for helping, but they will not be able to remove ball python waste, in it's entirety. They certainly help eat up any shed or decaying plant material laying around, that's for sure! Non protein driven isopods, such as powder oranges and blues, would be a great addition on top of spring tails. Bio active and bugs are not needed for a ball python set up, if you're uncomfortable. Too much humidity while taking care of any plants, would be another important thing to monitor with a bioactive, as snakes can be prone to respiratory infections.
While you would miss out on some of the fun that comes with plants and bioactives, if you are not comfortable with bugs being in your tank, you certainly don't have to put yourself through that. It's very much so your preference. As long as your tank has hides as well as stuff to climb on, you will have a happy snake.😊
Most isopods eats live plants, important to mention imho, cause nobody is telling it. Some species can whipe out all plants in no time as they multiply like crazy
That is true! If keeping a species prone to eating plants, it's beneficial to provide them other food sources, such as Repashy's morning wood, to keep them full. Or to be mindful of plant placement, as ones directly in the ground substrate would be at most risk
A lot of cleanup crews will eventually need something in the way of food. Plant detritus can keep them sustained for a while, but you might need to add leaf litter from time to time or little bits of veggies or protein. Isopods especially can eat quickly. If these are bioactive jars that you don't plan on unsealing, you might be able to get away with springtails, for at least a little while. If the jars are something that you can open and add food to or have ventilation, isopods *could* be an option.
We don't typically see a huge boom in population unless we have our isopods specifically set up in bins for breeding. Typically the enclosure is large enough that breeding takes much longer.
Hi - would springtails ruin books? I'm considering them for my BRB enclosure but am so worried about them getting out. We live in a more humid location too so they might not immediately dry up.
what about roaches and millipedes for a ball python setup? every time i get isopods, they tend to drown themselves in his water bowl, so i kinda wanna get something bigger. something that wont drown.
Millipedes and beetles have been successful choices too! Darkling Beetles are a popular choice. However, it's important to ensure there is enough food for them, to keep them from biting your snake. While not common, it is still important to monitor. If you feel as thought your beetles are bothering your snake, you can try adding more decaying plant material, or food materials for them. With how little ball pythons use the bathroom, a clean up crew isn't necessary, as long as you spot clean as needed!
@@TyeDyedIguana oh, hes an adult, and he tends to grow fast. he wasnt that little when i got him. i thought about multiple cleanup crews to promote the ecosystem more. sure he only poops around twice a month on average, but he still pees. hes a finicky boy. he will start tank surfing if even a little bit of his urates arent cleaned up.
I have 2 white tree frogs 1 is still a baby and the other is around teenage. I’ve been having trouble prevent mold growth and I’ve asked around they said it can be that my house is hot. I can’t really do anything about my house being hot so I’ve been trying to find the perfect clean up crew, but there are so many i don’t know which one is the best. I would really appreciate anyone’s help.
Springtails are better at eating mold, isopods are debatable. Mold can be tough to get rid of in a humid environment! Make sure you have enough air circulating, it's safe for the humidity to drop a little between mistings. It reproduces with spores, so even if you're manually removing it, the spores can be everywhere. A little bit is normal and you can just spot clean, but if it's getting out of control, consider doing a full bedding change, especially if you don't already have a clean up crew. Wood tends to be a big culprit for mold, so try treating it with hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, or even baking it at a low temp.
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pretty much a noob here and had to deal with some smelly droppings today.. do the spring tails or any of these other clean up crew members ever find their way out of the tank and infest your living space? just have OCD and that seems scary
The vast majority of clean up crews require a humid, tropical environment to survive. Sometimes they might hitch a ride out if you're cleaning or removing waste from the enclosure, but they're not going to take over your home. Springtails and isopods are harmless in any case, they're not going to make you sick, or ruin your clothes or furniture, or bite you like other pests might. Isopods are actually very popular as pets too!
Can I use regular springtails for an arid leopard gecko terrarium?
Spring tails prefer bit more of a tropical climate, if you have enough humid spots for them to hide and gather moisture (like a humid hide) you may be able to have some success, but not as much as a fully tropical tank
Dumb question, but can i put isopods in a wooden vivarium? Will they eat through it?
You wont have to worry about that at all, they’ll prefer to eat all the gross stuff and any waste material off of it instead :)
@@TyeDyedIguana nice thanks for the info👍
@TyeDyedIguana one more question, do I need isopods and real plants in my leopard gecko vivarium or can I just use sprintails and hides/logs
Would a bearded dragon be more of an arid setup?
Yes, bearded dragons come from hot, dry areas of Australia. Are you looking for a way to do a bioactive setup for a beardie?
What is the best cleanup crew for leopard gecko?
?
If doing a desert setup, we have found success with allowing some mealworms to roam loose. These worms and their beetles do well in dry environments, will eat/clean up feces, and typically try to hide away from your gecko. If they do get found by your pet- they usually make for a pretty good snack! We do advise also providing them proper "feeder" Mealworms, as you would want to provide them insects that have a healthy diet and that are gut loaded. If your Gecko were to rely on it's clean-up crew, that would be the equivalent to them eating their own waste to survive. Additional feeders such as small dubia roaches, crickets, hornwoms, ect- also make for a fantastic, varied diet! We hope this was helpful! 🐛🦎
Have you recently gotten a leopard gecko of your own? We'd love to help with any questions you may have!
Hi, I just subscribed 🙂 Which tropical springtail species is best?
Most of the ones you're going to find are simply listed as Collembola sp., we raise tropical white springtails, but they also come in a few different colors.
Hi,, just found your channel, very informative. What would you recommend for a corn snake, and how do I know how much to add to his enclosure?
With a corn snake, just about any of them can be used if you're doing a bioactive setup. Unlike some gecko or frog species, they aren't going to see something like isopods as a snack. Springtails and isopods are probably the most common. We don't have any recommendations on exactly how many to add, it's going to depend on your enclosure size. The larger the enclosure, the longer it might take them to find each other and breed.
@@TyeDyedIguana I never even considered size. It's 4x4x2. He's over 6ft and loves climbing,, hopefully he'll be happy, and thank you so much for your help 🙂
Do tropical springtails, isopods, and red wigglers all regenerate? I’m going to make a bioactive enclosure and don’t know how often to refill the clean up crew. I just want to make sure if I have to even refill them or if they will have babies and make more
Under the right conditions, springtails and isopods will generally reproduce pretty easily. Red wigglers can be a little harder to breed. Many keepers will keep separate colonies of their cleanup crews and purposely breed them so if they don't reproduce fast enough or the group in the enclosure crashes, they have a backup.
@@TyeDyedIguana thank you, this really helps
What cleanup crews would do best in an arid setting? I want to upgrade my leopard gecko to a bio active setup
We don't do arid bioactive often because it's a little harder to do, but there are some species of springtails and isopods that do better in dryer conditions. Most of them require humidity to survive, however. You'll have to make sure you leave them humid areas to go, providing moist hides with moss or damp soil.
What would be a good clean up crew for electric blue day geckos jumping spiders and glass tree frogs in a tropical environment
Our go to clean up crews are typically springtails and isopods, with the caveat that sometimes isopods will become food for appropriately sized species. All of those animals might eat them, but it can usually be mitigated with enough hiding places for them.
@@TyeDyedIguana thank you
What kind of clean up crew combination would you recommend for a baby American toad enclosure?
Both springtails and isopods could work, but isopods are large enough to be a potential snack item. You may end up finding them on the menu!
would dairy milk isopods be okay with mourning geckos? I have a lot of orchid bark and almond leaf litter, just worried about the carnivorous thing. Any help would be appreciated
As long as your mourning geckos aren't prone to hanging out on the ground- you shouldn't have to worry about the isopods nipping at them. Sprinkling protein heavy isopod foods on the ground will also help keep them away from your geckos! Most powdered or dwarf species of isopods work wonderfully for them as well, but in-short, yes, dairy isopods are shouldn't be an issue. Many people report success with keeping them together just fine!
@@TyeDyedIguana Great, thanks for the help, they're very very arboreal so I think it'll be fine, and I'll make sure to get some high protein foods too.
Hey, so i recently got an iguana. What are some cleanup crews? Would you recommend that it wouldn't eat? The tank needs to be humid and hot (around 90 degrees and around 80% humidity)
Do you know how old/big and what type of an iguana it is and how large is the set-up? While some juveniles may enjoy bugs for treats, they are primarily herbivores. Eating an occasional cleaner as it walks by, shouldn't be a concern for loss of population. Was there a specific type of cleanup crew mentioned in the video that you would like to learn more about?
@TyeDyedIguana as I'm sure, making a guess here, by what I was told they are only around maybe 3 or 4 months old, can't give an exact estimate, it's only like hand length head to base of its tail, I found the springtails interesting though
It's also an aqua-blue iguana
Can you have Isopods and springtails?
Yes you can!
Yes they are a very good combination
I’m looking to get an african land snail and I’ve been seeing a lot that it’s best to get a clean up crew for them. I was thinking Isapod’s would be a better choice for me. It’s my first time having any type of pet like this and have no experience with bioactive enclosures, so I am quite worried about isapods having a population boom in my Exo Terra terrarium (not too big but not too small)… I’ve watched people mention in youtube videos that they became overrun with isapods quite quickly and that does worry me… As I’d only have the snail I wouldn’t know what to do if I did have a boom in isapods- This video was very informative and helpful and any tips would be so so appreciated 🥺
Hello! As wonderful as African land snails are, we do not have personal experience with them- as they are illegal in the US for being an invasive species, as well as it's reputation of containing a lot of parasites, and transfer illnesses to humans- such as meningitis. For many other general species of land snails- people have reported having success with small bodied clean up crews, such as springtails! We hope this information is helpful! 🐌🧹
hi saw a few comments about ball pythons I plan on getting one and doing a bioactive enclosure as to not have to clean and also for looks and snake enjoyment if any what clean up crew should I use to keep plants thriving waste to a minimum and not get over run by them I'm massively freaked out by bugs so the small springtails are a better seeming option would they alone suffice?
also would it just be easier to do a non bioactive and spot clean?
With bioactives, you will still need to spot clean. clean up crews are wonderful for helping, but they will not be able to remove ball python waste, in it's entirety. They certainly help eat up any shed or decaying plant material laying around, that's for sure! Non protein driven isopods, such as powder oranges and blues, would be a great addition on top of spring tails. Bio active and bugs are not needed for a ball python set up, if you're uncomfortable. Too much humidity while taking care of any plants, would be another important thing to monitor with a bioactive, as snakes can be prone to respiratory infections.
While you would miss out on some of the fun that comes with plants and bioactives, if you are not comfortable with bugs being in your tank, you certainly don't have to put yourself through that. It's very much so your preference. As long as your tank has hides as well as stuff to climb on, you will have a happy snake.😊
Most isopods eats live plants, important to mention imho, cause nobody is telling it.
Some species can whipe out all plants in no time as they multiply like crazy
That is true! If keeping a species prone to eating plants, it's beneficial to provide them other food sources, such as Repashy's morning wood, to keep them full. Or to be mindful of plant placement, as ones directly in the ground substrate would be at most risk
I have jar bios and I was just wondering what would I get
A lot of cleanup crews will eventually need something in the way of food. Plant detritus can keep them sustained for a while, but you might need to add leaf litter from time to time or little bits of veggies or protein. Isopods especially can eat quickly. If these are bioactive jars that you don't plan on unsealing, you might be able to get away with springtails, for at least a little while. If the jars are something that you can open and add food to or have ventilation, isopods *could* be an option.
@@TyeDyedIguana thank you
thank you for the information! very knowledgeable c:
I would love to put isopods in my ball pythons new tank!!! Do they get out of hand?
And springtails and worms
We don't typically see a huge boom in population unless we have our isopods specifically set up in bins for breeding. Typically the enclosure is large enough that breeding takes much longer.
Hi - would springtails ruin books? I'm considering them for my BRB enclosure but am so worried about them getting out. We live in a more humid location too so they might not immediately dry up.
You do not have to worry about them escaping and exploring your furniture! They will stay in the tank
what about roaches and millipedes for a ball python setup? every time i get isopods, they tend to drown themselves in his water bowl, so i kinda wanna get something bigger. something that wont drown.
Millipedes and beetles have been successful choices too! Darkling Beetles are a popular choice. However, it's important to ensure there is enough food for them, to keep them from biting your snake. While not common, it is still important to monitor. If you feel as thought your beetles are bothering your snake, you can try adding more decaying plant material, or food materials for them. With how little ball pythons use the bathroom, a clean up crew isn't necessary, as long as you spot clean as needed!
@@TyeDyedIguana oh, hes an adult, and he tends to grow fast. he wasnt that little when i got him. i thought about multiple cleanup crews to promote the ecosystem more. sure he only poops around twice a month on average, but he still pees. hes a finicky boy. he will start tank surfing if even a little bit of his urates arent cleaned up.
I have 2 white tree frogs 1 is still a baby and the other is around teenage. I’ve been having trouble prevent mold growth and I’ve asked around they said it can be that my house is hot. I can’t really do anything about my house being hot so I’ve been trying to find the perfect clean up crew, but there are so many i don’t know which one is the best. I would really appreciate anyone’s help.
Springtails are better at eating mold, isopods are debatable. Mold can be tough to get rid of in a humid environment! Make sure you have enough air circulating, it's safe for the humidity to drop a little between mistings. It reproduces with spores, so even if you're manually removing it, the spores can be everywhere. A little bit is normal and you can just spot clean, but if it's getting out of control, consider doing a full bedding change, especially if you don't already have a clean up crew. Wood tends to be a big culprit for mold, so try treating it with hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, or even baking it at a low temp.