I don't think they're mites.

herpist · May 30, 2015

Hi all. I got a pair of Archispirostreptus gigas and a pair of Aphistogoniulus corralipes from the BTS expo the other week but noticed the other night white things crawling in the substrate. I don't think they're mites as the are quite big 3 to 4 millimetres and the kind of look like wood lice but are completely white. None of them are actually on the millipedes. Are they wood lice!! if not does anyone know what they are And should I be removing them. This is the best pic I could get.

Biollantefan54 · May 30, 2015

That's an isopod.

herpist · May 30, 2015

That's ok then, they can stay in there. Thanks biollantefan54.

Ripa · May 30, 2015

Biollantefan54 said:
That's an isopod.

He's got it. Woodlouse nymphs.

Aquarimax · May 30, 2015

The species is likely Trichorhina tomentosa...you can google that to confirm.

herpist · May 30, 2015

Aquarimax said:
The species is likely Trichorhina tomentosa...you can google that to confirm.

Well looking at the pics on google they do look like species you mention. I should get a colony going for my Tarantula enclosures...... Less cleaning for me

Aquarimax · May 30, 2015

herpist said:
Well looking at the pics on google they do look like species you mention. I should get a colony going for my Tarantula enclosures...... Less cleaning for me [emoji4]

Excellent idea. I culture that and a half dozen other species of isopods as cleanup crews/food for various species. They do a great job.

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Elytra and Antenna · May 30, 2015

I would suggest starting over with clean substrate. Those are not desirable in a millipede cage as they eat the same foods and will eventually out-compete them.

herpist · May 31, 2015

Yes I will culture them in a different tub. Thanks Elytra, I didn't think of that.

Aquarimax · Jun 5, 2015

Elytra and Antenna said:
I would suggest starting over with clean substrate. Those are not desirable in a millipede cage as they eat the same foods and will eventually out-compete them.

Great point. They will be great in humid tarantula enclosures. Not so great with millipedes. I keep flamelegs, but I take pains to keep isopods out of their enclosure. Trichorhina tomentosa is one of those isopods that tends to pop up unexpectedly (my original culture was founded from individuals that showed up in starter cultures of giant orange isopods and springtails.) they reproduce through parthenogenesis, so it only takes one to found a population.

Smokehound714 · Jun 6, 2015

A while back when keeping Atopetholus i made the mistake of introducing p laevis woodlice and they became a pest thanks to their habit of becoming parthenogenic..

Most isopods in general host some kind of wolbachia species, which induces parthenogenesis, which is great if you have other species, but they can rapidly deplete the substrate of food.

I don't think they're mites.

herpist

Arachnosquire

Biollantefan54

Arachnoking

herpist

Arachnosquire

Ripa

Arachnobaron

Aquarimax

Arachnoprince

herpist

Arachnosquire

Aquarimax

Arachnoprince

Elytra and Antenna

Arachnoking

herpist

Arachnosquire

Aquarimax

Arachnoprince

Smokehound714

Arachnoking