Animals that can coexist with common ant species?

[ANThonyluscious]

Hey guys, I remember in the AntsCanada terrarium for the golden empire (yellow crazy ants?) he introduced a crawfish (cray? Crawdad?) to eat the ants that perished into the water feature of his outworld. The water acted as population control and the CRAW-critter was waste disposal. Are there any other examples of this we as antkeepers can replicate in captivity? Any reptiles, amphibious creatures, fish, arachnids, insects, plant life such as mosses or leaves too! I also remember a type of leaf that he used in a tank that he said the decay helped as an antibiotic, if anyone can help name a few things for me that would be great!

[AM1C39]

Mites and springtails are some of the most comon creatures ant keepers will have living with their colonies.

[ANThonyluscious]

Those are the small dirt creatures correct? Soil creatures rather. Those are helpful indeed, I also want to hear of other things like the "water lettuce" that helps rid ammonia in the water...

[SolenopsisKeeper]

Those are the small dirt creatures correct? Soil creatures rather. Those are helpful indeed, I also want to hear of other things like the "water lettuce" that helps rid ammonia in the water...

Soil creatures need outside soil, which could bring in mites.

[ANThonyluscious]

So, it's going to be a risk bringing in outside soil for the soil creatures, what is the best way to determine whether the soil could pose a risk to my ant colony? Is it recommended that I take soil from my own garden over soil from around the neighborhood? Once I have my soil is it okay to let a food insect inhabit the terrarium first and inspect for parasitic or dangerous mites later?

[SolenopsisKeeper]

So, it's going to be a risk bringing in outside soil for the soil creatures, what is the best way to determine whether the soil could pose a risk to my ant colony? Is it recommended that I take soil from my own garden over soil from around the neighborhood? Once I have my soil is it okay to let a food insect inhabit the terrarium first and inspect for parasitic or dangerous mites later?

Any soil could pose a risk, you may have to take a chance first to get soil creatures, or possibly just use springtails. Feeder insects should be killed(Excluding flightless fruit flies) as even crickets can kill workers by struggling. If it is meant to coexist, feeder insects usually die within a month or two in adulthood.

Also, you could add live Dubai roaches for food and possibly a clean up crew. I do think roaches will eat the same thing isopods will.

[ANThonyluscious]

Right, I'm simply hoping to have a helping hand in clean up, thank you for the suggestion of Dubai Roaches!

[SYUTEO]

They're Dubia roaches not Dubai roaches, they come from South America not Dubai. And also springtail farms exist.

[SolenopsisKeeper]

They're Dubia roaches not Dubai roaches, they come from South America not Dubai. And also springtail farms exist.

Didn’t mean to offend anyone, that’s how I typed it, but I got autocorrected.
Sorry about that.

[SYUTEO]

They're Dubia roaches not Dubai roaches, they come from South America not Dubai. And also springtail farms exist.

Didn’t mean to offend anyone, that’s how I typed it, but I got autocorrected.
Sorry about that.

Oh