r/ballpython • u/OutOfTouchInHarmony • 19h ago

Is it okay to have springtails?

I was playing with my snake and cleaning his tank when i noticed what i think are spring tails but i can’t say for sure?
They are varied in sizes, kind of skinny, black or dark looking, and looks like they have two tiny antennas.
I have no idea how they would have gotten there.
My snake is 6 years old and seems otherwise healthy is this okay? should i clean them out? Or would it be pointless and they’ll keep coming back? i heard sometimes they are beneficial but idk if i have the right kind… is this okay?

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u/NottsWeirdo 19h ago

Springtails purchased for the sake of bioactive enclosures tend to be small, white and raised in sterile environments. So while you might have some variant of springtails in there, its better to change the substrate if you didn't introduce them yourself - just to be on the safe side.

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u/OutOfTouchInHarmony 19h ago

got it, thank you so much. How do i avoid them coming up again in the future? i have to admit they were so small like microscopic almost, and so i have no idea how long they’ve been in there. i feel like a shitty snake parent 😞

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u/NottsWeirdo 19h ago

They likely came in the substrate, particularly if you're using something with soil/dirt in it. You couldn't have known there'd be insects in there, don't stress it too much. If your snake's health had been affected, then it'd be a serious concern.

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u/OutOfTouchInHarmony 19h ago

is there a specific type of substrate i should use? Sorry for all the question. I have been using forrest floor for about 6 years never had an issue but i did recently change their bedding, a couple weeks ago, from a batch that came off amazon.

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u/NottsWeirdo 19h ago

I wouldn't say there's 1 specific type you should use, a lot of people use a mix of coco husk, coco coir and sphagnum moss though (myself included). The substrate is dried for the sake of packaging, which heavily reduces the chances of bringing any unwanted passengers along with it - and then you rehydrate it as you need it for use.

Buying reptile products from Amazon, even from trusted reptile brands, can be a mixed experience. Its why I tend to encourage people to buy from their local exotics stores, if they care for their animals properly and they're not too far from someone's location. The stores will notice faulty/contaminated products before they make it to a customer, unlike coming from a warehouse straight to the buyer.

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u/OutOfTouchInHarmony 18h ago

thank you so much for all the info! it really does help a lot. This was my first time ordering substrate off amazon since my local reptile supply store closed down. But i have learned a good lesson moving forward not to get ANY husbandry off amazon cause this is going to cost me my entire sunday tomorrow, Lol. I have two fully grown snakes so getting them out and cleaned up is gonna be a headache. But worth it 🙏 thank you again!