Custodians

By gretchenellie

Tank custodians are a very beneficial part of a living vivarium. they help in the break down of detrius, dying and decaying plant matter and uneaten or dead food scraps.

all of which would quickly foul a vivarium if these helpful little creature were not present.

So, What ARE tank custodians?

the more commonly known bugs that are sold as tank janitors are Springtails, wood louse and various types of mites.

the pill bugs generally inhabit parts of the vivarium that are moist, humid and quite dark... they make their home under the leaf litter and next to and even under cork bark pieces in the viv.

their job is to pick up any decaying plant material that is wasting away.

Sprintails are neat little bugs that appear as tiny white lines in the substrate.. they are very quick and eat jsut about anything in the viv. their speciality being moulds and dead/decaying bugs plant materials.

Mites are a common occurrence in a vivarium. they seem to just appear. the most common variety that are seen are scavenger mites. these mites populations explode any-time there is an over abundance of decaying material in the vivarium.. they like it moist and very warm, with some species preferring it hot and dry..

the mites that you do not want in your tank are Spider Mites. you will notice the presence of these mites after you have discovered the tiny webs they make around plant roots and bases... the only way to rid the tank of these mites it to remove all pygmies, and tear down the tank entirely or place dry ice in the viv..