If you raise isopods, you have probably already spotted tiny white or brown dots running on the substrate.
🛑 Don't panic! These are mites (often mistakenly called "mites" due to anglicism).
Before you want to bleach everything and jeopardize your colony, read this! 👇
🧠Why they love your tanks (A pH story)
Isopods and mites share exactly the same environmental preferences. This is the key point: what is good for your woodlice is also good for them.
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The ideal pH: Isopods thrive in soil with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH (around 7 to 7.5), which promotes calcium absorption. If you provide the perfect soil for your isopods (thanks to eggshells or oyster shells, for example), mites will enjoy it just as much!
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The conditions: They are attracted by the same humidity and food as your protected ones.
The appearance of mites is therefore a completely natural process and a sign that your environment is alive.
🌿 How to control the population biologically?
Most of these mites are detritivores and completely harmless. However, if their population explodes, they can stress your colony by stealing their food.
The solution? Collemboles (Springtails)! 💪
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Strength in numbers: By boosting your collembole population, they will consume mold and food leftovers much faster than mites.
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Healthy competition: They will eventually starve the mites, whose population will naturally decrease, without any chemicals or stress for your precious isopods!
And you, what is your foolproof tip to maintain balance in your tanks? Tell us in the comments! 👇
