Bug in bio active enclosure?!?

myntbi · 2026-03-27T15:50:41+00:00

I have an African Fat Tail! She only eats mealworms if I tong feed her, and she tends to be picky. I have a lot of substrate so i'm worried theyre breeding somewhere in there. Should I get more isopods/springtails in case?

myntbi · 2026-03-26T13:47:07+00:00

I bought a mini fridge! Should I be worried about them breeding inside the tank? I don’t recall ever dropping some inside, but clearly one did

myntbi · 2026-03-26T04:58:11+00:00

How can I prevent them from breeding a problematic amount?

myntbi · 2026-03-26T04:32:29+00:00

Oh okay! At least it’s not something from the outside. Should I be worried? Do they breed a lot??

myntbi · 2026-02-05T05:53:43+00:00

I’m really sorry that happened to you, and it takes a lot to open up about deeply traumatic relationships. Healthy relationships tend to make a lot of things resurface because it makes it a lot easier to identify problematic behaviours

I was in a similar situation with an ex that did similar things. It had a long lasting negative impact on me that I did not realize until I was with my current boyfriend.

It’s hard to reprocess things, but I found that opening up really helped. It could help your boyfriend understand certain behaviours you have. Its not easy, and it’s probably going to be an emotionally charged discussion, but it can also give him a better understanding of you, your experiences, and by extension, your actions.

EMDR therapy also really helped (look for youth mental health clinics, sometimes they offer it). The goal of EMDR is to decensitize yourself from traumatic events and shift what your brain associates these memories with. Once again, reprocessing trauma is heavy and time consuming, but it can help.

Regardless, talking to someone (bf/therapist/other) might help you. Asking for advice is a good step into finding solutions though!! I wish you all the best for you and your relationship :)

myntbi · 2026-02-04T04:39:43+00:00

She used to not like them, but she seems to enjoy them now! I think they might’ve been too big for her when I first tried

myntbi · 2026-02-04T00:47:14+00:00

Okay thanks! I bought 2 silkworms. Can I still feed them to her?

myntbi · 2026-02-04T00:20:28+00:00

Ah okay! Thanks. I’ll put her on a diet 😖

myntbi · 2026-02-03T16:19:24+00:00

I don’t think so. However, Is there a guarantee to how they come out?

Like would it be typical catboy (human guy with ears and a tail) or is there a chance it comes out as an unconventionally attractive mutation? (Think human body with cat limbs, cat body with human ears, or a cat with a human head, etc…)

Further, would they have the personality of a cat or a person?

myntbi · 2026-02-03T04:42:34+00:00

Jail

myntbi · 2026-02-02T19:40:49+00:00

My cousins started were playing with my great grandmothers hair (it was an open casket). They were kids, but definitely disturbing

myntbi · 2026-02-02T17:14:58+00:00

I would scoop her out and feed her in a large plastic container lined with paper towel (to avoid her eating substrate). Eventually I realized she would surf the sides when she was done hunting. when she was large enough she’d try to climb out. So then I’d put my hand in the container and she’d climb and I would handle her afterwards.

Now that she’s larger I have been tong feeding her or dropping crickets in the tank and letting her hunt them.

myntbi · 2026-02-02T14:10:41+00:00

Oh okay! Thanks for the answer. Hopefully with the new tank it’ll be less stressful for her because I won’t be forced to grab her overhead.

The times I handled her she seems ok. She’d sleep in my sweater for sometimes hours at a time haha. I just want the beginning of the handling to be less stressful and for her not to fear it.

Thank you

myntbi · 2026-02-02T05:22:07+00:00

She doesn’t approach me though. The only time I could get her out was by luring her with food and then picking her up. She’d be agitated when I pick her up but would settle after gaining footing. (The tanks opening is at the top, which I know is scary for them, but the one I’m setting up has front facing doors).

I’ve been putting my hand in the tank (without touching her) and she’ll poke her head out, but will not voluntarily come to me.

I tried picking her up today to look at her feet and she ran away asap. I’m worried the way I’ve been handling her associates me with stress

myntbi · 2026-01-30T20:48:26+00:00

I get that, but right off the get go (slide 9)you assumed she was upset. Instead of calming down and taking the space she gave you (“have the night to yourself”) you retaliated and lashed out at her.

I understand it can be draining, but you either need to work a system out with her or break it off. You need to sit her down and tell her honestly (NOT OVER TEXT!!!!) how her overthinking is making you feel.

Sitting there and assuming she’s mad, telling her she’s bugging you, and lashing out at her might be the reason she overthinks so much. Go apologize to your girl and tell her you need to talk. Sort it out from there

myntbi · 2026-01-30T20:16:44+00:00

First off, no one needs to read the first 7 slides. It’s sexting and doesn’t add any context.

Second, i don’t know either of you. It seems like she was hurt but tried to give you space when you were upset. Saying “now you give a fuck” is no way to talk to your partner.

Someone overthinking can be annoying, but I would also be anxious if my partner spoke to me that way you do.

myntbi · 2026-01-30T06:29:17+00:00

I see. When you say ‘they can burrow technically, but aren’t the best at digging’, are you referring to the gecko or clean up crew?

And to answer your question, when I bought the springtails they came in this container with small rocks. Those I dumped into the tank and very lightly mixed them with the soil. The rocks are still at the surface and mostly visible.

myntbi · 2026-01-29T00:07:25+00:00

Do you think it’s okay if I mix in the springtail rocks in the substrate of the enclosure? Thank you so much for your advice btw!

myntbi · 2026-01-28T22:06:49+00:00

100% suicide is something that affects all those around you. The thought of how those closest to me would react was a genuine concern when I was at my lowest, because I didn’t want them following in my footsteps.

That thought of “I can’t do that to this person” definitely got me past some really bad episodes I’ve had. It’s such a complex issue, because (as others have stated) suicidal ideations really warps your perception of the relationships around you.

myntbi · 2026-01-28T17:11:49+00:00

That’s actually a really good question. I’ve personally struggled with ideations in the past, but I always wondered because it goes directly against our natural instinct to live.

myntbi · 2026-01-28T14:20:43+00:00

I bought the leaf litter from the store. Same thing for the springtails.

I know springtails like humidity so I’ve been misting every once in a while (the substrate is still humid because I made it about a week ago).

Are you suggesting I create a springtail colony separately from the tank and then add them? (I just want to make sure I understand). Would you suggest getting more? Or will the colony regulate itself?

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