Care guide
Bioactive Clean-Up Crew for an African Fat-Tailed Gecko Enclosure
Quick answer
Tropical springtails and a hardy isopod species such as dwarf white or powder orange, established for several weeks before the African fat-tailed gecko is introduced, form the core clean-up crew that helps break down waste in a bioactive enclosure.
- Core species
- Springtails + isopods
- Lead time
- Several weeks before the gecko
Why establish them first
A clean-up crew needs time to build a stable, reproducing population before it can keep pace with an animal producing waste, so most keepers seed the enclosure weeks ahead of introducing the gecko.
What it doesn't replace
A clean-up crew reduces but doesn't eliminate the need for occasional spot-cleaning and monitoring for mould or waterlogged substrate.