A few months ago, I noticed small bugs in my crabitat. After doing some research, I found out that they were springtails and useful to hermit crabs because they would eat the food and poop and clean the tank, so I ignored the bugs. But now they're everywhere in the tank; swarming in the food, coating the surface of the water, gathering inside of the shells I have for the crabs to change in, and on the crabs themselves. It's getting out of control. I've cleaned the tank and everything in it multiple times, but they keep coming back. Is there some natural way to ward them away? Thanks!
*edit* (I know that they're fine in the tank, they're just getting annoying. I have completely cleaned the tank multiple times; replacing the substrate and all that, but they come back after a few weeks. I think they might be living somewhere else in the house. I just need to know if something can keep them away)
How to get rid of springtails?
How to get rid of springtails?
Last edited by tullaia on Tue Feb 07, 2017 5:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: How to get rid of springtails?
Springtails are harmless. They are a beneficial bug. Just try changing the food daily.
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Re: How to get rid of springtails?
If they really seem to become a problem the only way to got rid of them is to do a deepclean and buying new or sterilizing the sand.
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Re: How to get rid of springtails?
like hermiearth said, you would have to do a deep clean (take out the sand and bake it or replace it, take out everything and clean it). Thats very risky if you have molting crabs under the sub though because you might disrupt their molt and hurt them. I can see how they could be really annoying, but you should weigh your choices. Good luck
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3 medium to large PPs: Kermit Rocketson, Lulu, Strawberry (named because he is red, not actually a straw)
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3 medium to large PPs: Kermit Rocketson, Lulu, Strawberry (named because he is red, not actually a straw)
1 Neon Tetra: Stevie. 1 Crawfish: Larry
R.I.P. Larry, Crabby, and Hermie (all PPs) O'mally (Neon Tetra) John Cena(Crawfish)
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Re: How to get rid of springtails?
Another option would be to buy isopods. While they won't eat the springtails they can definitely keep the population down as the springtails and isopods will compete for resources.
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2 Captive Bred PPs = Randy & Roxie
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Re: How to get rid of springtails?
Its a sign that you have something in there that's causing a population bloom. As your crabitat contains everything - food, water, humidity, heat - its the ideal place. Try minimising the length of food being added to the crabitat, and try to clean out the bowl daily. Cutting back on food is going to make the springtails compete for resources, thus reducing the population.
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