Bioactive Clean-Up Crews - IHEARTBUGS, INC.

Bioactive Clean-Up Crews

Clean-up crews are our specialty.  I've been utilizing isopods and springtails since 2010 when I built my first dart frog enclosure.  Isopods and springtails benefit bioactive enclosures by acting as a supplemental food source, consuming waste, aerating the substrate, controlling mites and other pests by consuming their eggs, and fertilizing the plants in the enclosure.  Choosing the correct species of isopod and springtail is important.  Even though isopods and springtails need some moisture to survive, some species are better suited to tolerate arid and humid conditions, and some species reproduce faster than others, which may stress certain inhabitants of the enclosure if there is an overpopulation of isopods and springtails.  We have many species and price ranges of isopods and springtails.  Below is a list of clean-up crews that are appropriate for your inhabitant's bioactive enclosure.  There are other isopods that are larger and they are excellent cleaners that may be good to use depending on your reptile/amphibian, but I am only listing the ones that are considered safe and should not stress the animals. 

Dart Frogs and Tree Frogs - Folsomia Candida, Sinella Curviseta Pink, Sinella Sp. Tropical, Entomobrya Sp. Silver, Pseudosinella alba, Pseudosinella rolfsi, Lepidocyrtus Cinereus, Dwarf white, Costa Rican purple, Isopoda Sp. Tarragona, all P. Pruinosus, Venezillo Parvus, Venezillo Parvus Dalmatian.

Crested Gecko/Day Gecko/Tokay Gecko/Gargoyle Gecko/Fat Tail Gecko - Any P. Pruinosus, Dwarf white, Sinella Curviseta Pink, Sinella Sp. Tropical, Entomobrya Sp. Silver, Proistoma minuta.

Leopard Gecko/Banded Gecko - Any P. Pruinosus, Dwarf white, Sinella Curviseta Pink, Sinella Sp. Tropical, Entomobrya Sp. Silver.

Bearded Dragon - Any P. Pruinosus, Dwarf white, Costa Rican purples, Sinella Curviseta Pink, Sinella Sp. Tropical, Entomobrya Sp. Silver.

Ball Python/Corn snake/Rat snake/King snake/Boas - Any P. Pruinosus, Dwarf white, Sinella Curviseta Pink, Sinella Sp. Tropical, Entomobrya Sp. Silver.

Hognose - Any P. Pruinosus.

Panther Chameleons - Any P. Pruinosus, Dwarf white, Sinella Curviseta Pink, Sinella Sp. Tropical, Entomobrya Sp. Silver.

Tortoise - Any P. Pruinosus, Any P. Scaber, Dwarf white, Sinella Curviseta Pink, Sinella Sp. Tropical, Entomobrya Sp. Silver.

Hermit crabs - Cubaris Murina Little Sea, Any P. Scaber, Smaller Armadillidium species such as any A. Vulgare, A. Nasatum, A. Maculatum, A. Montenegro. 

Dubia roaches - Dwarf white, Entomobrya Sp. Silver. 

Turtles - Any P. Pruinosus, Any P. Scaber, Dwarf white, Sinella Curviseta Pink, Sinella Sp. Tropical, Entomobrya Sp. Silver.

Tegus - Any P. Pruinosus.

Monitors/Iguanas - Any P. Pruinosus, Dwarf white, Costa Rican purples, Sinella Curviseta Pink, Sinella Sp. Tropical, Entomobrya Sp. Silver.

 

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