Springtails in Northern enclosure?

[snowsensei]

Anyone here had success doing any sort of bioactive substrate for Northerns? I'm getting a Northern and have just finished the basic set-up for him/her. I have a culture of springtail that I use for my crested gecko and I was wondering if anyone here ever tried to introduce springtails into their substrate for their skinks. I'm using cypress mulch as substrate. I would imagine they might just all die from the low humidity for Northerns... Let me know what you guys have found. Thanks

[kayla990]

I agree that it's unlikely the springtails would survive the dry conditions. I have however heard of people using a coco coir as a base layer (kept moist, but adding a cup of water in the corner of the tank once every few days - which allows it to spread on the base mainly). Then it is then covered with the usual substrate. Could be worth a try! But it's likely it could be difficult to maintain long term or too time consuming for the benefits. Would be curious to know the results if you try

[mb606587]

I've never used springtails but I have tried isopods with my Meraukes. They didn't survive long and I think they have similar humidity requirements to springtails. I read once that ideally they need around 80% humidity to thrive so with a Northern, I don't think it's possible.

[splashy07]

Bioactives for the most part are better suited for amphibians, many gecko species, anoles, the list goes on...
I have a pretty much self sustained Cuban Anole setup in which all I have to do is change the water and mist. Superworms, Dubias and crickets breed in there and dermestids do the cleanup. Superworms and their adult beetle form also clean up, and no one eats the beetles as they taste awful... I can't see this working for a BT, and pretty much unnecessary for a cage that houses only one animal and more than likely not heavily decorated. And as stated abouve, doubtful the colony would survive conditions necessary for a Northern.

[snowsensei]

Thanks guys, it sounds like it's probably not worth the effort. It would have been nice, but it does sound like the humidity issue is very hard to address. I guess they are probably better off for those with indo skinks.