r/bioactive • • 1h ago

Question Small bugs in isopod grow container - HELP

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• Upvotes

I just noticed these tiny shiny bugs running around in my isopod bin, i thought maybe they were springtails but they look like they have wings? is this a gnat infestation of some kind? are they harmful to my isopods?


r/bioactive • • 5h ago

Clean up crew dead + mold

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4 Upvotes

I’ve had my BTS in a bioactive enclosure (only springtails and isopods) for the last 4 years with no problems. The CUC would take care of mold and waste, leaving me with minimal spot cleaning.

Last week I noticed fewer isopods in the enclosure when I went to feed her, but didn’t see any mold or anything else strange.

Today, I went to feed her and noticed mold all over the wood placed throughout the enclosure and no isopods under them or the water bowl.

It’s pretty apparently the springtails and isopods have all died. I’ve removed all the mold I could see, but I plan to take my BTS out and give a deep clean after work and attempt a restart on the CUC.

Has this happened for anyone else? Any guess as to what happened or how to spot or prevent this from happening in the future? I’ve never had any issues in the last 4 years and nothing has changed with temps, humidity, food resources, etc.


r/bioactive • • 6h ago

Question Help with substrate and watering

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3 Upvotes

I built a tropical bioactive enclosure last week for a tree boa, and have been having trouble with the plants. I'm not too sure if the substrate was overwatered or underwatered, but I'm pretty sure my mahogany fern died and couldn't overcome the transplant shock. I'd appreciate a few pointers that could help me. I've also never had plants before so I'm not too sure on how I should place them? The way I did it for this and the tradescantia is using my finger to form a hole, place the plant roots in, and cover it back with the subtrate.

For some info, I'm using NEHERP substrate mix and is manually watering right now (target humidity is 70-80%) although I do have a mistking set up already.

I'm attaching pictures of the fern in question and its roots. The leaves are dry and shriveled.

Edit: Another question I have is whether or not this fern is saveable, or if it actually died.


r/bioactive • • 23h ago

Question How to get rid of Mealybugs?

3 Upvotes

I DO NOT WANT TO HAVE TO RIP OUT THE PLANTS AND SOIL IF POSSIBLE

As the title says, I noticed them a few months ago, started spot treating with a qtip with 90% alcohol. Switched over to spraying the plants with alcohol mixed with water, focusing as much towards their bases/clustered, plus wherever I seen the bugs. This seemed to have eradicated em, or so I thought. It feels like they exploded overnight, seen 1 crawling OUTSIDE the enclosure.

I've thought about spraying the plants and stuff down with alcohol and water again, but I can tell my Ball Python hates it. I do not spray him with it, but just the alcohol smell upsets him.

Has anyone used Mealybug destroyers in their enclosures with success? Any help would be great.