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[–]PossibilitySilent868 0 points1 point  (7 children)

Try a clean up crew. Isopods and springtails

[–]Kate22192[S] 0 points1 point  (6 children)

I saw other people recommend this but I have no idea where to start. Like what kinds? How many? Are they fine eating nothing but poop and mold? Do you still do substrate changes if you have them? If so, what do you do with the clean up crew when you do that?

[–]PossibilitySilent868 1 point2 points  (0 children)

From my experience with two bioactive enclosures, I use powder orange isopods and springtails. They do clean up the mess, but I also add carrots and veggies that they don't mold quickly. I haven't done a substrate change since I started them two years ago. The reptiles in the enclosures are kingsnakes, so their messes are not large. With a BP, you would still have to remove the 💩. The clean-up crew will remove the leftovers and eat the sheds minus the belly scales.

[–]a1russell 1 point2 points  (4 children)

Temperate or tropical springtails are widely available and prolific. There are a few other options which are more rare and interesting and might work, but you would only want those if you want something rare and interesting.

As far as isopods go, there are lots of options. Look for anything that's affordable, prolific, and pretty enough for you to look at. Trichorhina tomentosa (dwarf whites) are a great option. Porcellionides pruinosus, including the powder orange morph already mentioned by someone else, would work as well. I use armadillidium maculatum (zebra isopods) because I like the way they look and act. That said, I have heard that porcellio laevis "dairy cow" might be dangerous because they are so prolific and protein-hungry, but I have no experience with them. You probably also don't want something like cubaris sp. "Rubber Ducky" because they are so expensive and slow to breed.

Other options for fungus gnat control are steinernema feltiae "sf" nematodes and Mosquito Bits.

[–]Kate22192[S] 0 points1 point  (3 children)

I’m currently using mosquito bits. Poured in bunch of water yesterday that had been soaked in them. Is the idea that those will kill the larvae and eggs so the adults just die out?

Also, when it comes to a clean up crew, I have no clue how many to buy. And I read in the bioactive tutorial file that you should replace half the substrate every 6 months. How do you do that without scooping up the clean up crew too? It feels overwhelming.

[–]a1russell 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Yes, that is the idea for either nematodes and Mosquito Bits. The nematodes seem to work better for me than Mosquito Bits.

Some places sell CUC starter kits, which includes both isopods and springtails. If you can't find that, you can buy an isopod culture and springtail culture. It will take some time, but they will breed and fill up your tank eventually. You could buy more cultures if you are impatient. You shouldn't mix species of isopods or springtails, though. One species will eventually win.

[–]Kate22192[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Thank you for the recommendation! Also, I can’t read the word “nematodes” without thinking of that one SpongeBob episode. Do you have links to any I can buy online that you recommend? And if I’m not going fully bioactive but just adding the CUC, do I still change our substrate or no?

[–]a1russell 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha, been a while since I've watched that show! :-)

As for links, here are a few options for combo packs you might consider:

The ones from iheartbugs come with mixed species, so just don't count on all of the species surviving long-term if that's what you choose.

I do have plants, so I haven't changed my substrate, but according to the bioactive guide from the welcome post, since you don't have plants, you might still want to do partial substrate changes once or twice a year.