A Clean-Up Crew are beneficial insects and micro-fauna like Isopods, Springtails, and Millipedes that help to consume and break down the decaying organic matter that can build up in your enclosure (ex. leaf litter, wood, slime mold, fungus, left over food, or even animal waste).
Isopods and Springtails are the ideal choice for your Clean-up Crew, and will act as the janitors of your bio-active setup. Constantly cleaning and maintaining a balance within the setup and soil. So you don’t have to!
You do not need to use Isopods and Springtails in your setup to be successful. However, the benefits of using a Clean-Up Crew out way the time and energy you will spend making up for the work they do! This means a healthier, more stable, enclosure and more time for you to enjoy it!!!
What do they eat?
Isopods and millipedes primarily eat leaf litter, decaying wood, and other terrarium botanicals like Magnolia seed pods and Alder cones. It is also good to provide them with a variety of vegetables, fruits, prepared diets specifically formulated for detritivores, and a source of calcium in their diet.
- It is important to choose an Isopod that will be compatible with your animal. We suggest using dwarf species if you are keeping small reptiles, amphibians, or tarantulas.
Springtails will eat various slime algae, mold, fungus, and spores that may grow in your setup. They can easily be cultured outside of the enclosure on a diet of powdered yeast. Whatever the isopods and millipedes don’t consume will usually be eaten by the Springtails which is why they work so well together!
- Not only are these organisms a great food source for your inhabitants.
- Their ability to break down organics and make them more readily available to the plants is an integral part of a healthy Bio-Active setup.