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  1. #5
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    Default Re: Clean up crew questions

    If you use earthworms, make sure you use red wrigglers or similar heat tolerant species- others might die and rot in the substrate if they overheat. Also expect most of the substrate to be turned into worm castings if they end up thriving.
    i presume by "arthropods" you mean isopods? Because springtails (along with all insects, crustaceans, arachnids etc.) are also arthropods. You can try using different species of isopods and sprintails- I find that Oniscus isopods and Folsomia springtails do better if it's really damp, while pillbugs and a small brown unidentified springtail do better in dryer conditions. While others, like Porcellio scaber and Tomocerus sp. springtails are quite adaptable. So you can try slightly different varieties.
    Other organisms that work as clean up crews include terrestrial amphipods, (like terrestrial scuds), Underwoodia sp. millipedes (unlike other millipedes they are non toxic. They have behave similar to isopods but also aerate the soil like worms), flowerpot worms (can't remember scientific name, like tiny translucent earthworms) and even cockroaches- dubia roaches and similar species are very good at hiding and easily avoid being eaten if they escape into a vivarium. They too behave much like isopods and will grow very slowly and live a long time if the vivarium isn't heated. I've got several loose in one of my gray treefrog's tanks. I rarely see them, maybe once a month some of them will venture near the glass late at night and I swear one or two of them have been in there for at least a year- getting pretty big but still not fully grown. They don't bother the plants if there's plenty of dead leaf litter and frog poop to eat.
    Last edited by Dace; January 1st, 2016 at 10:23 PM. Reason: Spellcheck

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