u/livimary

Hello! My ceratophysella isabellae culture has a loooad of mites in it. At first I thought maybe the springtails could outcompete them as there were only a couple, but the mites are doing a bit too well for comfort. Can’t be sure where they came from but I have plenty of plants and isopod enclosures, it’s perfectly possible a couple managed to sneak in while feeding if I didn’t notice them on my hands.

Is there anything I can do, or is this culture a bust? If so, is there a way to save the springtails without bringing any mites along for the ride? Can I reuse the container, or is there a chance the mites are able to stowaway even with a good clean?

Hi! I went overboard on one of my enclosures and didn't count on how damp it is generally in my area, and now the substrate is pretty saturated. I changed half and put in new substrate, but left half so the springtails could migrate over. Unfortunately it seems it was so wet it's seeped across and now even my dry side seems moderately damp. Any advice drying it out without hurting pods?

Hi! I am currently on 50mg of Elvanse in the morning and a top up of 20mg in the afternoon.

I’m not sure what the difference is between Elvanse and Vyvanse - I presume one is long release but they’re the same type of stimulant?

Anyway the question I want to ask is whether it’s ok to drink coffee. I don’t really get a huge response from the Elvanse and had the same issue with Concerta. This means sometimes I have days (like today 🥲) where I’m tired and disassociated and I’m meant to be working.

Before medication I would use coffee or energy drinks to perk me up. I’m scared that energy drinks are giving me heart pains so I’ve quit them (unless I don’t take my meds on a weekend so I can indulge) but I wanted to ask whether coffee is bad for my heart? Sometimes if I have a Starbucks I will feel very energetic and focused, and also on the edge of anxiety if things are rough. Would this cause long term damage?

Hiya! I keep trying to google this but can't word it in a way that brings anything useful up.

When I Cmd+Shift+V to paste values, it always pops up with a 'paste' button, which kind of defeats the point. How do I turn this off?

Hiya! I have weapons grade adhd and that has come along with lifelong insomnia. I’m open with my manager about this.

Has anyone ever called in sick for insomnia? If so, any advice on how to approach it and how to deal with the guilt and panic? Losing a day of work doesn’t decrease my workload, it just compresses it, so I would like to do some work from home in the evening if I can.

Workplace is generally disability friendly (I actually work supporting young disabled people) but recently there’s been a lot of discussion about my capability (and a lot of embarrassing bursting into tears during these convos) so I’m really stressed they will have an issue with it or chalk it up to me being lazy. For example, the week after a meeting where it was brought up that I wasn’t meeting targets I missed a meeting and forgot my bag with my laptop and it was made clear that these things (which I would see as genuinely out of my control due to adhd and pressure at work scrambling my brain…) were taken as examples of me not caring about my job.

Any advice welcome, currently sat up panicking and spiralling and generally being in moods that don’t help for sleeping…

Hi :) I am based in England and have a pip telephone appointment at the end of the month.

I’m only working 2 days a week right now because I had a bit of a crash out and couldn’t cope, and somehow it’s like they new exactly when to book to clash with the most important part of my work week…

Do you have any advice for the appointment? What do they ask and what should I say? Can/Should I reread what I submitted? I don’t think I saved it anywhere annoyingly (should have thought ahead but hey, adhd). Should I take it at work? If I do I would have to be outside, so there’s no guarantee it’s not loud or windy or the connection fails. If not, what do I do?

For the record I’m autistic and have adhd and I’m 26, a university graduate and moved to the UK from Ireland at 19, if that’s relevant at all.

Thanks

TL;DR: I have zebras and potions and give them the same care, zebras are booming but potions are not breeding and one is dying every week or two. What might be something that is working for zebras but hurting my potions?

Hiya! I have a tank of yellow zebras and a tank of magic potions. I’ve been keeping pods for about half a year - the zebras were my first and I got the potions about a month and a bit ago I would reckon.

My zebras were doing really well and the population has exploded to the point I’m offering them to my one acquaintance with a lizard if she’s refreshing his enclosure and checking how to sell on MorphMarket! I rent a room in a shared house so there isn’t much space to keep upgrading 🥲

POINT IS: now my potions are doing not nearly as well :( I had them in identical conditions until last week, when I moved the potions to a terrarium with less ventilation (the zebras started in it but the humidity was too high so I got one with a mesh lid and they’re thriving).

- They have cuttlebone, lichen, cork bark, a lotus pod, several little seed pod hidey spots and lots of sphagnum under the bark (the lotus pod is on the other side so they can hide in the drier side)
- the enclosures are planted. The zebras have eaten an entire fittonia (rip) but some ivy is being left alone and the potions have polka dot plants that they haven’t touched.
- I make sure to spray whenever the hygrometer hits 70-75 or lower, usually once every two days but we are in a heatwave rn so they’re getting daily sprays.
- They get veg and protein roughly once a week, never less than once a week but I don’t track it strictly and defo give them more. They get it in the tank for 24 hours and it’s removed then, and anything hard to remove (fish flakes) gets served on a little plate. I also change up the protein and veg - they get cucumber, courgette, sweet potato, mealworms, protein powder (not to get shredded just a mix I got) and spirulina wafers, all on a loose rotation.

BASICALLY, my question is what in here is working for the zebras but not for the potions? Have I just had bad luck? The first time I ordered the potions a lot were DOA or died after a couple days (I think just a harmless accident in under spraying, the place I got them from is great), is it possible what I’m stressing about is actually just that first batch not bouncing back? I have about 16 or so left from 24 roughly.

How do people measure humidity in their tanks (if you do)? I know more experienced keepers will be able to eye it, but I’m new ish to the hobby and like to have a clear measure.

Is a regular manual dial for terrariums suitable, or would that fail to capture how moist the soil is? Do I need a soil probe instead, and if so are there any small enough for a small tank?

Hello! So I didn’t realise I was on easy mode with zebras… tbf, I knew they were easy but I thought so were magic potions but mine just aren’t mating from what I can see.

They’re Japanese line, and I got about 24 at the beginning but there were a lot DOA and a few died after (I’m in the UK so weather has been unpredictable and we’ve been having record heatwaves that come and go instantly so not the seller’s fault) and then I got some replacements, but a couple have died since and the ones that are sprightly just won’t mate!

Of course, it’s possible they are doing it when I’m not looking, but in comparison by this point I was catching my zebras practicing exhibitionism every time I looked.

Has anyone got good advice for conditions? Am I just impatient?

We’ve had heatwaves going up to 32C recently and as you can imagine there’s no AC infrastructure in homes, so the most I’ve been able to do is whack on a fan. Is it too hot for them? I’ve been spraying daily to try make up for it. If this is an issue, any advice on managing temperature?

Hi!! I was wondering if anyone has recommendations for plants that do well with isopods :) My yellow zebras population is growing but unfortunately what is also growing is their hunger for fittonia (they have plenty of leaf litter, they just like to spite me).

Meanwhile an ivy looking plant I bought from the shop without checking what it was is thriving and because it’s nice and tall the isopods are doing a lot of gymnastics climbing to the top.

TLDR, what plants suit isopod enclosures best? In terms of suitable for the humidity and resistance to being chomped/ability to grow back quickly?

Genuinely just want to ask people. When I see species like cherry blossom and ember bees, which I would looove to have, the price is so high that it feels like the chance of making a mistake and the colony crashing is such a big hit. How are you guys so confident, is it just that only very good keepers get these types?

Hello! I have 2 habitats, one (zebras) that I started with ceratophysella Isabella (lilacs and yellows) but topped up with whites because I was worried about population. My second one is getting its new inhabitants (magic potions) on Tuesday and has some white springtails that I sourced entirely from a bunch swimming in an overwatered plant that I had to repot because it had been sat in water and had fungus issues. I checked this morning, didn't see any and presumed they'd died, so bought about 75 lilacs. Turns out upon closer inspection they are still there!

Can these species coexist? I haven't seen my ceratophysella in my zebra habitat much at all and I'm worried that between mites and white springtails they've died out. Is there a chance I am just missing them because they are naturally harder to see?

Thanks!

Hello : )

I am interested in giving my guys some lichen to enjoy. I keep seeing loads in my local area (NW UK) and the online options seem to be all sold out or pretty expensive (esp because most places also sell isopods so one day shipping is the only option).

How would I go about sterilising lichen and making sure it's safe for my guys while also keeping as much of the goodness in it as possible? I've seen people say at least for leaf litter, boiling can sap a lot of the nutritional value. Does anyone have like a recipe?

I also buy leaf litter right now, but also have to throw away a load of leaves that collect on our porch, so if anyone has advice for sterilising those too that would be nice

Hello!

I currently have 1 habitat with isopods and springtails.

I started with introducing ceratophysella isabellae. I could only afford 25 at the time, and I got a bit paranoid that they wouldn't grow in number quick enough to handle the isopods. I know this was dumb now because the population exploded basically overnight

BUT I had already panicked and supplemented with cheaper springtails (collembola sp. I presume but I don't even know if the product listed which ones). I also get a lot of the same type of springtails popping up out of nowhere in plants that are too damp (I live in Manchester so everything is a Bit Too Damp ™) and I think some possibly joined the initial introduction. Anyway, I am now seeing these dudes everywhere!

Now I do not want to look any gift horses in any mouths, and having a population of any springtails is better than none, but I wanted to ask if my lilacs (and some yellows) will be able to survive, or will the temperates drive them out? They are a bit cuter and I genuinely love their little shape. I supplemented them eventually with about 50 lilacs and 75 yellows. I haven't seen them as much as the temperates recently, but I am aware that the temperates are way more visible than the lilacs which outnumber the yellows, so I may not be able to figure it out.

Do two different species of springtails thrive in a habitat, or will one eliminate the other's food sources eventually? Considering my climate, if the latter is the case I think I need to give up on lilacs for now 😞 although I plan to get a colony of magic potions, so will try then!

Thank you!

Hello!

I am a lowly political philosophy postgrad who has, in an act of genuine insanity (sorry mr foucault I know how you feel about that) chosen a critical theory sociology module and chosen an essay question on foucault. The question is...

Is the genealogy of critique proposed by Foucault a viable project? Does critique survive the operation?

I'm pretty worried that I don't fully understand his genealogy of critique (I've found reading crit theory scholars pretty hard because 1. I'm used to poli theory which loves clarity and 2. I am disabled and have a pretty poor working memory - I keep getting to the end of sentences and forgetting what they said at the start). As I understand it:

• Critique involves the relationship between knowledge, power and the subject.
• We would expect knowledge to free us from the coercive force of power, but in fact power is able to use knowledge to empower it's coercive force.

In the seminar on the subject, the lecturer seemed to describe it as a bit of a cycle where there is no truth at the end of the rainbow, just more levels of power.

At the moment, I'm thinking of making a bit of an argument that

1. the genealogy of critique is a viable project - it is important that critique is a continuous or cyclical process, constantly regenerating society, rather than a search for an answer. Acknowledging how power uses knowledge gives us a reason to continue asking questions.
2. Critique survives because, while knowledge can be used by power, we have also seen in recent times how misinformation can be wielded the same way (alternative facts, fake news), and in a world with the internet we cannot expect the moderation to be done for us.
3. Power's use of knowledge to coerce has become far easier in the age of the internet due to how easy it is for those in power to reach us. In this light, mistrust is a way of retaining our agency in whatever way we can and will, hopefully, ultimately reduce the coercive potential of knowledge and misinformation both.

My question is basically: am I barking up the wrong tree re: the theory and is my potential answer to the question totally off course?

Would be very appreciative of any support!!! : ) Thank you!