Question?

stonemantis

Arachnoprince
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I heard that pillbugs can live in T enclosures to help clean up food remains and the T doesn't mind. Is this true? :confused:
 

Dark Raptor

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I think keeping them with small T's isn't best idea (T can eat them). But I had pillbugs in terrariums with phasmids and beetles. They were very good cleaners, and nice food for predacerous carabid beetles and small spiders :)
 

stonemantis

Arachnoprince
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Thanks for the tip. I thought pillbugs secrete a toxic chemical that's harmful to tarantulas.
 

Dark Raptor

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The best cleaners I've ever had, were fly larvae belonging to family Sciaridae. They eat almost everything. They eat even roach excrements, dead bodies, old fruits, vegetables ...but I hate mature insects. They are small, quick and hard to kill, when there are too many of them (but if you have a lot of young mantis, it could be much easier {D )
 

stonemantis

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I heard that species of fly is a parasite to Ts but I do agree they eat everything
 

Gsc

Arachnobaron
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I recently purchased a colony/culture of the "orange" isopods from MantidAssassins.... I'm goign to get them established then put them in my adult tarantula cages, millipede enclosures, and ??? I have heard they do an awsome job at cleaning up uneaten food.

Shoot Orin McMonigle (MantidAssassins) a PM about using pillbugs/isopods for a clean-up crew... he is very knowledgeable and although very busy, usually emails you back in a day or two.
 

Dark Raptor

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stonemantis said:
I heard that species of fly is a parasite to Ts but I do agree they eat everything
Maybe other families. Sciaridae reach only 2 mm bodylenght. They are saprophagous, they eat decomposing organic mater.
 

juggalo69

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I use some WC pill bugs in both my T. and scorp tanks. Great cleanup crew, no problems with them getting eaten either. :cool: :D
 

stonemantis

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I just put some pillbugs in my enclosure and boy do they clean up. Not a dead body in site. They also got rid of a small mold problem. I appreciate all of the help on answering my qusetions. :D
 
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