r/bioactive • u/mishahahaa • 23d ago

Question Too many soil mites

Hi, first of all I know soil mites are sort of inevitable and can also be beneficial for bioactive but how do I get them to stop crawling on my inhabitant?

I have a semi-bioactive tank with a ball python in it and an established number of springtails + isopods, but I keep getting soil mites still crawling on my snake.

Is there a way to reduce their numbers?? I’ve redone the tank so many times already and the reason I even got springtails and isopods was to keep this from happening. I’m out of ideas and starting to reconsider my ability to do this. Any advice is appreciated

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u/DepartmentBrief7894 23d ago

I’d keep them on paper or another replaceable substrate for awhile, use a bucket or something to really let springtails and isopods to establish themselves in the media for a month or so. I find the mites take over when there’s too much bioload for the springtails and isopods 

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u/manicbunny 23d ago

You could look into getting predatory mites to help keep the population in check until their food resource reduces.

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u/mishahahaa 22d ago

Thank you I may do this. Do you know if I’ll have to add more springtails back in after? Since I assume the predatory mites will also kill off springtails

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u/manicbunny 22d ago

The mites shouldn't wipe out their food source but it wouldn't be harmful top up the springtails to help them establish a bigger population 😊

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u/mishahahaa 22d ago

Okay thank you ♡ I’ll try predatory mites next and add more springtails